About Harpalus rufipes (DeGeer, 1774)
Harpalus rufipes, commonly called the strawberry seed beetle, is a species of ground beetle that belongs to the subfamily Harpalinae. It was first described by DeGeer in 1774. Its species epithet rufipes comes from Latin, and means red-footed. This ground beetle is native to Europe. H. rufipes is a predator, and it is used as a biological control agent against seed-eating pests, including aphids and slugs such as Deroceras reticulatum. However, it is also known to feed on strawberry seeds. This species has been used as a model organism for studying the beetle immune system, and one study has found that Harpalus rufipes is sensitive to both engine oil and diesel oil.
