Can anyone tell what beetle this is? We find it mainly at the back door under the sill, but also outside against the facade. Only appears when it is dark and shuns the light. Inside he walks around the room along the sides.
The first days it was brown and small, but the last days the color has changed to black and there are large (10mm) specimens in between.
Answer
Dear Jos,
these beetles belong to the family of the Carabidae, ground beetles (order Coleoptera). Identification to the species is not possible on the basis of this photo. If desired, you can always transfer some beetles to the ILVO, Diagnosis Center for Plants, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, 9820 Merelbeke) for further identification. In any case, I wouldn’t worry about the occurrence of these beetles. Most ground beetles are carnivorous and thus useful. Their larvae are also carnivorous. Both the adults and the larvae feed on all kinds of prey such as aphids and smaller insects. Ground beetles occur in all possible environments (fields, gardens, grassland, roadsides); most are nocturnal animals that hide during the day underground, under rocks and the like. Most species have one generation per year. All ground beetles have a complete metamorphosis; development from egg through larva and pupa to adult insect.
Kind regards,
Hans
Answered by
Hans Casteels
identification of pest insects in agriculture and horticulture, stock goods and homes
Burg. van Gansberghelaan 96 box 1 9820 Merelbeke
http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be
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