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Damage to strawberries by strawberry ground beetle (Pterostichus madidus (F.)) was studied by laboratory experiments and observations in a walled garden in south Northumberland during 1969 and 1970. Beetles preferred ripe to unripe fruit, eating holes mainly at the widest part of the fruit. A beetle density of 4.2 per m² throughout the fruiting season resulted in a peak of 13 per cent of the fruit being damaged, with up to four holes per fruit. Both starvation and desiccation increased the beetles' capacity for strawberry feeding, although hunger had more effect than thirst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]