Granulated Ground Beetle
Carabus granulatus
Unlike many ground beetles that avoid water, this species is semi-aquatic and can readily hunt along shorelines, swim across puddles, and even dive beneath the surface to flee predators.
- Scientific name
- Carabus granulatus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Coleoptera › Carabidae › Carabus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Damp deciduous and mixed woodlands, floodplains, wet meadows, and mossy forest floors
- Diet
- Carnivorous; preys on slugs, snails, earthworms, caterpillars, and other small invertebrates
- Range
- Europe, Northern Asia, North America
- Size
- 16–24 mm length
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, forest clearing, and indiscriminate pesticide applications
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. It cannot sting and its tiny bite rarely breaks human skin, though it may spray a foul-smelling defensive fluid from its pygidial glands if roughly handled. If sprayed or nipped, simply wash your hands with soap and water.
Carabus granulatus is a species of beetle. It is widespread in Europe and Asia and has been introduced to North America. It lives in fields, prairies and in forests.
Photo: sharoncooper, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/c87426e6-de61-468c-833f-1b8be248e1a8.md