Bug FAQTyrant Ground Beetle
Anthia maxillosa · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Carabidae
Source: Wikipedia
These beetles are large, armored and fast, with powerful mandibles. They are predators found in semi-arid habitats, active by day or night depending on the species.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Identify them by their large, armored bodies and sharp, powerful mandibles.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
They are large beetles with a robust, armored appearance.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Some species hunt during the day in semi-arid areas, while others are nocturnal.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The genus Anthia is native to Africa and Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What does the beetle spray as a defense?
It can eject a jet of formic acid up to about 30 cm away.
Source: Wikipedia
Can the spray damage my eyes?
Yes, the formic-acid spray can cause blindness if it contacts the eyes.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this beetle apart from similar ones?
Look for the large, armored body and sharp mandibles, and note that historic naming confusion involved the misspelled genus Thermophilum.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Carabidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthia
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.