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Submitted: July 9, 2012
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Ground Beetle eatingby ~melvynyeo

Photography / Macro / Nature

Not too sure what it's eating... look like a beetle larvae.

Although there is some variation in their body shape and coloring, most are shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra). The elytra are fused in some species, particularly large Carabinae, rendering the beetles unable to fly. The genus Mormolyce is known as violin beetles due to their peculiarly shaped elytra. All carabids except the quite primitive flanged bombardier beetles (Paussinae) have a groove on their foreleg tibiae bearing a comb of hairs. This is used for cleaning their antennae.

Common habitats are under the bark of trees, under logs, or among rocks or sand by the edge of ponds and rivers. Most species are carnivorous and actively hunt for any invertebrate prey they can overpower. Some will run swiftly to catch their prey; tiger beetles (Cicindelinae) can sustain speeds of 8 km/h (5 mph) – in relation to their body length they are among the very fastest land animals on Earth. Unlike most Carabidae which are nocturnal, the tiger beetles are active diurnal hunters and often brightly coloured; they have large eyes and hunt by sight. Ground beetles of the species Promecognathus laevissimus are specialised predators of the cyanide millipede Harpaphe haydeniana, countering the hydrogen cyanide which makes these millipedes poisonous to most carnivores.

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~Zippo4k Jul 9, 2012

The larvae might be of an endomychid, or a "handsome fungus beetle". They are relatives of the Coccinellids (ladybird beetles), but as their name suggests they feed on fungi instead of other insects like their more popular cousins.

~melvynyeo Aug 17, 2012

Yes! Thanks for id the poor larva!

*herofan135 Jul 9, 2012

Such colours!

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