Ground Beetle
Pasimachus
Observed in Florida Canyon, Sta. Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA. 31 July 2013. Length is about 25 mm.
Sponsored Links:
Ground Beetles are predaceous and this one is one of the more formidable. It is flightless, but can run with agility and has very sharp mandibles for subduing prey such as caterpillars and crickets. Its very hard exoskeleton helps protect it from larger predators like toads or grasshopper mice. If attacked it can bite and also release a foul-smelling chemical mixture. This one was busy digging a tunnel into the soil. Perhaps it was unearthing a possible prey item?