Ground Beetle
Harpilini
This ground beetle, about 7 mm long, was hunting for small insects on the stucco below a porch light. Glendale, Arizona, July 2010.
Carabidae -- Ground Beetle Family
Most ground beetles in the family Carabidae are predaceous especially on other insects. In urban areas electric lights bring in many insects which become food for a variety of predators such as spiders, scorpions and geckos. These beetles seem to prefer taking scraps of insects and those that have become too moribund to fly away. The larvae inhabit turf or leaf litter in the garden where they also feed on small insects. Ground Beetles are represented by many very similar species. Their study has proven very inciteful for those studying ecological principles.