Ugly Garden Helpers

Horned Passalus Beetle
Helps decompose dead wood

Our garden helpers aren’t always pretty—at least by human standards.  Consider the ground beetle, a big black ugly bug.  But he doesn’t care if you think he’s handsome, he just goes about his business helping you in your garden. He’s a garden predator, preying on other ‘ugly’ bugs.  Some varieties of ground beetles also eat weed seeds, decompose dead wood, and provide other important environmental services. 

North Florida hosts a variety of ground beetles—ranging from the burrowing Scarites subterraneus to the foliage-hunting Calleida decora and seed‑eating Harpalus species. Their larvae also add to a workforce which can help keep pest and weed populations in check, and break down organic matter.

Ground beetles may not be flashy, but they’re among the most beneficial insects you can welcome into your vegetable garden. These nocturnal predators spend their nights patrolling the soil surface and the base of plants, feasting on a wide range of pests—including slugs, cutworms, aphids—and weed seeds.

Most ground beetles are shiny, black or metallic, and fast-moving. They don’t damage plants and rarely fly, preferring to hide under mulch, rocks, or garden debris during the day. Their larvae are just as valuable, attacking soft-bodied insect pests before they reach your crops.  

Ground Beetle larva
UF/IFAS Photo

The larvae don’t look like you’d expect. The big white grubs you see in the soil are not ground beetle larvae – they are the larvae of the scarab beetle. The diet of scarab larvae includes plant roots, causing drought-type symptoms.  Adult scarabs can be distinguished by their club-like antennae. 

Ground beetle larvae are long and dark, and have legs and strong mandibles. They reside in the topsoil and leaf litter, consuming insect eggs, larvae, caterpillars, root maggots, and other soil-dwelling pests—acting as effective subterranean pest patrols.   

Daytime shelter is critical for dark-colored ground beetles, which would quickly cook in hot midday sun. They are are active at night or during periods of rainy weather, so you may not see them often, despite their constant presence. Mulches, bunching grasses and established perennial plants can serve as conservation points for these important natural predators.

To encourage them to live in your garden, don’t use pesticides, provide mulch, and avoid disturbing the soil. Incorporate a few perennial vegetables (asparagus, lemon grass, sunchokes, etc.) or vigorous perennial flowers or herbs into your garden; they will provide year-round habitat for ground beetles. Composting sites are also good places for these important beneficial insects. By supporting the habitats they prefer, you’re enlisting a low‑maintenance, pesticide‑free pest control team right beneath your feet.