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.

The species breeds in the autumn and the larvae overwinter. Adults are 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.