Amara ovata

Description

One of the many similar Amara beetles, this one is around 9mm and is all black, often with a green/brassy reflection. It differs from the similar A. similis by having all black legs. The pronotum is as wide as the elytra and has evenly rounded sides. The foveae (depressions) on the pronotum are shallow and unpunctured.

Identification difficulty
Identification aids
  • 8 - 9.5mm
  • antennal segments 1-3 pale
  • scutellary stria and pore present
  • legs all dark
  • base of pronotum unpunctured
  • pore at hind corner of the pronotum separated from side margin by twice its diameter or less
Habitat

This species favours open, dry areas such as fields and gardens

When to see it

Most often seen between late spring and summer 

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 22 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
insect - beetle (Coleoptera)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Carabidae
Records on NatureSpot:
21
First record:
09/05/2009 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
14/05/2023 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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