Rare and bright Caucasian ground beetle: a useful hunter

What does the Caucasian ground beetle look like?

Description of the beetle

Name: Caucasian ground beetle
Latin: Carabus (Procerus) scabrosus caucasicus

Class: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Coleoptera - Coleoptera
Family: Ground beetles - Carabidae

	Habitats:	parks, gardens, foothills
	Dangerous for:	small insects
	Attitude towards people:	rare, protected species

Caucasian ground beetle.

A representative of the ground beetle family, the Caucasian is one of the largest among all. This beetle is up to 55 mm long and looks very attractive. Elytra have a coarse-grained structure, rough, black with a green or purple tint. The species prefers mountain, steppe and forest parts.

There are two main subspecies of Caucasian ground beetles - larger and smaller. They can be found in parks and gardens. Habitat - topsoil and fallen leaves. The animal is very mobile and active, often after sunset it gets out and moves about its business.

Lifestyle features

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the number of the Caucasian ground beetle is rapidly declining. It is listed in the Red Book in many regions. A feature is the preference in nutrition - the beetle is an active predator. In his diet:

The beetle usually hunts early in the morning or late in the evening, at night. The Caucasian ground beetle looks after the victim, attacks and bites.

She has a poison that works on the principle spider venom. The composition softens the internal organs of the victim, which the beetle eats.

Reproduction and habitation

Ground beetle larva.

Representatives of the predatory beetle differ in size, depending on the sex. Females are always larger than males. This species can live 3-5 years, depending on living conditions.

Caucasian ground beetles carefully choose a place for future masonry. At a time, she puts about 70 eggs in a special hole. The place should be dense and warm, sunlight should not fall.

After 14 days, a larva appears. It is light for the first few hours, but then darkens. She has a well-developed mouth, and she feeds in the same way as adults. They pupate in early autumn, and adults appear only in spring.

Natural enemies

The Caucasian ground beetle is a predator. Therefore, it is very useful for gardeners and gardeners. But the appearance of people repels. There are many hunters for the beetle:

Distribution and protection

The Crimean ground beetle is protected in several regions. These are the Caucasian, Kabardino-Balkarian, Teberdinsky and North Ossetian nature reserves.

Due to droughts, wildfires, deforestation and constant use of pesticides, the number of large beneficial beetles has greatly decreased. They become victims of collectors and those who prepare jewelry from catchy elytra.

At the moment, the Caucasian ground beetle can be found on the territory of some countries and regions:

It has been proven that a detachment of Caucasian ground beetles can be more effective than treating the site with pesticides.

Conclusion

People, due to their incompetence and simple ignorance, can cause serious damage to the ecosystem. This also applies to the destruction of Caucasian ground beetles, which are useful beetles, although they look aggressive. Having met a large black beetle that is actively stomping on the forest floor, it is better not to disturb it. The Caucasian ground beetle can play an important role at this time - to protect someone's garden from pests.