Many species of predatory ground beetle (carabid) dwell in or on the soil surface in orchards. Most do not climb the tree in search of prey but some may foray onto tree trunks occasionally.
- Larvae and adults feed on a wide range of soil-dwelling insects, mites, molluscs etc.
- Different ground beetle species have different spectra of prey.
- There are few significant soil pests of apples and pears in the UK.
- However, several important pest species spend part of their life cycle in the soil, usually the pre-pupal and pupal stages.
- Important examples are apple sawfly, apple leaf midge and Blastobasis moth.
- The impact of predatory ground beetles on these pests has not been studied adequately, but it is probable that it is significant.
- Populations of predatory ground beetles can be enhanced by the provision of ground herbage over as great as possible a proportion of the ground surface.