Pterostichus melanarius

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Description

13-17 mm with body, legs and antennae all black. The pronotum is fairly short and wide when compared to Pterostichus niger and is evenly rounded with a small tooth at the sharp rear angles. Deep elytral striae with convex intervals; Claw-bearing tarsal segment has 2-4 pairs of bristles on the underside.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Gardens, grassland and agricultural fields.

When to see it

All year

UK Status

Common and widespread.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 170 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

  • Graham Calow
    Frolesworth
    23 July 2015
    specimen examined
  • AJ Cann
    Victoria Park Leicester
    13 December 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Croft Hill
    17 July 2012
    specimen examined
  • AJ Cann
    Victoria Park Leicester
    13 December 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Frisby, south
    26 February 2021
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    17 March 2020

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

© OpenStreetMap contributors

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Carabidae
Records on NatureSpot:
23
First record:
30/09/1987 (Derek Lott)
Last record:
04/09/2024 (Brown, Jennifer)

Total records by month

012345JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecRecords per month

% of records within its species group

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10km squares with records

012345201620172018201920202021202220232024202510km sq. per year

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

Common nameScientific nameDate recordedRecorded bySite name
  • Graham Calow
    Granitethorpe Sapcote
    10 March 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Nailstone Colliery site
    12 May 2016
    specimen examined
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    24 June 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    28 March 2013
    specimen examined
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    21 March 2013
    specimen examined
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    22 June 2009
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    21 March 2013
    specimen examined
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    28 March 2013
    specimen examined
  • AJ Cann
    Victoria Park Leicester
    13 December 2016
    Claw-bearing tarsal segment has 2-4 pairs of bristles on the underside.