Ground Beetles

Family - Carabidae

Appearance

•  Many species, very variable in size (3 - 30mm long).
•  Colour - black, brown, green or violet (often metallic).

Lifecycle

•  Usually completed in 1 year.
•  Larvae are active and voracious predators feeding on caterpillars, slugs, snails and vegetable matter.

Habits

•  Beneficial insects. Predatory and usually nocturnal.
•  Do not breed indoors and an invasion of large numbers may be due to disturbance outside of the building.