How to identify and treat ground beetles

It's human nature to see a dark critter scurrying beneath your feet and assume it's some sort of cockroach. However, upon closer inspection, you may be surprised to learn that it's not a cockroach but a lost wanderer who accidentally made it inside your home.

That's typically the story for most ground beetles that find themselves on your kitchen floor. These beetles are very beneficial to have in your garden or yard. They are fierce predators that hunt at night for other invertebrates, such as caterpillars, grubs, maggots, weed seeds, and other garden pests.

There are about 2000 species of ground beetles in North America, ranging from ferocious tiger beetles and explosive bombardier beetles to the more drab and subtle types. Most of these beetles hunt at night, stalking through leaf litter, grass, and wood to find prey.

They rarely make their way inside, usually in mid to late summer. Fortunately for the homeowner, these beetles can't survive very long indoors. While they're not out to harm your home, their presence in large numbers can be a nuisance.

Ground beetles come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes, and it can be easy to mix them up with other beetles that might be patrolling around your home.

One of their key characteristics is the shiny, hard shell that covers their wings, called elytra. All beetles have elytra, but ground beetles often have a metallic shine to theirs. Elytra are hardened forewings that cover and protect the hind wings. However, the elytra are fused in most ground beetles, so the hind wings are unusable.

Another great feature about ground beetles is their long legs, which help them move very quickly. This comes in handy when they have to hunt down their next meal.

How big are ground beetles?

Most ground beetles are between 1/8 inch to 1 inch long. Some larger species can grow up to 1.5 inches!

What other pests look like a ground beetle?

Since they are often darkly colored and have a long, flat body shape, ground beetles can be easily confused with cockroaches like the Oriental cockroach. But ground beetles tend to have a shinier body and aren't as flat as cockroaches.

Ground beetles are found all over the United States. They're pretty adaptable and can live in various environments, from forests and fields to your backyard. You might find ground beetles under furniture, in basements, or anywhere dark and damp in your house. They love hiding under rocks, logs, or mulch in the yard.

Ground beetles aren't frequent invaders to your home, but that doesn't mean one won't wander into your garage or front entry. The best way to keep them out is similar to keeping out other invading pests.

• Keep your home and yard tidy to remove hiding spots.
• Seal up cracks and openings around your house to prevent them from coming in.
• Use sticky traps in areas where you've seen them.
• Reduce outdoor lighting around the home

Additionally, you can use an insect barrier spray around the home and along the baseboards and entrances to your home. Consider checking out Pestie's DIY, pro-grade plans for an affordable, convenient, and easy way to keep ground beetles from finding their way inside.