Ground beetle ID & care

[Jamesahd]

Hi!
I recently found this ground beetle larvae - I think either 1st or 2nd instar - and after looking around online I think it might be some type of Pterostichus beetle. I have included three photos of it!

Could anyone give any tips of raising it too? I’ve been offering newly hatched Cornu Aspersum babies - crushed and live, (I have a big range of snail species, and cornu Aspersum are in the same area I found the larvae) but have yet to see it eat anything! There is also some courgette and dandelion leaves in there just incase too!
I was wondering if earthworms would be better?
Ive been keeping them in the same conditions as my Cornu Aspersum too, around 17/18oC and 60/70% humidity.


Also: the two last photos are from the container I collected them in, and not their new home (which is why it has no substrate)
Thanks!!
James

 

[pannaking22]

I think they do well with anything soft bodied, but feeding them a variety can't hurt. They may have a prey preference. Conditions sound good.

 

[Sarkhan42]

Looks like a staphylynid larva to me- should do well with soft bodied prey, and keeping them on the moister side is probably a safe bet.

 

[Hisserdude]

It is indeed a Carabid larvae, but not Pterostichus, I've bred them and their larvae look much different... I think yours is a Nebria larva, lemme check... In any case, feed it soft bodied, incapacitated invertebrate prey, preferably cut open so it can access the guts. If it's not a snail specialist, it probably won't eat them, arthropod prey like mealworms would be best.

 

[Hisserdude]

Weird, I don't think it's Nebria actually, still think it's some sort of Carabid larvae though rather than a rove beetle larva, I suppose we'll know for sure if you can rear it successfully, both rove and ground beetle larvae are fairly similar in care. Keep it on moist coconut fiber, offer the pre-killed prey every couple days, remove excess food after two days, rinse and repeat... With any luck you'll be able to rear it successfully!