Ground Beetle Recording Scheme

@carabidaeuk.bsky.social

Going to ground then emerging into blue skies The UK ground beetle (Carabidae) recording scheme Records to http://brc.ac.uk/iRecord https://www.coleoptera.org.uk/recording-schemes

A cluster of records for Polistichus connexus from the June heatwave, increasingly common at light on hot nights (usually see egg boxes or moth scales in the record images!) 2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest. 📸Stephen French via iRecord

A map of the UK showing the distribution of the ground beetle Polistichus connexus in the UK. Records are clustered in the southeast of England, with newer records appearing throughout its range but showing a northward expansion in the last 5 to 6 years. The Ground Beetle Polistichus connexus, a brown beetle with orange legs and antennae, a narrow thorax and a single brighter orange patch at the centre of each dark brown wing case.

1/2 #speciesaday no. 598 is Odacantha melanura. Nationally Scarce. An atypical carabid associated with Common Reed. Seems to be quite local and patchy in its distribution. I have records between March and August. Unlike any other carabid. This one was from London Wetland Centre last week.

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1/2 #speciesaday no. 599 is Elaphrus riparius. A stunning carabid that is usually found on bare mud by water. Smaller and greener than E. cupreus. You can see why they call this genus peacock beetles! This one was from Broughton Sanctuary last month.

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On this note, we are aware there is a bit of a backlog of records awaiting verification, a busy year or two for the volunteer team that look after the scheme. If some of those records are yours and you'd like to give us a nudge please do get in touch coleoptera.org.uk/user/559/con...

Biological Recording Company@biologicalrecording.co.uk · last yr.

Chris Foster discusses the Ground Beetle Recording Scheme's work with iRecord. (from 2023 Why iRecord? Virtual Symposium)

Necklace Ground-beetle, Carabus monilis. A large predatory carabid w a restricted range in western Europe, this species has declined severely in Britain and is now categorised as Endangered. Although recorded from a range of open habitats, most recent records seem to be from unimproved grasslands.

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Carabus granulatus, a large predatory ground beetle of fens and wet grasslands. Mowing, grazing & inundation make floodplain hay meadows a challenging habitat for many insects but this is one of the resident species, sometimes present in large numbers.

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Fun morning introducing first year Ecology & Wildlife Conservation students to using keys for invert ID, focusing on ground beetles of course @carabidaeuk.bsky.social 😇🪲 As shown here with photographs of live specimens, amazing what you can do in the field with the right grip and a good hand lens!

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