Cropland
Guides
Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis
Tawny-backed Harp Ground Beetle
Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It has been documented in cropland habitats across North America. The species was originally described by Fabricius in 1798 as Carabus sanctaecrucis.
Poecilus chalcites
Poecilus chalcites is a predaceous ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly found in agricultural systems and croplands across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The species is recognized for its role as a biological control agent, feeding on multiple crop pests including corn rootworm, corn earworm, and cutworm species. Sexual dimorphism in foretarsus shape allows straightforward sex identification: males possess a heart-shaped proximal foretarsus, while females have a thinner structure. Laboratory rearing studies have established protocols for maintaining colonies, though laboratory-reared adults typically fail to reproduce.