Description: A medium-sized (8.5-12.2mm) black phytophagous ground beetle found on dry or gravelly ground with sparse vegetation near the south coast. Males have a steely blue metallic reflection.

NI account: Restricted to the southern half of Ireland. Mainly on coastal rocks but also occasionally inland. Local.

Ecology: In Ireland found mainly on sandy or dry heathy soils at or near the coast.

Distribution: A Eurosiberian Wide-temperate species (64) found across Europe to west Siberia. Recently found to be introduced to North America (Bell & Davidson, 1987).

Similar Species: Harpalus rufipalpis: antennae dark from 2nd segment, legs dark

Key Identification Features:

• Characteristically stocky, broad, legs short
• Head with one supra orbital puncture
• Hind angles of pronotum without setae
• Upper surface black with steel blue reflection
• Apex of 7th elytral interval with a row of punctures (Fig. 105)
• Antennae and tibiae pale, sometimes also femora

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

iNaturalist: Harpalus rubripes at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Harpalus rubripes | Classification: Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae, Harpalus

Thumbnails for genus Harpalus