Ground Beetles (Carabidae) are
quick, long-legged predators, equipped with powerful
jaws. Carabus violaceus (more usually known as
the Violet Ground Beetle) is one of the largest species
in the UK, measuring about 20-30mm in length. It is often to be found during the
day under logs and stones. The one pictured was a rather
sluggish individual (hence the photos) found in
mid-October 2007 on Budby Common. It seems common around
the Dukeries area and we have found it at Eakring on a
couple of occasions. Potential confusion could come from
the very similar C. problematicus (see below) |