Notiophilus palustris

Description

Length 5 to 6 mm. Very shiny black, lacking a paler patch at the tips of the elytra and with brown hind tibiae. Eyes very large, head wider than pronotum. Elytral interval 2 is no wider than 3, 4 and 5 combined. There are two pores at each of the elytral apices.

Similar Species

Other Notiophilus species.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 5 to 6 mm
  • lacking a paler patch at the tips of the elytra
  • brown hind tibiae
  • eytral interval 2 is no wider than 3, 4 and 5 combined
  • two pores at each of the elytral apices
Habitat

Although Notiophilus species in general prefer open, dry habitats, N. palustris has also been found in more shaded and moist situations.

When to see it

May be encountered in most months of the year.

Life History

Notiophilus generally feed on springtails.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were approximately 18 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:
4
First record:
01/06/1992 (Jon Daws)
Last record:
10/08/2023 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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