Description: A medium (8.4-11mm) black, phytophagous ground beetle found on dry, sandy or gravelly ground. Almost confined to coasts in Ireland.

NI account: Confined to large coastal dune systems, mainly on the east coast.

Ecology: A xerophilous species restricted to grey and yellow dunes.

Distribution: A Eurasian Wide-temperate species (65) found across Europe, except the extreme north, south to Asia Minor and the Caucasus, and east across Siberia.

Similar Species: Harpalus anxius: antennae dark from 2nd segment; body flatter H. latus/quadripunctatus: base of pronotum with extensive wrinkled puncturation

Key Identification Features:

• Characteristically stocky, broad, legs short
• Head with one supra orbital puncture
• Hind angles of pronotum without setae
• Upper surface black
• 7th elytral interval with a single puncture at apex
• Base of pronotum smooth or punctate only in the foveae
• Antennae entirely pale

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

iNaturalist: Harpalus tardus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

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

Thumbnails for genus Harpalus