Narrow-collared Snail-eating Beetle

Description:

4 to 5 cm long with black head,legs and thorax. Abdomen has a purplish hue.

Habitat:

Macrohabitat: Lowlands to midlands, subalpine zone, sea level- 1387 meters altitude, in forests (coniferous, mixed, and deciduous), and cultivated fields. Microhabitat: Shaded moist ground often along streams. Dispersal abilites: brachypterous, hence flightless, thus vagility limited to walking or running. Seasonal occurance: Adults have been found in March-November. Teneral adults in May-July, and September. Behavior: Nocturnal, gregarious (up to 50 individuals in or under a single log). Adults are predaceous on snails, slugs, earthworms, and spiders. Taking cover during the day mostly in rotten fallen trees and tree-stumps, under the loose bark and moss of dead standing and fallen trees, in hollow tree roots, also under fallen trees and boards, among dead leaves with other debris. Frequent climber on shrubs, tree-stumps, and fallen trees up to 20 m above ground while foraging. Adults have been found over wintering in old tree-stumps and fallen trees. Sometimes found in and around human settlements.-inaturalist.org

Notes:

I believe this beetle has ant eggs he stole from a nest. There is an ant hanging on to his leg while two other gave chase. The beetle ran around the tree in the picture several times trying to loose the ants.