Nalassus laevioctostriatus
Darkling Beetles do look like Ground Beetles very much. It is a big beetle family comprised of some 20,000 species world wide. In Europe however there are not that many. In the Benelux area only some 30 species stumble about. The majority is, just like the ground beetles, black or brownish. Even though looking like Ground Beetles, there are some differences: the eyes are notched and the hind tarsus (last part of the leg) has 4 segments only (Ground Beetles have 5). There are other differences as well, but these are not that easy to see. Both the larvae and the adult beetles are scavengers. The best known representative is the Mealworm. It is a pest in storage houses, but the larvae are also sold as food for certain pets. Nalassus laevioctostriatus may appear in gardens with trees, for the larvae live in the sandy soil around older trees, especially oak. The beetles are often found in the same trees. It is however a typical species of woodlands and probably not seen in many gardens. Scientifically also known as Cylindronotus laevioctostriatus.
