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NOTES ON THE GEODEPHAGA OF IRELAND. 

 BjfR-EY. W. F. Johnson. Read Feb. 2ird, 1888. 



The number of species of Geodephaga at present known 

 to occur in Ireland is only some 140, out of the 300 and 

 odd species in the British list. This apparent disproportion 

 of numbers arises from the fact that Ireland has never been 

 properly worked for Coleoptera. Consequently we may 

 reasonably suppose that a more thorough investigation would 

 raise the number on the present list very considerably. That 

 such an undertaking would be amply rewarded may be 

 gathered from the fact that I have, single handed, taken 

 in this district since I began to work at the Coleoptera 

 (now just four years ago), upwards of seventy-six species of 

 Geodephaga, many of which had not been previously 

 recorded as Irish. 



Of Cicindela we have only one representative, viz., 

 campestvis. I have not met with it; but have been in- 

 formed that it occurs at Churchill, about ten miles distant. 



Carabus is tolerably well represented, but only two appear 

 really common, granulatus and nemoralis. Of Elaphrus, 

 only the two common species riparius and cupreus have as 

 yet been recorded. I do not know whether their power of 

 stridulation has been noticed. My attention was drawn to 

 it by a specimen of E. cupreus, which, while in my hand, to 

 my great surprise, began to stridulate. On picking up 

 others, I found they had the same power. The noise ap- 

 peared to me to be made with the elytra. 



Blethisa imiltipunctata has been recorded from near 

 Belfast by Mr. Haliday, and from Lowry's Lough by my- 

 self. It occurs at the latter locality, along with Pelophila 

 borealis, but is not at all as plentiful as its companion. 

 Pelophila I have taken in great numbers on the shores 

 of lakes, or loughs, as we call them. It seems to prefer a 

 clay shore with stones upon it. The beetle is usually found 

 under the stones, except in the height of the season, when it 

 runs about with great activity on the mud, sand, etc., or 

 flies in the hot sunshine. June and July are the months in 

 which it is most plentiful ; but I have taken it as late as 



