The Ophonus
are a difficult group of seed eating ground beetles to identify and
accurate ID is really only obtainable by microscopic examination of the
male genitalia (see below) which is characteristic to species. Despite
being ground beetles, the easiest way to find them, is by examining the
curled up flowers of Wild Carrot, in which they often rest by day.
Ophonus beetles all typically have a
south-easterly UK distribution and there are several
common species. Ophonus puncticeps is one of the
commonest, with several of these being found at Warsop
Main Pit Top in early September 2011, the first time we
had actually looked for them. |