Description: Medium-sized 4-5.5mm, and similar in shape to other subg. Philochthus such as B. guttula and B. aeneum but larger. Black in colour with a bluish reflection. Like other Philochthus, has a latero-basal sinuation at the base of the pronotum, but this is shallow as in B. guttula. The elytra have shallow and finely punctate striae and apical pale, diffuse spots. The antennae are more slender than other members of the group. Distinguished mainly on large size and estuarine habitat.

NI account: Known only from the estuary of the R. Blackwater on the border of Cork and Waterford.

Ecology: Confined to marine beaches and estuaries. In Britain often recorded under seaweed.

Distribution: Southern Ireland only at present but in Britain it extends from southern counties north to southern Scotland so should be looked out for farther north.

Similar Species: Other species of subg. Philochthus of Bembidion: guttula, aeneum, mannerheimi, lunulatum. Larger than any of these but closest to lunulatum. No other Philochthus occur commonly on the shore or in estauries.

Key Identification Features:

Size 4-5.5mm. Slender antennae. Habitat: marine shores and estuaries.

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

iNaturalist: Bembidion iricolor at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

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

Thumbnails for genus Bembidion