About Platynus assimilis (Paykull, 1790)
Platynus assimilis (Paykull, 1790) is a species of beetle that belongs to the subfamily Platyninae, a group within the ground beetle family.
This species is distributed across Europe, where it occurs less frequently in southwestern Europe. Its range extends eastward into Asia, and it is also known to occur in Norway.
P. assimilis is a fairly common species. Its typical habitat is under tree bark, within moss, or among withered leaves, and it is often found along waterways and on beaches. It is usually nocturnal and acts as a predator feeding on other animals. Its predatory larvae hide in the top layer of soil. The species belongs to Holometabola, the group of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis. In this type of development, larvae differ drastically from adults in both physical form and lifestyle. Between the larval and adult stages, there is a pupal resting stage where the beetle’s internal and external organs undergo reorganization.
