Saving the small things that run the planetLatin name: Carabus monilis
Notable feature: Body is entirely metallic green or coppery and elytra (wing casing) has a pattern that looks like strings of beads.
Conservation Status: Endangered
Where in the UK: South Britain but as far north as Manchester and Leeds.
The Necklace Ground Beetle (Carabus monilis) is a largely predatory and scavenging beetle. Found in a variety of habitats, it is most closely associated with cultivated land and field margins.
Native to the UK, this beetle was once widespread and relatively common, especially in southern and central England. However, since the 1990s it has been less common, disappearing from many of its historic sites. England is one of its last strongholds, having already been lost from Scotland and not recently seen in Ireland. This species is only found in northern-central Europe.
The Necklace Ground Beetle was one of 10 species named by the ARC 2031 project that seem likely to go extinct in Britain in the next decade without our help.
Size: 22mm-26mm (2.2cm-2.6cm) in length.
Life span: Believed to have an annual cycle, but some adults may live for two years.
Diet:The adults forage at ground level while the larvae live on or just under the soil surface. Both adult and larvae will feed on the larvae of other insects, earthworms and molluscs but have also been recorded eating fruit.
Reproduction: The Necklace Ground Beetle breeds in the autumn.
When to see: Active from April to September. It has been recorded on a variety of habitats, however, is most frequently found in cultivated land and field margins. It is thought to prefer well-drained soils, although it is occasionally found on wetter ground.
Population Trend: Declining.
Threats: Agricultural intensification, particularly the use of pesticides and changing farming practices.
Fun (?) Fact: It can’t fly so has to walk to new habitats, which makes this species particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and changes in the environment.
Buglife is working to increase awareness of invertebrates and the Necklace Ground Beetle through specific projects and campaigns such as Middlewick Ranges but we need your help!
Join a recording scheme and log your finds – submit any records/sightings on the iRecord app.
If you’re a land manager, you might also like to take a look at our species management sheet on the Necklace Ground Beetle.
Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work. If you have searched, found and learnt about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop. For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved. Thank you 🕷
