Dryops luridus (Erichson, 1847)

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POLYPHAGA Emery, 1886

BYRRHOIDEA Latreille, 1804

DRYOPIDAE Billberg, 1820 (1817)

DRYOPS Olivier, 1791

This widespread and generally common species occurs throughout Europe from Portugal to Greece and north to Southern Scandinavia and the UK, it is present on most of the Mediterranean islands as well as the Azores and occurs from lowland to medium altitudes; on Sardinia it is recorded at 950m. Here it is common throughout the UK north to Shetland, including all the islands, and is generally our most common member of the family. Typical habitats are the margins of fresh and brackish water, both running and still, and it is tolerant of stagnant water and so should be expected from most wetland situations. Adults occur year-round, they are active from April or May, usually among marginal vegetation or substrate and often in numbers, and are readily swept from such situations through the summer. During the winter they will occasionally occur in extraction samples, among flood debris or marginal litter. Larvae develop within substrate out of the water, generally near marginal situations, feeding on organic matter among roots or litter, and pupation occurs in similar situations.

For certain determination the aedeagus will need to be examined and females are best identified by comparison and association.

Adults are medium-sized beetles, 3.7-4.3mm and entirely black or very dark brown with the antennae and tarsi variously lighter. The dorsal pubescence is double, consisting of quite long and semi-erect setae above dense, short and very fine recumbent hairs. Head strongly microsculptured; with coarse punctures at the base which become very fine anteriorly, and large, convex and pubescent eyes. Antennae 10-segmented; second segment greatly enlarged, tapering to an acute apex and with 3 distinct lengths of pubescence on the inner surface, terminal segment very small and difficult to see. Antennal insertions closer together than either to the inner margin of the adjacent eye. Pronotum transverse and at most only slightly narrower than the elytra, broadest in front of acute posterior angles and evenly curved to sharp anterior angles, sometimes with an obscure median longitudinal ridge towards the base. The sub-lateral grooves are almost straight in the

Dryops luridus (Erichson, 1847)

Suborder:

Superfamily:

Family:

Genus:

Subgenus:

POLYPHAGA Emery, 1886

BYRRHOIDEA Latreille, 1804

DRYOPIDAE Billberg, 1820 (1817)

DRYOPS Olivier, 1791

For certain determination the aedeagus will need to be examined and females are best identified by comparison and association.

A large, diverse family found in a wide range of habitats, ground beetles are one of the most popular groups of beetles, and are among the most frequently encountered.

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This site is devoted to the study of beetles, mostly those that occur in the UK but also some from other areas. It is very easy for naturalists working in the UK to become parochial regarding our fauna but the vast majority of our UK species represent only a small part of a much wider Palaearctic or even world population and diversity, so we attempt to present our species within this wider context both by outlining their global occurrence and by presenting some non-British material. Our aim, at least initially, is to present some of the more frequently encountered species in such a way as to assist with their identification and provide some insight into their biology, distribution and place in the evolutionary scheme as it is currently acknowledged.

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