Other Common Names
Snail Eaters, Boat-backed Ground Beetles
Numbers
55 spp. in 9 subgenera total, all in our area
(1)Identification
key to genera of Cychrini
here
key to Mid-Atlantic species in
(3)
Habitat
Mostly forests, though some species occur in open habitats. Many eastern species are regular climbers of trees at night.
(5)Season
May-Nov (south), Jun-Sep (north)
Food
Feed on snails, slugs. Mandibles specially adapted for insertion into opening of a snail's shell.
Life Cycle
Nocturnal. Eggs typically laid under debris late spring/early summer. Overwinters as a larva, pupates in spring. May also overwinter as adult.