Anisodactylus signatus is a common black ground beetle found across temperate Europe and Asia, including Korea and Japan; it does not live in the United States. It hides under stones by day, hunts small insects at night, and has a pair of small red spots on its head.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A slender, slightly flattened black beetle about 1/2 in (12–13 mm) long, with a pair of red spots on the head and finely grooved wing covers with a dull sheen.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- under stones
- around grass roots
- open ground
- Range
- Widespread across temperate Europe and Asia, from Europe through Siberia to China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. It is not found in North America.
- Preferred conditions
- A ground-dwelling beetle that shelters under stones and debris during the day.
Behavior
- Diet
- Small insects; it is also known to eat weed seeds.
- Activity
- Mostly active at night and often comes to lights.
- Overwintering
- Overwinters as an adult.
Life cycle
- Larva
- Larvae live in the soil and feed on roots and decaying plant matter.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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