Ground Beetle: latin name (Carabidae) Pterostichus madidus

Paul Iddon

You see them all the time - usually when gardening and you have to move some leaf mould, loose bark, or bits and pieces from off the top of the soil - and more commonly, move stones or house bricks. Very nimble and when caught and held in your hand, the ground beetle exudes the foulest of defence mechanism smells you're ever likely to come across. The Carabidae Pterostichus madidus is one of the commonest beetle in the British Isles as far as I know. Measures 15-20mm long. Here is I believe, a female (it's underside displayed the characteristics of pregnancy, though not visible in the photo) on the side of a house brick. Generally brown through to black, this specimen has a few spots of rain on the wing cases.


C&C as always.

Exif:

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D
Lens: 105mm
Image Date: 2010-05-26
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure Time: 0.250 s (1/4)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: +0.50 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Manual
Flash Fired: No
Color Space: sRGB
Photographer: Paul Iddon
Copyright: A View of the UK - Paul Iddon Photography







Paul.

Lord Vetinari

Lovely colour beetle Paul - lovely capture.
Brian v.