Densities of carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) larvae in agricultural land in north-east England

Data are presented on the densities of soil-inhabiting carabid larvae in an agricultural environment in north-east England. Larval densities were lowest under grass plots, and greatest in an area of damp soil that was flooded during the winter. An adjacent field margin and damp woodland both had similar, moderately high, larval densities. Bembidion larvae were the most numerous, occurring in the summer. Clivina fossor larvae were found frequently throughout most of the year. Although Pterostichus larvae were numerous, they were mostly smaller species such as P. nigrita and P. strenuus. Amara larvae occurred locally in large numbers, but only for a short period of the year.