Stenus bimaculatus
Length: 6-7mm. This is one of six similar UK species which have 2 yellow spots on the elytra, though only four have so far been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. It has bicoloured legs with the black merging gradually into the yellow. It also has a short central keel on the basal tergites (the first below the elytra).
It forages in open but damp habitats
Most often seen in spring and summer.
It is a predator of Springtails and like many Stenus species, it has adapted mouthparts to help it catch and hang onto its prey.
Widespread and fairly frequent in England and Wales, less common further north.
Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
AJ Cann
Great Glen, Burton Brook Community WildSpace
24 January 2026
David Nicholls
Narborough Bog NR
02 May 2009
Mark Skevington
Charnwood Lodge
01 March 2020
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
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Species profile
- Species group:
- insect - beetle (Coleoptera)
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Coleoptera
- Family:
- Staphylinidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 5
- First record:
- 30/09/1987 (Derek Lott)
- Last record:
- 24/01/2026 (Cann, Alan)
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% of records within its species group
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Latest records
- AJ Cann
Great Glen, Burton Brook Community WildSpace
24 January 2026