Black Clock Beetle - Pterostichus madidus

A large (15-20 mm) shiny black ground beetle with either all black legs or wine-red legs (variety concinnus). The well-rounded pronotum helps to distinguish this species from other similar ground beetles.

Lives under stones, loose bark and grass tussocks. It is a very common beetle in gardens and on arable land.

It is most common in the summer months.

Largely predatory on many ground-living invertebrates, including caterpillars and slugs, but the adult also eats some plant material.

Common and widespread in Britain.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 391 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.