COLEOPTERA > ADEPHAGA > Carabidae > Carabinae (formally Elaphrinae)

The simplified classification system that has now been adopted for the Carabidae places this small group of metallic ground beetles in the Carabinae > Elaphrini tribe, rather than in their own subfamily. However, and without wanting to confuse matters, the previous arrangement actually works better for me in respect of these particular species because, although I can only feature one of these attractive beetles at the present time, I'd like to think that at some point I'll be able to add another, or possibly even two. I also wanted a bit more space to include a few images of the individuals I photographed at Fishlake Meadows, so it makes sense to separate them from the other members of the Carabinae that I've managed to find that are represented on the following pages.

Although a dozen or so species occur in Europe, only five have been recorded in Britain and, from a personal point of view here in the south, probably only two of these are likely to be found. They are all associated with wetland margin habitats, and are characterised by their large eyes and irregularly sculptured elytra.

Blethisa multipunctata is a large, 10-14mm, dark-coloured species with distinct bronze or coppery reflections and greenish margins to the pronotum and elytra; frons unpunctured, but with deep longitudinal and transverse grooves; pronotum with wide side borders and deep punctured forvae; elytra with punctate forvae on the fourth and sixth striae. This species primarily seems to occur along well-vegetated marshy shores of lakes and some rivers. It is supposedly widespread, but records are very scattered and localised. It has been recorded from my general area in the past but, according to the latest distribution data on the NBN Atlas database, there have only been a couple of confirmed sightings over the past few years, one along the banks of River Frome in 2017 and the other from the Hampshire Avon near Fordingbridge in 2018. I very much doubt that I'll ever come across this species, but it's useful to have some brief details.  

The remaining four, which are commonly known as Peacocks, are all in the Elaphrus genus. I can disregard one of these; Elaphrus lapponicus which is a scarce northern, mainly Scottish species; and, pretty much discount another, Elaphrus uliginosus as, apart from a couple of sightings a few years back, coincidently from the same grid reference on the Hampshire Avon as the record noted above for Blethisa multipunctata, it's only now occasionally being recorded in western areas.

Fortunately, the remaining species are far more common and should be possible to find in most areas with suitable habitat.

Elaphrus cupreus - the Copper Peacock is a medium-sized, 8-10mm body length species with a coppery-black colouration and some purple or greenish reflections; the head is large, and when measured across the eyes is wider than the pronotum; elytra shiny with large purplish punctures; the tibiae are brown, but the rest of the legs are black with a slight metallic, bluish reflection. Similar to Elaphrus uliginosus, except that species has a wider, more rounded pronotum. I've read that Elaphrus cupreus is unlikely to occur alongside Elaphrus riparius as its primary habitat is wet grassland, damp woodland or the edges of small streams, although it is also known from lowland marshes and bogs.

Elaphrus riparius - the Green-socks Peacock is a smaller species with a body length of around 7mm, which from my limited experience makes it difficult to spot; it has a striking olive-green ground colour with some coppery highlights; the pronotum is slightly wider than the head; elytra matt to slightly shiny with contrasting 'mirrors' and large shining punctures each with a darker mark in the centre; the legs are metallic green apart from the tibiae which are brown. Elaphrus riparius can be found scurrying around on bare, damp or wet, mud in marshes, and around the margins of ponds and riverbanks.

New page added, Jan.25 (v.1)