The beetle lives in the soil. Who is the Caucasian ground beetle? Dealing with uninvited guests
Morphology of adults
Sizes range from very small, barely exceeding 1 mm, to very large, almost 10 cm.
The body shape is very variable, and although most species have an elongated more or less oval body, some groups are characterized by a rounded shape in the form of a biconvex lens or a flat leaf-like body. Cave species often have a strongly convex body with a huge head and a deep constriction at the base of the pronotum, which gives them some external resemblance to ants.
The coloration is most often blackish or metallic, the pigment coloration is typical only for certain, for the most part, epiphytic and adductor groups of ground beetles. For secretive species, depigmentation of the body is characteristic.
The head is directed forward and ends in strong pointed jaws, the shape of which depends on the type of food. A number of predatory groups are characterized by long sickle-shaped mandibles, well adapted for holding prey. In contrast, herbivorous forms typically have massive and blunt jaws adapted to rubbing plant substrate. Antennae 11-segmented, in most species filiform or bristle-like, only in paussins they often acquire a bizarre shape, in Lorocera they are covered, in addition to the usual fine pubescence, with separate long setae. The eyes in species with diurnal or predominantly twilight activity are large and convex (especially large in some horses), in nocturnal species they are of medium size, in numerous soil or cave forms they are more or less reduced up to complete disappearance.
Pronotum of the most diverse form. Ecological specialization is often reflected precisely in the shape of the pronotum, the nature of the articulation of which with the elytra largely determines the degree of mobility of the anterior part of the body - the narrower the base of the pronotum, the higher this mobility. Therefore, the most specialized burrowing species and various types of boreholes are distinguished by a peculiar constricted body shape. The shield in the vast majority of species is well developed, only in exceptional cases is reduced - for example, in some cave forms.
The legs are usually thin and relatively long, well adapted for walking and running; in burrowing forms, they are strongly thickened and serrated along the outer edge and are often equipped with teeth and outgrowths. The tarsi are 5-segmented, the hind coxae are without femoral operculum, and usually meet at the midline and cross the first abdominal segment. The trochanters are well developed, sometimes very long, in exceptional cases even longer than the femora. On the front legs of most ground beetles there is a notch - a special toilet organ designed to clean the antennae. The 4th tarsal segment in epiphytic species often has a deep notch, into which the ungual segment is inserted, thus forming a specialized organ for grasping plants. The same segment in cave species usually has a membranous process that helps to attach to the substrate when climbing cave walls.
Morphology of larvae
Requirements for abiotic factors
habitats
The extraordinary ecological plasticity of the members of the family is the reason for the widespread abundance of these beetles. Ground beetles inhabit virtually the entire range of latitudes from cold tundras to deserts and rainforests; in the mountains they rise to the subnival belt and in most cases are one of the most characteristic components of adnival ecosystems.
Daily Activity
In ground beetles, all the main types of daily activity are known. The boundary between nocturnal and diurnal species is often very uncertain, both due to intrapopulation heterogeneity and seasonal variations in diurnal activity. It is important to note that oligothermy, meso- and hygrophility of most species of ground beetles are often the key to understanding the features of the circadian rhythms of ground beetles. In spring, under conditions of relatively high soil moisture, abundance of precipitation and low temperatures, many species, usually classified as nocturnal, lead a daytime lifestyle. Thus, in spring, in the open landscapes of the steppe zone, purely visual surveys make it possible not only to detect, but even to estimate the abundance of almost all dominant and subdominant species. At the beginning of summer, many active Carabus, Pterostichus, Calathus and Nebria can be observed in the alpine meadows during the day, which later become almost exclusively nocturnal. Interestingly, a similar phenomenon is more characteristic of the Carpathians and the humid regions of the Caucasus, while in the drier mountains of Central Asia and the Eastern Caucasus, it occurs only in a limited range of species. As the average daily temperatures rise and the soil dries out, the peak of their activity gradually shifts to twilight and then to night hours. Such changes occur quite easily, since at the height of summer diurnal species have a peak of activity in the second half of the day, and nocturnal ones - in the first hours after sunset, and thus, to move from one group to another, it is enough to change the peak of activity by only a few hours.
The coincidence of the peak of diurnal activity of most species precisely to sunset, and not to sunrise, proves that the key adverse factor to which adaptation occurs is a lack of humidity, and not high temperatures, since it is precisely due to a decrease in temperature that an increase in relative humidity in the evening occurs. clock. In all likelihood, solar insolation may also be the most important adverse factor. This is supported by the intense metallic coloration of a number of diurnal and predominantly nocturnal activity of many adnival species. These latter are found high in the mountains at the edge of melting snowfields and are often characterized by depigmentation and thinning of the integument. Such morphological changes are quite understandable from the point of view of the absence of the need to combat moisture deficiency, but they make adnival species very vulnerable to solar radiation and probably force them to be nocturnal in conditions that at first glance seem unsuitable for this. If in the Western Caucasus you go out to the edge of the snowfield after sunset, then at a temperature of about 0 degrees, often in an icy wind, you can find many representatives of the genus Nebria of the tenella group scurrying directly on the snow surface, which check each hole in the snow with palps in search of thawed organic remains , recently frozen careless insects, etc. The above example demonstrates a certain relationship between the biotopic specialization of a species and the nature of daily activity. From this point of view, the type of food is also important. Most phytophils and many adventitious species are active during the day. On the contrary, among geobionts and mixophytophages, the vast majority of species are nocturnal.
Often, in connection with the nature of the daily dynamics, the flight of ground beetles to light is also considered (Kryzhanovsky, 1983). Flight is most intense in arid landscapes, usually at sufficiently high night temperatures. Ground beetles flying towards the light can be conditionally divided into 2 large groups. One includes species that make a dispersal flight, the latter is performed by recently released young beetles, and as they mature, the ability to fly is lost, which may even be accompanied by irreversible resorption of the wing muscles. Such a flight for each species acquires a massive character only once a season. The other group includes species that fly towards the light more or less evenly throughout the season. In this case, mass years can be observed several times in one season, provoked by various circumstances (for example, in coastal species - drying up of a reservoir).
Seasonal dynamics
The vast majority of ground beetles belong to monovoltine species and give only one generation per year. In the polar regions and at high altitudes, some of these species do not have time to complete development in one season, and then development continues for two years. Wintering beetles are usually of different ages and some of them hibernate a second time. Some species always develop for more than one year. Less well known are cases when two generations of ground beetles develop in a year. In general, ground beetles are characterized by endogenous diapause. Reactivation is temperature or photoperiodic, in the second case it is often two-stage, consisting of an obligatory short-day and subsequent long-day phases. In some species, the management of reactivation is different between males and females. Summer estivation is known for a number of species.
Traditionally, according to the type of seasonal dynamics, ground beetles are divided into 3 main groups: spring with autumn activity (overwintered adults reproduce in spring, beetles finish their development during the summer, activity is observed in young adults in autumn), spring without autumn activity (unlike the previous group, adults do not emerge in autumn). from the pupal cradle) and autumn species (larvae hibernate, adults breed in the second half of summer and autumn). This division was proposed on the basis of museum material (Larsson, 1939). Subsequent field studies greatly enriched our understanding of the types of seasonal dynamics of ground beetles, but the division into spring and autumn species has stood the test of time. The most developed system of annual rhythms, taking into account the nature of diapause, was proposed by Thiele (Thiele, 1977). Most often, ground beetles reproduce during the wettest season - winter in arid countries and the monsoon period in tropical countries. For cave species of ground beetles, annual rhythms are not known.
Practical value
The vast majority of ground beetles are polyphagous predators, which, combined with their high abundance, largely determines their practical significance. Due to the absence of a determining dependence on the density of the pest, ground beetles can stop the increase in the number of the pest even before the latter reaches the threshold of harmfulness. The complexity of breeding will probably never allow the use of flood releases, seasonal colonization, etc., with beneficial beetles, but the use of gentle plant protection products, thoughtful arrangement of various crops, and proper crop rotation make it possible to increase the efficiency of these entomophages within the framework of the intensively developed strategy of rational land use.
Successful examples of the acclimatization of a number of ground beetle species (in particular, beetles) in North America are also well known. Among phytophage and mixophage beetles, there are economically significant pests, of which several species of grain beetles (representatives of the genus Zabrus) are best known.
Classification
The scope and boundaries of the family have not yet been settled and depend on the author and the corresponding scientific school. The most fractional system was adopted by French entomologists, who divide the ground beetles into almost fifty independent families, for the most part corresponding to subfamilies and tribes in the understanding of other authors.
Partial list of subfamilies and genera:
- Brachininae Bonelli, 1810 (certain tribes are Bombardier beetles)
- Brachinus Weber, 1801
- Carabinae Latreille, 1802
- Calosoma Weber, 1801
- carabus Linnaeus, 1758
- Cychrus Fabricius, 1794
- Leistus Frölich, 1799
- Nebria Latreille, 1802
- Notiophilus Dumeril, 1806
- Pelophila Dejean, 1821
- Cicindelinae Latreille, 1802
- Cicindela Linnaeus, 1758
- Cylindera Westwood, 1831
- Elaphrinae Latreille, 1802
- Blethissa Bonelli, 1810
- Diacheila Motschulsky, 1845
- Elaphrus Fabricius, 1775
- Harpalinae Bonelli, 1810
- Abax Bonelli, 1810
- Acupalpus Dejean, 1829
- Agonum Bonelli, 1810
- Amara Bonelli, 1810
- Anchomenus Bonelli, 1810
- Anisodactylus Dejean, 1829
- Anthracus Motschulsky, 1850
- badister Clairville, 1806
- Bradycellus Erichson, 1837
- Calathus Bonelli, 1810
- callistus Bonelli, 1809
- Calodromius Reitter, 1905
- Chlaenius Bonelli, 1810
- Cymindis Latreille, 1806
- Demetrias Bonelli, 1810
- Diachromus Erichson, 1837
- Dicheirotrichus Jacqelin du Val, 1857
- Dolichus Bonelli, 1810
- Dromius Bonelli, 1810
- Harpalus Latreille, 1802
- Laemostenus Bonelli, 1810
- Lebia Latreille, 1802
- Licinus Latreille, 1802
- Lionychus Wissman, 1846
- Masoreus Dejean, 1821
- Microderes Faldermann, 1835
- Microlestes Schmidt-Goebel, 1846
- Odacantha Paykull, 1798
- Olisthopus Dejean, 1828
- Oodes Bonelli, 1810
- Ophonus Stephens, 1828
- Oxyselaphus Chaudoir, 1843
- Panagaeus Latreille, 1802
- Paradromius Fowler, 1887
- Paranchus Lindroth, 1974
- Pedius Motschulsky, 1850
- Perigona Laporte de Castelnau, 1835
- Philorhizus Hope, 1838
- Platyderus Stephens, 1828
- Platynus Bonelli, 1810
- Plochionus Wiedemann, 1823
- Poecilus Bonelli, 1810
- Pterostichus Bonelli, 1810
- Sericoda Kirby, 1837
- Sphodrus Clairville, 1806
- Stenolophus Dejean, 1821
- Stomis Clairville, 1806
- Syntomus Hope, 1838
- Synuchus Gyllenhal, 1810
- Zabrus Clairville, 1806
- Loricerinae Bonelli, 1810
- Loricera Latreille, 1802
- Omophroninae Bonelli, 1810
- Omophron Latreille, 1802
- paussinae
- Arthropterus Macleay, 1838
- Megalopaussus Lea, 1906
- Mystropomus Chaudoir, 1848
- Scaritinae Bonelli, 1810
- Dyschirius Bonelli, 1810
- Trechinae Bonelli, 1810
- Aepus Samouelle, 1819
- Asaphidion Des Gozis, 1886
- Bembidion Latreille, 1802
- Blemus Dejean, 1821
- Broscus Panzer, 1813
- Cillenus Leach, 1819
- miscodera Eschscholtz, 1830
- Ocys Stephens, 1828
- Patrobus Dejean, 1821
- Perileptus Schaum, 1860
- Pogonus Dejean, 1821
- Porotachys Netolitzky, 1914
- Rhysodes Dejean, 1821
- Tachyra Motschulsky, 1862
- Tachys Dejean, 1821
- Tachyta Kirby, 1837
- Trechoblemus Ganglbauer, 1891
- Trechus Clairville, 1806
August can be a little sad - autumn, followed by a long winter, is already on the threshold. But the flower beds are still full of multicolor, and their colors create an atmosphere of warmth and joy. The rich palette of August flower beds mainly consists of yellows, oranges, and crimson tones. And it seems as if the garden has become warmer and the color of the sun has increased. What flowers should definitely be planted in flower beds so that they brighten up the inevitable departure of summer with flowering?
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One of the most numerous representatives of insects is rightfully common in the world of fauna. Ground beetle in the photo clearly shows the advantage of its appearance as a giant beetle.
The number of more than 3000 species in the Russian Federation is growing and increasing every year. The world number has 25,000-50,000 species. According to the way of life, it belongs to predators, among which economic pests make up a significant part.
Features and habitat
Coleoptera ground beetle, description large family differs in the following ways:
- the size;
- external building;
- the form;
- coloring;
- chaetotaxy - the position of the setae;
- structure of the genitals.
ground beetle has other names: ordinary, garden, forest. Sizes vary from the smallest -1 mm to more than 10 cm. The shape of the body is also varied. In addition to the characteristic rounded biconvex or leaf-shaped lens, it contains an elongated or oval type.
The surface is smooth, rough or coarse-grained. The cave view is outwardly similar to, represented by a convex body with a deep constriction on the back and a huge head.
Cave beetle
Some species that inhabit sandy beaches resemble God with their rounded shapes.
The sex of the insect can be determined from the proportions of the body and the arrangement of setae on the anal segment. Males are usually smaller in size than females. The head, slightly retracted into the chest or up to the eyes, looks forward, ending in a strong pointed lower and upper jaw.
Their shape is determined by the type of food. Many carnivores are characterized by a long upper jaw in the form of a sickle (mandible), which firmly holds the prey. Herbivores with massive and blunt jaws are adapted to grind the plant substrate.
The anterior half of the forehead contains an indentation: the long one is the frontal groove, the short one is the frontal fossa. The organ of hearing is located in the middle or at the base of the chin.
Segmental filiform antennae are equipped with one or more long setae. Males have longer antennae. The chest is presented in various forms. Its narrow type contributes to good mobility. Burrowing species are distinguished by a constricted body type.
Many beetles fly poorly or do not fly at all, using their wings only for settling. In flying - hard elytra almost completely cover the abdomen. Underdeveloped or absent elytra in some species sometimes fuse together.
Relatively long and thin legs with 5-segmented tarsi are well adapted for running and walking. Agile movement is associated with the property of weakening or losing flight. Males differ from females in enlarged segments.
In burrowing representatives, they are more thickened. The fore tibia contain a tenderloin - an organ for cleaning the antennae. With the help of the claw segment, the beetles are well attached to the substrate and clasp the plant.
The coloration of insects is very diverse with a predominance of dark colors. Very often there is an iridescent tint and a metallic tint. Such brightly colored representatives include the largest - ground beetle Caucasian reaching a length of up to 6 cm.
An inhabitant of the North Caucasus is included under the protection of Red Russia. The shiny blue body of the beetle can be purple or green in color with a metallic sheen on the underside.
Members of the family have extraordinary ecological plasticity and are distributed everywhere from the cold tundra to tropical forests and deserts. In addition to Russia, they can often be found in Ukraine, Moldova, England, Sweden, South and North Africa.
They live mainly in the upper layer of the soil or on it, sometimes on trees. They are inhabitants of a climate with high humidity, like a moderate temperature regime.
Caucasian ground beetle
Character and lifestyle
Are located to a ground way of life. They live in small groups consisting of different species of the family. The dwelling is located in small layers of soil, under stones, at the base of shrubs and grasses. Only a few small species prefer to settle on shrubs and trees.
The daily activity of beetles divides them into 3 types:
- day;
- night;
- daily.
Basically, insects are located to the nocturnal lifestyle, during which they hunt for food. Thanks to powerful and strong limbs, they quickly move over fairly long distances, for which they received the names - walkers and runners.
The day period is completely spent in their shelter. For wintering, towards the end of the autumn cold, they burrow into the ground until spring. With the onset of warmth, they rise to the surface and continue their vital activity.
Nickname bombardier beetle Crimean ground beetle acquired thanks to the protective fluid located in the anal gland. Throws it at the enemy, sensing danger and persecution.
The foul-smelling toxic mixture reaches a hot temperature when released and explodes with a loud click, evaporating instantly in the form of a cloud. A frightened predator with tangible burns takes to flight. The supply of reagents is enough for 15-35 volleys.
Nutrition
Among the insect family, there are species with a mixed type of nutrition that eat both plant and animal food.
Genus Ground beetles eats:
- insects;
- shellfish;
- caterpillars;
- grape;
- rain;
- phytophages;
- vegetable food.
The predator lies in wait for its prey in a shelter or quickly catches up with the help of long, muscular long legs. Thanks to extraintestinal digestion, it holds it with powerful jaws, pouring out a secret from the midgut to soften hard tissue.
Any chitinous cover easily lends itself to strong jaws. The process of absorption and digestion takes place quickly from 2 to 4 hours, turning into a liquid slurry. When eating, it gnaws out the mollusk itself, leaving its house intact. A satiated insect burrows into the ground for several days.
herbivorous ground beetle is a crop pest in the fields, where he constantly spends time. Likes agricultural grains of wheat, barley and rye. At night, it climbs on ears and eats grains.
After harvesting, it is firmly concentrated on areas with spilled grain. It also consumes weeds, nibbling young leaves and leaving only veins. With pleasure it feasts on nectar and pollen on flowers.
Reproduction and lifespan
Ground beetle refers to long-lived beetles - from 3 to 5 years. The life cycle of an insect gradually passes from egg to larva, pupa and adult. The breeding season begins after the mating season in spring, which usually takes place in the month of April.
grain beetle
A single laying of 50-80 eggs is carried out by one female directly into the soil to a depth of 3 cm. To do this, she chooses a wet place with fertile soil. Larvae weighing up to 160 mg and up to 2 cm long appear after 13-14 days.
They have 6 short claw-shaped legs. Their white color becomes purple-black after 10 hours. The jaws of small predators after 40 hours from birth already have the power to eat terrestrial mollusks. Clinging tightly to the victim, despite its persistence and the release of mucus and foam, it buries itself into the soil with it and eats it.
Larval development is completed by the end of summer. There is a subsequent stage - pupation, which lasts 15-25 days. The naked body of the pupa looks like an adult beetle.
A characteristic feature is the tufts of protruding setae on the back and lateral surface of the abdominal segment. The pupa is mostly in a cradle made of soil or substrate.
In winter, it enters the state of imago with a duration of 2-3 years. The first appearance of young individuals depends on climatic conditions and is observed in May-June. This mainly occurs at the beginning of the ripening of the grain crop.
Mass appearance can be seen in the milky stage of winter ripeness. In August, it falls into diapause - the stop of the shaping process, and burrows into the ground up to 40 cm.
How to deal with a beetle pest
Malicious beetle how to get rid of from an insidious predator - this question is relevant among many gardeners and gardeners. Insect damage brings trouble not only to agricultural plots, but also to houses that annoying beetles manage to penetrate.
An integrated approach with agrotechnical and chemical measures, with a quick harvest without spilling the grain, contributes to maximum protection against the pest.
black ground beetle for the house - not a frequent and unpleasant phenomenon. Their stay in the apartment is not long due to lack of food. However, they are able to infect all rooms with larvae. The obvious factors in the spread of domestic are:
- food: flour, cereals, potatoes, etc.;
- food waste;
- trash;
- firewood;
- old wood.
Immediate action to eliminate insects will help get rid of a large-scale spread. In the fight against beetles, effective means are:
- general cleaning with a thorough search for their location;
- surface treatment with solutions of baking soda or vinegar;
- the use of insecticidal insecticides;
- protective mesh on the windows.
It is also necessary to monitor the safety of food in closed form. Most species of ground beetle reach a large number and are of tangible importance in the natural and anthropogenic ecosystem. Insects are indicators of the state of the surrounding space and the presence of pollution introduced by humans.
Experienced gardeners most likely already know who the ground beetle (Carabidae) is and what useful functions it performs in the garden.
For beginner summer residents and gardeners, it will not be superfluous to learn more about this giant beetle, which is common in almost all of our regions. The beetle also bears the name - forest beetle, garden beetle, common beetle.
Important! For a personal plot or garden, all types of these beetles will be useful, with the exception of one - the grain beetle (black beetle), which must be destroyed if you have cereal crops.
Ground beetles: description
Speaking about what a ground beetle looks like, you need to know that the species of this beetle are diverse and we have up to 2700 of its subspecies. The differences will be in size - the size of the body, legs, antennae, color, some features of the development of insects.
Did you know? In total, more than 32,000 (!) representatives of the ground beetle family are known in the world.
The common garden ground beetle is a large mustachioed beetle up to 1.7-3 cm in length, dark graphite in color with a metallic sheen. On the body on the flaps there are small golden indentations and oblong grooves. It has developed strong paws that allow it to move quickly and deftly, and also, since the ground beetle is a predator, powerful strong jaws.
Features of the life cycle of the ground beetle
Females lay 50 to 80 eggs at a time, choosing a fertile, fairly moist area in the top layer of the earth for this. The eggs then hatch into larvae. The larva of the ground beetle with time (from 3-4 weeks and in some species up to two years) turns into a pupa, which then becomes an adult insect. Adult individuals are nocturnal - they hunt at night, but remain in shelter during the day. What does the ground beetle eat and where does the ground beetle live? It feeds mainly on caterpillars,earthworms, slugs, snails, as well as small insects, flies, molluscs, seeds and plant roots. The dwelling where the ground beetle lives is either shallow layers of soil, or on the surface at the base of grasses, shrubs, under stones. Ground beetles live in small groups, which may include beetles of different species.
Did you know? The ground beetle is a long-lived beetle. Lives - 3-5 years and winters well, hiding under sheds, warehouses, foundations of houses.
What is the use of ground beetles in the garden, how to attract ground beetles
Ground beetles eat harmful garden insects, caterpillars, snails and slugs that destroy household and garden crops. The common ground beetle is the easiest, most natural and environmentally friendly way to deal with these pests. That is, if there are a lot of ground beetles, then you can do without chemicals and drugs to combat garden pests. And thus get a clean harvest and avoid unnecessary spending on chemical protection.
The ground beetle saves the harvest by destroying sexually mature pests and, in fact, does not allow them to multiply. Meanwhile, not all chemical preparations work equally well at different stages of pest development, and it is because of this that several sprayings per season have to be done.
Important! AT On average, one ground beetle destroys from 150 to 300 larvae, pupae and adult caterpillars during the summer months.
Therefore, these orderly bugs do not need to be destroyed, but on the contrary, it is desirable to increase their population on the site. If the question is how to quickly attract more ground beetles to your garden or garden, then, firstly, you need to create habitats for them. To do this, leave pieces of tree bark, heaps of leaves, sawdust, small stones on the site - everything that will serve as a refuge for beetles. And secondly, if possible, do not use chemical agents for pest control. Ground beetles are sensitive to chemicals, which also have a detrimental effect on them.
Those who feed on the ground beetle itself are birds, but they do this infrequently due to one feature of the beetles. In case of danger (as well as for immobilizing prey), beetles secrete an unpleasant substance, so birds try to avoid ground beetles.
Can the ground beetle harm the garden and vegetable garden
For vegetable gardens, more precisely fields and crops, bread (black) ground beetle or humpbacked peun is dangerous. And the reason is what this ground beetle eats. Instead of garden and garden pests, it eats leaves, shoots (larvae) and grain of cereal crops, both cultivated, which is especially important, and wild. In addition to eating grains, beetles undermine the ear, and the whole grain crumbles to the ground. Approximate crop losses can be 30-35 grains in 10-12 days from one adult beetle.
The grain beetle differs from the garden beetle in description. It is richly black in color, smaller - 1.3-1.6 cm in length, with short brown or red antennae, perfectly adapted to a dry and hot climate. The peak of the invasion of brooding beetles on crops is the end of May-beginning of June.
The ground beetle is another bright representative of the insect family, which can cause some harm to humans, destroying food, as well as crops. However, not all types of ground beetles are considered harmful: there are beneficial insects of this species. An insect often appears in a person's home, causing significant harm to food, as well as to the room. Everyone who met this pest thought about how to get rid of this insect.
This article explains what the beetle looks like and how to get rid of it, armed with various methods.
In appearance, it is not difficult to distinguish this pest from other insects. The features of the beetle are as follows:
- The beetle has an oval body shape.
- Body color - pure black, with a metallic sheen.
- The beetle has a powerful jaw structure, which helps it to eat various hard vegetation and grains of various crops.
- He has a mustache covered with small bristles.
- The beetle is distinguished by the presence of long legs, which allows it to quickly move over the surface and over long distances. The front legs are equipped with small growths with which the beetle cleans its whiskers.
- The elytra of the insect are relatively large and almost completely cover the abdomen.
The size of the wings depends on the availability of food. The larger it is, the smaller the wings, since the beetle does not have to fly long distances in search of food.
The grain beetle loves places with high humidity and moderate temperatures. Therefore, in arid regions, this insect did not take root. This beetle can be found in the north of the African continent, in South America, Sweden, England, in the south of Ukraine, in Russia and on the territory of Moldova.
The beetle mates during the warm period, throughout the summer and autumn. At the same time, atmospheric conditions are of great importance. The more optimal they are for beetles, the larger the population of these insects. In dry years, the number of beetle offspring is sharply reduced. The beetle prefers to lay its eggs in the ground, at a depth of about 10 cm. After a few weeks, ground beetle larvae appear from the eggs.
When born, the larvae of the beetle are distinguished by a grayish-white tint. In this form, the larvae hibernate, and with the advent of spring they rise closer to the surface of the soil, where they begin their vital activity. So they eat for about five weeks, changing their color to green, and then to black. By mid-spring, the larvae begin to pupate.
How does a ground beetle penetrate a human dwelling?
This pest is found not only in the garden or in the garden, but also in the apartment, in the country, as well as in a private house. They penetrate into a person's home as follows:
- Beetles and larvae can appear in the house along with wood, as well as with street garbage.
- These insects are attracted to the smell of pet food if left unattended and left with food debris.
- Ground beetles easily enter the house through open windows and doors. Therefore, it is advisable to install mosquito nets on the windows, and close the doorways with a transparent cloth.
- These bugs can live in old furniture, under window sills, in crevices in window frames, etc.
- In addition, they are often found by housewives among bulk food products.
The grain beetle, as a rule, eats grain crops and can cause significant damage to the crop. The destruction of the crop is carried out not only by adults, but also by larvae. Adults suck out nutrients, and larvae actively eat green mass. They raid wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes eat corn, oats, etc. When there is not enough food for the beetle, it actively feeds on leeks.
These beetles pose a certain danger to both crops and food that are in a person's home. This beetle is active at night, and during the day it hides in various shelters. Once in a person's home, he can take root if the conditions are favorable for this and if they do not actively fight against him. As a rule, with the onset of darkness, he begins to look for food.
He searches the apartment for leftover food left after dinner on the dining table, as well as stocks of bulk food that are stored in the kitchen furniture and have free access to them. In addition, they do not allow residents to sleep, making rustling sounds. After they have settled in a house or apartment, their reproduction should be expected, which cannot be allowed.
It is important to know! Having found a ground beetle in the house, it is necessary to immediately take measures to get rid of such a neighborhood until the beetles begin to multiply. The fewer insects, the easier it is to deal with them.
The common ground beetle does no harm, but the grain beetle can easily destroy the crop crops if special measures are not taken. Bread beetles are somewhat different from their relatives: they have shorter legs and an almost black body color. This pest can appear on a personal plot if crops are grown on the plot.
In the fight against this pest, the following recommendations of experts can help. Tips may be as follows:
- When growing crops, care should be taken that they are planted on the site no more than 2 years in a row. After that, it is better to sow the site with other crops.
- When planting plants, it is better to treat them with special pesticides that will not allow pests to multiply, as they will destroy beetle larvae.
- The ground beetle eats both ears and grains of cereals. Therefore, during the period of plant maturation, it is better to treat the field with such chemicals as Volaton, Bazudin, Nurel and others.
The garden ground beetle, on the contrary, destroys various pests of fruit plants, helping to preserve the crop. To maintain the number of garden beetles, you must adhere to the following tips:
- The garden beetle is included in the diet of moles, shrews and other birds of prey and lizards. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent these natural enemies of ground beetles from inhabiting a personal plot.
- Ground beetles should not be deliberately destroyed in a garden or in a personal plot, if it does not grow crops.
- In such cases, it is better to abandon the use of toxic substances, and give preference to folk remedies.
It will not be possible to grow ground beetles on your own, therefore, it will be necessary to maintain their numbers in the garden or in the garden using the simple methods mentioned above.
Bread beetles, when they appear in the apartment, will only bring harm, because they easily destroy the stocks of bulk food, and also will not let you sleep at night.
If you decide to carry out processing in the house, then you should do this:
- First of all, you need to determine the place of accumulation of ground beetles and during the general cleaning in this place it is good to work.
- After eating, it is advisable to remove all leftover food from the table. Empty the trash can regularly. If this is not done, they are sure to find leftover food wherever they are.
- All surfaces, but especially in the kitchen, are best treated with chemical control agents, such as Dichlorvos or Karbofos. Similar pest control chemicals are available at any hardware store. Alternatively, a solution based on vinegar or soda is suitable. For 1 liter of liquid, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of vinegar or soda.
If a lot of ground beetles divorced in the house and they spoiled some food, then it is better to get rid of such products immediately. Unfortunately, not all housewives are ready for such actions and try to save food in various ways. The most suitable of them:
- Calcining cereals in the oven. Various cereals, including semolina, can be roasted in the oven at a temperature of 50 degrees or more. It is better to calcine flour at a temperature of about 110 degrees. This procedure should take at least half an hour.
- Application of UV rays. Many insects cannot withstand direct sunlight, as they include UV rays that adversely affect many microorganisms. Therefore, it is enough to take out the cereals in the sun for several hours.
- Cold fight. If the cereals are put in the freezer for several hours, then both adults and larvae will die.
Naturally, after the beetles “work” with cereals, it makes no sense to talk about the quality of food products. Therefore, the best option is to throw them away and start processing kitchen furniture. It is treated with a solution of vinegar. In addition, as a preventive measure, arrange small bouquets of lavender, mint, wormwood or other strongly smelling plants in the lockers. The aroma of these plants will not allow these pests to reappear in a person’s home.
Since ground beetles appear to a greater extent in the house, moving from household plots, preventive measures should be comprehensive. First, it is necessary to treat the personal plot with special chemicals, in combination with agrotechnical measures, which include deep digging of the soil. The larvae find themselves in the cold and die during real cold weather.
It is equally important to use preventive measures in the home.
Constant monitoring of cleanliness in the house is an important factor that can prevent the appearance of such pests in the house. Therefore, regular cleaning in the apartment and monitoring the condition of bulk food should become a habit. When old furniture is changed to new, it is necessary to carefully examine the new furniture for intruders. For greater certainty, it is better to treat it with a solution based on soda or vinegar.
This pest can start in flour or potatoes, as well as in various cereals. When buying bulk food in supermarkets or on the market, it is better to carefully examine them for the presence of pests. You constantly need to sort out potatoes and cereals in order to detect insects in time. Bulk food is best stored in a transparent container.
The beetle can easily enter through open windows and doors, so you need to take measures to prevent this from happening. It is better to install mosquito nets on the windows, and hang tulle or other fabric on open doors.
Corn beetles are very dangerous pests that damage crops. But the garden ground beetle, on the contrary, helps gardeners to preserve the harvest of horticultural crops. If grain crops are not grown near a person’s dwelling, then there will be no bread ground beetle, and one should not deal with the destruction of garden ground beetles.