24th February - Wykeham Coleoptera

Another lunch time session on what is proving to be my regular Wykeham patch at the moment was very productive. Its still really cold here at the moment with northerly winds and showers keeping insect activity low. Highlights below-

Sepedophilus immaculatus is a small species of Staphylinid beetle which was found within a large rotten log today. This species seems to be very scarce in Yorkshire, with no other vice county records on NBN Atlas. Either its not very up to date or I'm finding a lot of good species at the moment, very quiet on the verification front though currently. It could be easily under recorded and missed though given its small size and habits.

Scaphidium quadrimaculatum is another very good record of a relatively scarce species. This is far less easy to miss though. This unusual looking beetle is in the same family as the previous beetle, Staphylinidae, which is amazing given how different they both look. This is a fungus feeding species, associated with deadwood habitats. I was delighted to find this overwintering in an old pine log today. It seems to favour quite damp conditions in logs infected with fungus.

Salpingus planirostris is a species we previously found this winter in Forge Valley within a dead elm. This one was found beneath flaked Sycamore bark. This is a saprophagous species commonly found around dead and dying trees in a variety of situations.

Rhizophagus bipustulatus was recorded from dead oak, with 3 individuals noted including a mating pair. This is a common species found on a wide variety of dead trees, at most stages of decay. It is particularly abundant once fungal infection has set into the wood. Adults are predatory on bark beetle eggs and larvae, with larvae feeding on mycelia.

Pogonocherus hispidulus was once again recorded today with several individuals noted from beneath flaking Sycamore bark. Locally this habitat feature is proving to be really good for finding this species overwintering this year. This longhorn seems particularly associated with retrenchment in Lime, Beech and Oak, as well as within old Ivy trunks.

A couple of Otiorhynchus singularis were found beneath bark today. This is a relatively common and widespread weevil, which is interestingly parthenogenetic in Britain, with all animals being female. This is a largely nocturnal species which feeds on a wide variety of trees and shrubs, particularly fruit trees and raspberry. This species will even feed on Rhododendron interestingly.

Mycetaea subterranea is a widespread but local species commonly associated with fungi. In this case two were found together beneath Sycamore bark. This is a species which is regularly recorded in and around human homes too, as well as in Hymenopteran nests and in rabbit warrens. They like damp mouldy habitats like cellars where they can be found on damp wood and plaster. They also are drawn to mouldy grain and can become numerous in such situations.

Leistus rufomarginatus was found within an oak log. This is a common carabid locally found frequently within woodland throughout this area. This is a relatively small species with large jaws and eyes and like other members of the family is a predator of smaller invertebrates.

Euophryum confine is a strange elongate weevil associated with damp deadwood. Originally imported to Britain in 1937 from New Zealand, this species has since become very common. This beetle tends not to infest dry and solid deadwood and are attracted to fungi within the wood. This species tunnel through the wood making straight galleries. They are also regularly recorded eating wood in old buildings, especially where damp, when they can become quite numerous.

Dromius meridionalis was found beneath lifted Sycamore bark, with only one animal noted today. This is an arboreal species of carabid commonly associated with tree trunks, especially Sycamore, Horse Chestnut and Lime. It is most frequently found within woodland situations rather than on isolated trees

Cerylon ferrugineum is another species recorded from dead and dying trees at a variety of stages, they can also be found on fungus, on which they feed. Feeding occurs directly on fungi, on spores and on mycelia in a variety of situations. They can also be found at sap runs, especially on the ends of recently cut logs. These two were found from a fallen oak log.

Vincenzellus ruficollis is from the same family Salpingidae as Salpingus planirostris (above). This is a scarce species in northern England and was a very good find, certainly a lot more rarer than its relative locally. This species is a nocturnal predator of smaller insects, with larvae also being predatory and developing beneath the bark. This beetle occurs on a wide variety of mature trees in a variety of situations.