Species Harpalus caliginosus - Murky Ground Beetle

Dingy Ground Beetle

Harpalus caliginosus (Fabricius 1775)

18‒26 mm, larger than most congeners

Literature says head distinctly punctate, otherwise externally little different from Harpalus katiae which has head impunctate. In females the last tergite (pygidium) demonstrates an angulated apex with abrupt upturn of the margin at the tip unlike the evenly rounded apex without sudden upturn seen in Harpalus katiae. See subgenus page for more information.

transcontinental, Canada to Mexico; in our area, NS‒SK‒WA to FL‒CA(1)

Fields, cultivated land; often on Ragweed (Ambrosia)

Apr-Dec in SC(2)

Adults are predatory on other insects, esp. larvae. Also eats seeds, sometimes fruit (strawberries)

common at lights, incl. indoors(3); stridulate and release pungent odor in smokelike cloud when threatened(4)