For our insect of the week (December 9, 2024), we again focus on beetles. This week, we examine the carabid beetle, Scaphinotus elevatus [COLEOPTERA: Carabidae]. This species was described by Fabricius (a Danish zoologist) in 1787.There are 6 recognized subspecies in North America. Commonly called the eastern snail eater, adults of this species will also eat slugs. The narrow head allows the adult to eat every last morsel from the snail shell. Adults are most active at night and are flightless. Larvae feed on soil arthropods. Thought you might enjoy this handsome beetle. It seems to be encountered less frequently these days (another argument against raking leaves in your yard in the autumn). This specimen was collected by our former member, Gordon Adams, in Peoria County in August, 1971.

Photos below were assembled from numerous photos which were stacked together to generate this copyrighted image. Top is dorsal view, middle is lateral view, and bottom is frontal view of the beetle.