Description: A large (15-20mm) predatory black ground beetle. Common in a variety of open habitats, including gardens and arable.

NI account: Widespread and common on most types of ground, but perhaps especially in montane dwarf shrub heath.

Ecology: One of the three large, eurytopic black Pterostichus found in Ireland, the others being P. madidus and P. melanarius. Predominantly a forest species in Europe, but common also in upland heaths, hedgerows, pasture and coastal habitats here. Possibly restricted to drier, more wooded habitats than P. melanarius, and slightly less common towards the west. A very successful coloniser of upland conifer plantations, and a significant predator in arable cultivation.

Distribution: A Eurasian Wide-temperate species (65), distributed across most of Europe to Siberia. Also found in North America.

Similar Species: Pterostichus melanarius: pronotal hind angles more denticulate, characteristic (Fig. 62); inner pronotal foveae short; lateral bead widening strongly at base P. anthracinus: pronotal hind angles not denticulate; inner fovea not longer than outer (Fig. 62); lateral bead narrow

Key Identification Features:

• Large species, black
• Hind angles of pronotum sharp, characteristic (Fig. 62)
• Pronotum with two basal foveae
• Tarsal claw segment without setae underneath
• Inner pronotal foveae long (Fig. 62)
• Elytral epipleura crossed

Distribution Map from NBN: Pterostichus niger at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Pterostichus niger at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Pterostichus niger | Classification: Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Pterostichus

Thumbnails for genus Pterostichus