emerald ground beetle..?

[saltyscissors]

i found this beautiful beetle while lifting bricks in the garden, any ideas what type of beetle it is, possibly narrow it down to genus? i live in north east england.

link to image: http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5527/dscn9726.jpg

 

[texasroach]

It looks like some kind of tiger beetle, subfamily Cicindelinae

 

[saltyscissors]

really? that's great! ive always wanted to keep a tiger beetle. what could i feed it on, caterpillars, worms, slugs etc? smaller beetles?

 

[loxoscelesfear]

Try fiery searcher, Calosoma scrutator . My monitor is junk, but that's what it looks like, or one of the Calosoma searchers.

 

[Matt K]

I would have to agree with Texasroach....it appears like that to me from what I can see.

 

[ZergFront]

I thought tiger beetles had larger eyes than that. Are there some that don't?

I've noticed some tiger beetles around here have green or sometimes blue undertones. I encourage populations of them since they eat the slugs and snails. When I find any, I put them in my garden.

 

[What]

I would have to agree with loxoscelesfear....it appears like that to me from what I can see.

I fixed that for you, you can thank me later.

(Almost certainly a Calosoma or one of the similar species. Definitely not a tiger beetle, unless they suddenly include species with small eyes and wide rounded prothoraxes.)

 

[BrianWI]

I don't think it is a tiger beetle. If it were, dunno if it would still be in that container, they are like rockets.

Maybe Carabidae?

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

I'd guess the genus Carabus (certainly closely related).

 

[saltyscissors]

i think youvenailed it on Carabus, possibly Carabus auratus, seeing as they have the red legs this one does.
also, checking on it this morning revealed it on its back, only moving very slightly, is it dying or about to moult?

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Sorry, beetles never molt (only grubs/larvae do).

 

[texasroach]

I fixed that for you, you can thank me later.

(Almost certainly a Calosoma or one of the similar species. Definitely not a tiger beetle, unless they suddenly include species with small eyes and wide rounded prothoraxes.)

After doing a quick search i agree it is probably a member of the Calosoma. However I resent What's statement, just because I have enough tact not to ogle someones prothorax without their consent.

 

[What]

However I resent What's statement, just because I have enough tact not to ogle someones prothorax without their consent.

What can I say? I obviously have no class...

 

[codykrr]

definatly not atiger beatle....id say its a Pytho planus...

they occur in the north east...here is a link

http://bugguide.net/node/view/45717

enjoy