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- Crimean ground beetle
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- Ground beetle habitat
Crimean ground beetle - one of the largest and most beautiful predator beetles that live in the vastness of the Crimean peninsula. This species belongs to the family ground beetles, a group of beetles. Beetles are listed in the Red Book because of a sharp decrease in their numbers. This is facilitated not only by the absence of precipitation affecting the food supply of predators, but also by the reduction of virgin lands, as well as the use of pesticides and the capture of unique individuals by collectors.
What does it look like
Crimean ground beetle is a beetle whose body length reaches 50 mm. Body color can vary from blue-violet to black-green tones. Insects are characterized by optical coloration, which is formed as a result of the refraction of light on a coarse-grained wrinkled coating. This feature gives the impression that the color of the insect can change. The abdominal part of the body of the beetle is black, has a shiny metallic sheen.
On a note!
The male representatives are distinguished from females by a long mustache and extended forelegs.
Habitat
Crimean ground beetle is found mainly in the southwest and west of the peninsula. He prefers to dwell on the surface of the soil in mixed or deciduous forests, parks or squares, hiding in fallen leaves, under snags and tree roots.
Lifestyle features
Crimean ground beetle is active in the dark. Only severe hunger can make a predator appear in the afternoon. Powerful long legs help to catch the bug, thanks to which the insect is able to go a path up to 2 thousand meters long. The beetle is so dodgy and fleet that not everyone will be able to catch it.
In case of danger, the Crimean ground beetle uses its protective mechanism. She releases caustic, unpleasant odor liquid from the back of the abdomen. Due to this feature of the insect, most animals and birds try not to get close to it.
On a note!
Contact with caustic fluid, which contains formic acid, in the eyes of a person can cause conjunctivitis.
What eats
Crimean ground beetle is a carnivorous insect that feeds on terrestrial mollusks. The predator's diet includes:
- slugs;
- caterpillars
- small beetles, their eggs and larvae.
A favorite treat of the beetle is a grape snail. To eat a mollusk, the predator does not damage its shell; it places its head in its cavity and bites its powerful jaws into the victim’s meat, “drinking” it. A saturated ground beetle is buried in the ground, where it can lie for several days.
On a note!
Crimean ground beetles bring great benefits to agricultural land, protecting them from harmful insects.
How to breed
Insects usually mate in mid-spring. After that, the female lays eggs in the ground in the most favorable habitats. After 14 days, six-legged larvae up to 2 cm in size are born. After the incident, 12 hours after hatching, their pure white color acquires a purple-black hue.
Crimean ground beetle larvae have a good appetite, they are able to eat shellfish after 40 hours from the moment of birth. Not every victim wants to die from the powerful jaws of the larva, resisting and wriggling, it secretes foamy mucus to the enemy.However, the small predator, with the help of its claw-shaped legs, unfolds the mollusk shell and digs into it.
In late August, the larvae pupate; they become adults by winter. The life expectancy of beetles is on average about 2-3 years.
