ID this insect please!

markie1 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 08:14 PM

Hi there!

I hope that this is an acceptable request - can you identify this insect?

They have been turning up in our house and by our bins in the last couple of weeks.

It is about 3/4 of an inch (18mm) long and 5mm or less wide. The weather has been very sunny in the last couple of weeks. We've been seeing them mostly near the front and back doors (inside and outside) and occasionally in books (!) and we think both at day and night time... Please help ID!

Thank you!

Mark

squishy · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 08:17 PM

I can tell you from those pictures that it is a ground beetle, a Carabid.

Fauna · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squishy

I can tell you from those pictures that it is a ground beetle, a Carabid.

Yes i agree, there is not enough detail to go on but it got the looks of Pterostichus madidus?

Can you get a better pic by chance?

Paul mabbott · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 09:28 PM

Yes, certainly a Pterostichus and, from the size an the location, almost certainly Pt. madidus. These are totally harmless animals to humans. they are predators eating smaller invertebrates including aphids but, like most ground beetles, will eat almost anything that is offered to them - fruit, sugar, carrion. They are probably around your bins (a) because it is shady (they are generally nocturnal and avoid bright lights) (b) they are probably finding something to eat there either juices from your waste or the various tiny invertebrates that live on such waste.

Anyway, absolutely no threat from the beetles - if you don't like where they are, just throw them somewhere else in the garden!

PS: hadn't seen all the photos when I started writing - from the first picture (as it now appears) 99.99% sure of P. madidus!

markie1 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2010, 08:51 AM

Wow - thanks everyone for their help

I thought they were some kind of regular/common beetle (he said with 20:20 hindsight!) but my wife was sure they were roaches... she will be relieved - as will the now-safe-from-extermination-beetles!! ;-)

Thanks again.

Mark

EDIT: p.s. Yes, I know that I've just shown myself and my terrible insect knowledge up! Also, can't get a better photo - this is the first one we've managed to take in a week of spotting them - they can be quite speedy when they want to - I only got this pic because our cat had already killed it!