23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Delta Green Ground Beetle

Delta Green Ground Beetle (Elaphrus viridis) is a critically endangered predator of California's vernal pools. This quarter-inch beetle scuttles along muddy margins hunting springtails. It is threatened by limited range and habitat loss.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: California, United States of America
Copyright: © Dan Osipov