1910. Nicholson. — Some Coleoptera front Co, Meatli. 93 



SOME COLEOPTERA EROM CO. MEATH, 



BY G. W. NICHOLSON, M.A., M.D., F.K.S. 



Last August I did a fortnight's coUectiug of beetles at 

 Balrath, near Kells, Co. Meatli. Although I had, unfortun- 

 ately, hit upon the ver}- worst time of the year, and insects 

 were extraordinaril}' scarce, as well in species as in actual 

 numbers, yet was I able to make some interesting captures, 

 among which there are, I believe, two additions to the Irish 

 list. 



The first of these is Hydroporus oblotigus, Stepli., of which 

 I took a single specimen at the roots of reeds in what, at most 

 seasons, is a swamp of an area of about an acre, but which, at 

 that particular time, was quite ^dried out. Owing to this 

 circumstance diligent search produced no more specimens, 

 nor was 1 successful in finding an\- in the other suitable places 

 I visited. 



The second is Quediiis nigriceps^ Kr. I took a single speci- 

 men in the " Bog Wood "' at Balrath, from under a deca3xd 

 pine branch, which was lying on the ground. 



As Meath seems to have been but little, if at all, worked for 

 beetles, I append, a list of my more important captures. I 

 shall onl}' record such species as, from Messrs. Johnson and 

 Halbert's list, appear to be local in Ireland. I may add that 

 most of my collecting was confined to the Geodephaga and 

 Staphyliuidae, as I could find little else. 



Carabus catenulatits. Scop., two specimens. Notiophilus 

 aquatiais, L., a beautiful steel-blue variety. Leistus rufcscens^ 

 F., a few in damp places, though always singly. Brady celius 

 distinctus, Dej., one. Pterostichus versicolor^ Sturm, a male, 

 which was shining black, with the first joint of the antennae 

 and claws orange-yellow. Ainara plebeia, Gyll-, one. Taphria 

 nivalis, Panz., not uncommon under stones. Pristoiiychus 

 terricola, Herbst, one very much damaged specimen in the 

 cellar. A?tchomenus gracilis, Gyll. ; A. piceus, Lv a few of 

 both these species. A. piicllus, Dej. : I had the good fortune 

 to take a colon}^ of seven specimens of this rare insect. 



