What Do Ground Beetles Eat?

Diet

• These beetles eat a wide variety of foods, including other insects and their larvae, spiders, snails, slugs, earthworms and other invertebrates. Ground beetles are actually considered beneficial by humans because they prey upon what humans call 'pest species.' Several species are herbivorous. The murky ground beetle, for example, eats berries.

Ground Beetles are Predacious

• Ground beetles are nocturnal hunters. Lights at night are often known to attract them in droves. When this occurs, the beetles feed on the other insects that are also attracted to the lights. Even though they have wings, they rarely fly, choosing instead to run quickly along the ground. They catch unsuspecting insects with their mouthparts, most of which have evolved for chewing. Ground beetle larvae are also nocturnal predators. However, they usually hunt out of sight, either in leaf litter or underground. Some larvae live in burrows for over a year while they mature. During this time, they pick off other larvae pupating underground.

Pest Control

• Several species have been introduced into environments in the United States to control pest species. For example, the fiery searcher has been used to reduce gypsy moth larvae numbers. Other pest species include aphids, grasshoppers, armyworms or house fly maggots. While several species of ground beetle, including the seedcorn beetle which feeds on corn seeds, are considered mild pests, most researchers agree that ground beetles are overwhelmingly beneficial insects.

Fun Facts

• The bombardier beetle shoots a noxious puff of gas out of the end of its body. This is usually accompanied by a popping noise that deters predators. Ground beetles and tiger beetles are related, though tiger beetles have wider heads and sickle-shaped jaws that overlap. Ground beetles can provide pest control for the inside of your home too, since they will consume almost any other insects they find. Boat-backed ground beetles feed on snails and slugs. They have jaws that are much narrower than other species of ground beetles. This adaptation allows them to reach their head and jaws into the opening of a snail's shell and grasp the animal inside.