Tiger beetles
These come in two basic types, the green ones such as Cicindela
campestris (left) and the brown and cream ones.
This waterside beetle is unlike other carabids and is very
rare in Britain (and probably extinct in the London area).
Photograph © Ian Menzies
Bombardier beetle - named because it is able to discharge chemicals which explode and deter enemies. Live individuals have more distinctly blue hindbodies and reddish forebodies than this museum specimen.
Carabus species are all large (around 2 cms long).
C. violaceus is the most
common carabid in SE
English woods.
beetles': C. violaceus and
C. problematicus (found more commonly in scrub or woodland
edge). C. violaceus (left) has no
pits or ridges on its hind body.
This is most usually found on semi-natural grassland but commonly enters suburban gardens. Its hindbody is a metallic green, reddish or golden and pitted; the forebody is commonly purple. It becomes active early in the year - from February.
This is the most often recorded ground beetle in Britain and the
London Area. It is found in most habitats and eats a variety of prey. There are two leg colours: black (right) and red. It is differentiated from other large Pterostichus by having rounded hind corners of its pronotum (forebody).
This is a common generalist beetle in much of the British Isles but in the London area is confined mainly to woodland. It has sharp hind angles to the forebody,
Agonum species tend to be more colourful than most ground beetles.
A. dorsale is a common inhabitant of moderately dry soils in urban areas.
This, like many Agonum species, is found mainly in moist areas: particularly in woodland.
This bright metallic green carabid has a distinctive yellow rim and is always found near to water.
This too is found near water. It is somewhat rare.
Photograph © Ian Menzies
This is the largest British Agonum and, being all black might be confused with a moderate-sized Pterostichus but it has a narrow, sinuous pronotum (forebody)
There are several British species of Calathus. C. piceus is the only one commonly found in woodland.
There are a large number of species in this genus. Most of them are somewhat elliptical, often ovoid in shape, without a 'waist'.
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This is a common ground beetle in gardens, parks and streets. It has a golden sheen but so do other Amara species!
Bembidion is the largest British genus and most of the species are very small.
B. properans can only be differentiated
from B. lampros microscopically. The
two species have a golden metallic
sheen and are common in gardens, fields and grassland.
One of the many waterside Bembidion, this rare species has been found by the Lower Lea and on Thames eyots.
Like Notiophilus, members of this genus have large eyes for daylight hunting. E. cupreus and other species are found in very wet conditions. Elaphrus species have
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This is the second most commonly recorded ground beetle but, since it is often present in very large numbers, it may be more numerous than Pterostichus madidus.
There are six species of Notiophilus known from the London area: all have characteristically large eyes (they are day-time hunters) and flat, shiny backs. N. aquaticus has all-black legs; despite its name, it is not found by water.
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Members of this genus have very blunt, sturdy mandibles which are used for crushing the shells of small snails. B. bipustulatus is the most common and is found in drier situations (such as gardens) than sibling species.