Bug FAQGalerita bicolor
Galerita bicolor · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Carabidae
Galerita bicolor is a large, elongated beetle about 17-22 mm long, with a red head and black, ridged elytra that have setae on the basal third. It lives in moist habitats such as woodlands, meadows and backyards, often found under leaf litter, rocks or logs, and is active from February through November.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The beetle has a narrow head smaller than its body, pale antennae that are wider at the base, and black, ridged elytra with setae on the basal third.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure roughly 17.0-22.5 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It prefers moist areas like woodlands, meadows and backyards, usually found dead or hidden under leaf litter, rocks or logs.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In the wild they live about one to two years, and females lay eggs in purse-shaped mud cells under leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They are most active from February through November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the United States, ranging from New York to Florida and westward to South Dakota and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Their coloration and shape mimic bombardier beetles, helping them avoid predators, and their larvae resemble those of true bombardier beetles.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 37 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What does Galerita bicolor look like?
It is a large, elongated beetle about 17-22 mm long with a red head, black ridged elytra and pale, slightly broadened antennae.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find Galerita bicolor?
It lives in moist places like woodlands, meadows and backyards, often under leaf litter, rocks or logs.
Source: Wikipedia
What does Galerita bicolor eat?
Both the larvae and adults hunt and eat other insects.
Source: Wikipedia
When are Galerita bicolor beetles active?
They are active from February through November.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Carabidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galerita_bicolor
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.