Philonthus carbonarius

Description

7-8mm. Black but with a green metallic sheen on the elytra. The legs and palps are dark brown.

Similar Species

This looks like a smaller version of P. cognatus but lacks the bicolour (brown+yellow)of the first antennal segment.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 7-8mm
  • black with shining metallic green elytra
  • first antennal segment entirely black
  • pronotum with a dorsal series of four punctures
  • line at base of abdominal tergites relatively straight
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the size and identifying characters.

Habitat

Commonly found in open woodland and heath-grassland.

Life History

Often found with Philonthus cognatus.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent over much of Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Staphylinidae
Records on NatureSpot:
16
First record:
01/05/1992 (Jon Daws)
Last record:
09/06/2020 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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