# Pterostichus burmeisteri

The Pterostichus burmeisteri is a shiny black beetle that loves to hide under rocks and leaves. It helps keep the environment clean by eating dead plants and insects.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Pterostichus burmeisteri](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pterostichus_burmeisteri01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pterostichus_burmeisteri01.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pterostichus burmeisteri is a medium-sized ground beetle with a sleek, glossy black body. It features distinct grooves on its wing covers (elytra) and reddish-brown legs and antennae, making it appear darker than many other common ground beetles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Carabidae
- **Genus:** Pterostichus

## Interesting facts

- Its tough exoskeleton acts like armor, protecting it from bumps and bites!
- Many Pterostichus beetles cannot fly, preferring to scurry super fast!
- They can sense ground vibrations to find hidden prey lurking nearby!
- This beetle helps gardeners by eating slugs and other common pests!

## Special abilities

- **Stinky Spray Shield:** Pterostichus burmeisteri can release a foul-smelling liquid to deter predators, helping them escape danger.
- **Nocturnal Hunter Eyes:** Pterostichus burmeisteri has specialized vision that helps them navigate and hunt efficiently in the darkness of night.
- **Speedy Soil Digger:** Pterostichus burmeisteri has strong legs adapted for quickly burrowing into soil, helping them hide from threats.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 12-18 mm
- **Lifespan:** 365-1095 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

A tiny hunter that keeps garden pests in check by munching on smaller insects and their larvae.

- **Primary Foods:** slugs, snails, insect larvae, earthworms, small invertebrates
- **Foraging Method:** Pursuit

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — A key predator of garden molluscs.
- **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Often hunted by insectivorous birds.
- **Eaten by:** [Common shrew](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-shrew) (*Sorex araneus*) — A food source for small mammals.
- **Eats:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Consumes earthworms encountered during foraging.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and don’t touch insects unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pterostichus burmeisteri?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Pterostichus burmeisteri?

12-18 mm

### How long does Pterostichus burmeisteri live?

365-1095 days

### What does Pterostichus burmeisteri eat?

A tiny hunter that keeps garden pests in check by munching on smaller insects and their larvae.

### Where is Pterostichus burmeisteri usually found?

Forests

### How does Pterostichus burmeisteri hunt?

Pursuit

### How many legs does Pterostichus burmeisteri have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Pterostichus burmeisteri: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pterostichus-burmeisteri)