Subject: Ground beetle (Pasimachus sp.)
Location: New Braunfels, Texas
July 1, 2013 10:53 pm
Hi bugman,
I came across three of these beetles yesterday (Monday 07/01/13) and thought you might like a pic of one. Until I found these three beetles I had never heard of Pasimachus, even though I have loved insects and have avidly hunted for them since I could walk (I am now 27). I am so happy to have found these as they are pretty freakin awesome. I hope you enjoy the photo as much as I enjoy visiting your website multiple times a day.
Thank you for all the awesomeness you provide!
Signature: Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you for sending in your photo. We haven’t posted a photo of a Ground Beetle in the genus Pasimachus in a few years. We don’t feel too confident attempting a species identification. Several members of the genus have blue margins like the one in this image from our archives. According to BugGuide, they are: “Large, extra-robust, flightless ground beetles (elytra fused into rigid shell). Huge jaws, head, pronotum. Some have blue margins. Typically run about under or on leaf litter in forests” where they eat caterpillars and other larval insects.