ground beetle

American  

noun

1. any of numerous nocturnal, terrestrial beetles of the family Carabidae that feed chiefly on other insects.

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ground beetle British  

noun

1. any beetle of the family Carabidae, often found under logs, stones, etc, having long legs and a dark coloration

2. any beetle of the family Tenebrionidae, feeding on plants and plant products

3. any of various other beetles that live close to or beneath the ground

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Etymology

Origin of ground beetle

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Ingo Arndt captured the red wood ants efficiently dismembering a blue ground beetle to carry into their nest.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2024

In 2015, one of Britain's largest beetles - the striking blue ground beetle - was discovered in Wales for the first time in woodland near Skewen, Neath Port Talbot.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2020

As the visitors snapped photos on their cellphones, Bier spotted a ground beetle.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2017

She has a tattoo of a praying mantis on her left shoulder, a South African ground beetle on her left biceps and, below her left shoulder, her first tattoo, a mosquito.

From Chicago Tribune • Oct. 27, 2014

That made Emma think of trying to find other passengers; and she picked up a great ground beetle, and put him aboard.

From The Nursery, March 1877, Vol. XXI. No. 3 A Monthly Magazine for Youngest Readers by Various