Ground beetles

Ground beetles, Carabidae, whole Applied June 1980 0.19 after 14 days, and 0.12 after 21 days After 10 days, beetles contained 0.12 mg/kg 1... 

Widespread use of mirex may lead to altered population structure in terrestrial systems, with resurgence or escalation of nontarget pests due to selective mirex-induced mortality of predators (NAS 1978). For example, populations of immature horn flies and rove beetles, two species of arthropods normally preyed upon by fire ants, were higher in mirex-treated areas than in control areas (Howard and Oliver 1978). Conversely, other species, such as crickets, ground beetles, and various species of oil-loving ants, were directly affected and populations were still depressed or eliminated 14 months posttreatment (NAS 1978), whereas fire ants recovered to higher than pretreatment levels, as judged by mound numbers and mound size (Summerlin et al. 1977). 

Winter digging can expose overwintering pests for predation by birds and ground beetles. However, don t go too far when tidying up the garden spare a thought for the beetles, centipedes, and toads that play a vital role in pest control. They need safe, undisturbed locations to thrive. 

Kromp, B. and K.-H. Steinberger (1992). Grassy field margins and arthropod diversity a case study on ground beetles and spiders in eastern Austria (Coleoptera Carabidae Arachnida Aranei, Opiliones). Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment AQ 71-93. 

Pfiffner, L. and U. Niggii (1996). Effects of bio-dynamic, organic and conventional farming on ground beetles (Col. Carabidae) and other epigaeic arthropods in winter wheat. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 12 353-364. 

Ground Beetles Large, shiiy, dark brown beetles Feed on caterpillars, armyworms and cutworms... 

Ground beetles, Carabidae, whole Applied June 1980... 

Many beneficial predatory arthropods, including ground beetles and spiders, are increased by no-till. For example, no-till soybean had 17.6 carabid beetles/m2, compared with 0.38/m2 in plowed soybean fields (House and Parmalee, 1985). Higher beneficial arthropod populations have been correlated with reductions in crop losses due to certain pests. 

Kramarz P. 1999b. The dynamics of accumulation and decontamination of cadmium and zinc in carnivorous invertebrates. 1. The ground beetle, Poecilus cupreus L. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 63 531-537. 

Cresol Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) (Poaceae) Ground-beetle (Calosoma)... 

The most important useful species is the ladybird, but ground beetles, soft beetles, predatory beetles and rove beetles are also known enemies of pests. 

Seedcorn beetle larvae are white, slender, V2" long grubs adults are A" long ground beetles with light brown edges. Roth larvae and adults feed on seeds. 

Predatory insects such as lady beetles or ground beetles eat many other insects during their life cycles. Some have restricted tastes for example, aphid midges feed only on aphids. Others, like praying mantids or assassin bugs, may be able to eat almost any species of insect they catch. These general predators often eat pollen as well and may suck plant juices when food is scarce or they need water. 

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