They feed on things like decaying matter, plants, other insects, and even animals. The Big-headed beetle belongs to the family called ground beetles (Carabidae), They are carnivorous and hunt other insects and invertebrates. One common trait all adult beetles and most beetle larvae share is mandibulate mouthparts, made just for chewing. For the most part, you don’t need to worry about ground beetles. Reply. Since they do not fly, black beetles run to catch their prey. If you do have an infestation of ground beetles, contact U.S. Pest. Carrion beetles eat the rotting flesh of dead animals so they are a very important kind of beneficial bug called "decomposers". When an animal dies in the woods, it immediately begins to decompose or rot. The larvae are usually about 3/4" also and resemble the Ground beetles come in lots of shapes and sizes, but most are between 1/2-inch and 1-1/2 inches long and are shiny black with ridged wing covers. Adults eat caterpillars and other insects, so look for them in areas where insects hide or congregate like under logs, stones, and leaf litter. I believe it to be the Big-Headed Ground Beetle (Scarites subterraneus), although it has not been positively identified.I think it should be called "Scary-Pincher Ground Beetle" Just look at those mandibles! Most are specialists in few kinds, but some, like ground beetles, eat lots of things. Carrion Beetle and American Carrion Beetle . ECOLOGY. Why do I have ground beetles. Most ground beetles are fast-moving predators that feed on small insects, spiders, and other arthropods. While they prefer to hunt on the ground, sheltered from their own predators, they do climb trees, shrubs and other plants in search for aphids, caterpillars and other soft-bodied prey. We have those vile insects where we are in Southern WI too. In Europe however there are not that many of them. Most beetles eat plant parts, either leaves or seeds or fruit or wood. They are often found in agricultural areas. Beetles are a group of insects under the order Coleoptera, the largest order of Class Insecta. We offer a FREE inspection to … If you can find some smaller meal worms at the pet store or fishing store, that should work for feeding it. Some eat fungus, and there are a bunch of species that eat dung. Huge jaws, head, pronotum. Some have blue margins. Adult ground beetles typically live for one to four years and are usually most active between the months of April and October. This is a harmless, beneficial species. Ground beetles will try to eat almost anything that moves, including asparagus beetles, cabbage worms, Colorado potato beetles, corn earworms, cutworms and slugs. This interesting beetle has very distinct features that give away it's identification very quickly, hence the common names: the big-headed ground beetle and the pedunculate ground beetle. 21 Responses to Big Headed Ground Beetle. The majority is, just like the ground beetles, black or brownish. Dear C.Z., This is a Ground Beetle in the genus Scarites. It's also a member of the ground beetle family. Beetles eat all kinds of food. This scary looking little ground beetle was crawling in the mulch in one of my flower beds. Huge jaws, head, pronotum. Most species of Ground Beetle are carnivorous, and some will run swiftly to catch their prey. Some have metallic blue/green or reddish markings. How Do I Deal with them? Butterflies, for example, sip liquid nectar from their own built-in straw, called a proboscis. Around 1,000 beetle species rely on trees and woodland habitats, from decaying wood to breed in, to carrion to feed on. First of all, its whole body is a solid, shiny black color. We are on a floating slab foundation no basement. Like other Ground Beetles, members of the Scarites genus are typically found walking along the forest floor, garden beds, open fields, and other places where they may happen upon a meal. These distinctive, shiny-black beetles are usually about 3/4" long, and are named because of their large mandibles. Typically run about under or on leaf litter in forests.” They are beneficial predators that are harmless to humans. If you can find some smaller meal worms at the pet store or fishing store, that should work for feeding it. This is a Pedunculate Ground Beetle in the genus Pasimachus, and according to BugGuide: “Large, extra-robust, flightless ground beetles (elytra fused into rigid shell). Regarding their diet, beetles eat a wide variety of things found in nature. Is there any way to prevent them from coming into the 1st floor apartments. Ground beetles can be beneficial to your property by keeping the number of other bugs and pests down, they can also eat up the ones you need to make your plants and other vegetation grow. FAMILY : Ground Beetles. Some eat slugs, worms, other beetles as well as many other soft bodied bugs, while others eat plants and seeds. Since they eat other bugs, they likely won’t come barging into your kitchen to get food. With over 4,200 species in the UK, beetles really are everywhere. It is a big beetle family comprised of approximately 15,000 species world wide. Try sealing the cracks in your foundation. Ground beetles are beneficial insects; both adults and larvae feed on other insects, especially insect larvae. Typically run about under or on leaf litter in forests.” They are beneficial predators that are harmless to humans.