Description: 3mm long shiny bronze, black ground beetle with 4 yellow-red spots on elytra. Notable for its very smooth and shining surface and the clearly defined spots i.e. not diffuse as in the larger etc. The only species of subg. Bembidion in Ireland. The pronotum is distinctly heart-shaped and its base at either side has a short but deep incision or uplift. This and the colour will distinguish it from related species.

NI account: First recorded in 2009 from several sites in Co Wexford, then from two sandy beaches on L. Neagh: Ballinderry Waterfoot; and Doon beach.

Ecology: Mainly associated with dry, open soil in arable land as well as riverbanks and lakeshores.

Distribution: Seems to have entered Ireland from the south-east having first been recorded at several sites in Co. Wexford. Now widely scattered and probably much more common than the map suggests.

Similar Species: The only comparable species in Ireland is the native but very rare Bembidion illigeri. This is quite similar in size and colouration but the base of the pronotum lacks the incision or uplift that is present in quadrimaculatum.

Key Identification Features:

• Small size to 3mm
• shiny black colouration with four well-marked yellow spots on the elytra
• base of antennae and legs pale
• hind margin of the pronotum with an incision or uplift at each corner

Distribution Map from NBN: Bembidion quadrimaculatum at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Bembidion quadrimaculatum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Bembidion quadrimaculatum | Classification: Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Bembidion

Thumbnails for genus Bembidion