Poecilus cupreus

11-13 mm with a shiny coppery green appearance. There are four Poecilis species in Britain but only two are common and likely to be found in Leicestershire and Rutland.  Poecilis is distinguished as a genus by the keel on the basal antennal segments.

Poecilis cupreus is distinguished from the similar P. versicolor by having fine punctuations on its head between its eyes. In P. versicolor, the head is completely smooth and unpunctured. P. versicolor also prefers wetter habitats.

• 11-13mm
• metallic green
• keel on the basal antennal segments, two basal segments are pale
• fine perforations between the eyes
• slight outward projection at hind angle of pronotum

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Prefers open, dry habitats with short grass e.g. parkland and agricultural fields but also occasionally in woodland.

Most likely to be seen in spring and summer

It is a general predator. Breeds in spring

Common but local across southern England and south Wales as far south as the Wash with scattered records south to Scotland

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 77 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.