Common Beetles of our Countryside 



all about the same size, 4 to 6 mm., and all dark coloured 

 without spots and shining. The first and perhaps the 

 commonest is Bembidium tiUale (the Bembidium with 

 characteristic tibiae), Fig. 7, Plate V., quite black with 

 just the slightest bluish or greenish tinge, thorax about 

 as broad as long, sides slightly rounded but not much 

 contracted at base, with a central furrow and hollowed 

 out and punctured at the hinder angles ; elytra very 

 plainly striated but not punctured, antennae dark brown 

 with first joint red ; of the legs the first joint (femur) is 

 black, the second (tibia) reddish, and third (tarsus) 

 brown. The next species, which is usually not quite so 

 common, is B. atrocceruleum (the blue-black Bembidium), 

 Fig. 8, Plate V. ; it is exactly like a small edition of 

 tibiale with these points of difference besides the size, 

 the colour rather more bluish, the thorax more narrowed 

 behind, and the elytra rather narrower and longer in 

 proportion. 



The next, B. decorum (the beautiful Bembidium) is 

 sure to be common. In size it comes between tibiale and 

 atrocceruleum, but it can be at once recognized by its 

 much brighter blue colour, entirely red legs, and flatter 

 shape ; the thorax resembles that of atrocceruleum. Then 

 there is B. punctulatum (the punctured little Bembidium), 

 of the same size as decorum, but instead of being at all 

 blue, it is black with a faint coppery or brassy reflection. 

 What, however, principally distinguishes it from the 

 three we have just noticed is that the whole of the 

 head and thorax are very distinctly and strongly 

 punctured. 



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