The ground beetle

Ground beetle

I enjoy taking the time to do macro photography.  The best part of it is looking for, and discovering, interesting organisms.  Ground beetles are no exception.  Even though there are thousands of different species, and many of them look similar, finding one is always exciting.  They are common under rocks and especially logs or rotting wood.  The large, black beetles may be a concern to some, but most of them are actually beneficial.
Ground beetles are carnivorous, both larvae and adults, and consume a wide variety of pesky little organisms that do cause damage to plants.  They are easy to catch and any child would be tickled getting a chance to see one up close.  They do have somewhat formidable jaws and some have been known to bite, but that has never been my experience.
If you look carefully at this one, you will notice a yellowish blob sitting just under the roof of its wing covers over the abdomen.  There is one on both sides.  Yes, that is a leg that you see.  This beetle has mites.  Mites are consumers of fluids, often from terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates alike.  They chew through the surface protection of the beetle and obtain any body fluids that may come out.
I have caught ground beetles all over North America.  They are very common and likely to be found in your area during warm months.  They are always black and of moderate to large size.  If you catch one be sure to return it; it has an important job to do.