Frequently Asked Questions About Insects - Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic:	Beetles, caterpillar hunter
Question:	I have found a greenbacked beetle on my property in Bastrop, Texas. What is it? Should I be concerned? It has a hard shell and is 1 to 2 inches long.
Answer:	There are several beetles that might match this description. I would guess that you are looking at a ground beetle called a caterpillar hunter. It would have long legs and thin antennae. Check the web links below to verify the appearance. These are beneficial insects that feed on a variety of insects that do damage, so it is a good thing to have them around. No treatment would be recommended for those.
Related Link:	http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg130.html
Related Link:
Image Link: **	http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/b-txt/bimg130.html
Response by:	John A. Jackman
Title:	Professor and Extension Specialist
** Most of the Related Links above also contain images.