Help with beetle larvae id

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Norton
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Help with beetle larvae id

Post by Norton »

Help with beetle larvae id:

Hi All,

I found this beetle larvae in the garden today.
Any help with id would be great.

Kind regards,

Paul

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DonSten
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Re: Help with beetle larvae id

Post by DonSten »

Hi Paul,

The larva is a final instar Carabus violaceus - the Violet Ground Beetle.

There are a few Carabus species with similar larvae but this one is distinguishable by the orange head.

Cheers,

Don

Norton
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Re: Help with beetle larvae id

Post by Norton »

Hi Don,

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.

Kind regards,
Paul

DonSten
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Re: Help with beetle larvae id

Post by DonSten »

Hi Paul,

It's a pleasure and thanks for the thanks!

I have looked at a variety of beetle larvae over the years but generally they are poorly known.
They can be a useful way to record a species if you don't find adults.
For example - I have seen the larva of the Click beetle Stenagostus rhombeus many times, but never the adult. Not surprising really as it only lives for a couple of weeks and tends to be nocturnal, so many records are from moth traps.

Best wishes,

Don

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