Coleoptera.
This order is well represented; certain localities in the district are favourable to their existence and economy, and many rarities occur. Only one Cicindela (Cicindela campestris) inhabits our district and that is generally distributed and plentiful, especially in sandy places. The curious and elegant Cychrus rostratus is often found under stones and loose bark at Dudley and Bewdley, and the handsome Carabus nitens and its congener C. arvensis, may be taken on Cannock Chase, both species being now very scarce. Elaphrus riparius and E. cupreus occur not uncommonly in wet and boggy places. Notiophilus substriatus (generally a sea-side species) may be found occasionally on Cannock Chase, and so also may the curious Nebria livida. This latter beetle was first discovered on the Chase by Mr. J. T. Harris, and the writer has verified its occurrence there many times. It is a remarkable fact that this is the only known instance of this species inhabiting an inland locality—its head quarters being at Bridlington Quay and two or three other parts of the north-east coast—it lives in the argillaceous cliffs, and on Cannock Chase it is met with in a similar formation.
Of the curious genus Dyschirius two species only appear to have settled in our neighbourhood, viz., D. æneus and D. globosus, both occur at Bewdley and on Cannock Chase—the latter also at Coleshill and Sutton Park.
The genus Bembidium is well represented, 33 of the 50 British species and varieties being taken in the Birmingham district. A few may be named: B. rufescens, under bark and in damp places; B. quinquestriatum, on walls at Smallheath and Olton; B. Mannerheimii, Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; B. articulatum, Knowle, Bewdley; B. nigricorne, Cannock Chase; B. monticola, Bewdley; B. Stephensi, Sutton Park; B. prasinum, Bewdley. In this connection the writer may perhaps be allowed to refer to the finding by himself of B. adustum in large numbers at Tewkesbury. This species was previously represented only by a very few old specimens, and had not been found for more than 40 years, until he had the pleasure of re-establishing it.
Patrobus assimilis is found sparingly on Cannock Chase; Trechus discus, T. micros and T. secalis, are plentiful in the river banks at Bewdley; T. micros occasionally turns up at Smallheath amongst bones placed in the garden as a trap for Homalotæ; T. obtusus has occurred at Bewdley and Cannock Chase, and in the latter locality the writer once found a few examples of the rare T. rubens.
The important genus Pterostichus has many representatives: P. versicolor, at Solihull, Sutton Park, and Cannock Chase; P. lepidus, Cannock Chase; P. picimanus and P. anthracinus, Bewdley; P. minor, Coleshill and Cannock Chase; Platyderus ruficollis seems to be generally distributed, but scarce. Amara fulva may frequently be taken under stones in sandy places at Sutton Park, Cannock Chase, and Bewdley; A. consularis at Sutton Park and Hopwas Wood; A. spinipes, at Dudley and Bewdley; A. patricia, Cannock Chase; A. acuminata, Sutton Park; A. lunicollis, Small Heath, Sutton, Cannock Chase, and Bewdley; A. continua, A. communis, and A. ovata, at Knowle, Coleshill, and Bewdley.
Badister sodalis is to be had at Dudley and Bewdley. All the species of Calathus occur, and Taphria nivalis, a closely allied beetle, turns up now and again, singly, at Small Heath, Knowle, Bewdley, and Trench Woods. The Anchomeni are fairly well represented, and it seems very likely that additional species may yet be added to our local list. The following may be selected as most worthy of notice: Anchomenus oblongus, Bewdley; A. atratus, Coleshill, Cannock Chase, and Bewdley. A single Lebia chlorocephala was captured in hedge rubbish near Acock’s Green. Dromius quadrisignatus is a Sutton Park species, being found rarely under bark of Oak trees. Blechrus maurus, which seems decidedly out of its reckoning in a Midland locality, has been taken at Bewdley and Leamington. All the species of Metabletus occur, and are pretty generally distributed. Cymindis vaporariorum inhabits Cannock Chase, where it may be found lurking under the heather and loose stones, but is not abundant. In the same locality the curious Miscodera arctica may, in some seasons, be met with in plenty. Two species of Chlænius occur, viz.: C. vestitus at Bewdley, and C. nigricornis at Cannock Chase. Of the extensive genus Harpalus, the following species may be cited, it being understood that several of the commoner forms exist here in great abundance. H. puncticollis, Dudley and Bewdley; H. griseus, Cannock Chase; H. tardus, Sutton Park and Bewdley. The pretty little Acupalpus exiguus and v. luridus may be obtained by searching the Sphagnum on the margin of Coleshill Pool. All the Bradycelli, except B. placidus and B. collaris, are plentiful in the district, and in certain spots, such as Cannock Chase, they are extremely abundant. Anisodactylus binotatus occurs on Cannock Chase, but is not often to be found.
The water beetles are pretty numerously represented in the district generally, the best localities for them being Coleshill, Sutton Park, Cannock Chase, and Bewdley. It must suffice to mention a few of the rarer or more striking kinds, e.g., Brychius elevatus, at Yardley and Knowle; Haliplus cinereus, at Knowle; Hydroporus septentrionalis, Bewdley; H. marginatus, Knowle; H. picipes, Cannock Chase; H. lepidus, Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; H. duodecimpustulatus, Bewdley; H. assimilis, Sutton Park, Knowle, Cannock Chase; H. dorsalis, Yardley, Knowle; H. marginatus, Knowle; H. nigrita, Knowle, Bewdley; H. monticola, Cannock Chase; H. neglectus, Cannock Chase; H. umbrosus, Knowle; H. augustatus, Knowle; Ilybius ater, Knowle, Cannock Chase; I. guttiger, Coleshill; Agabus Solieri, Knowle; A. affinis, Sutton Park; Gyrinus caspius, Hopwas; Hydrobius picicrus, Knowle; Laccobius sinuatus, Knowle; L. alutaceus, Knowle; L. minutus, Cannock Chase; L. bipunctatus, Cannock Chase; Limnebius nitidus, Knowle, Bewdley; L. picinus, Knowle; Chætarthria seminulum, Cannock Chase; Helophorus æqualis, Bewdley; H. Mulsanti, Bewdley; Hydrochus augustatus, Knowle; Hydræna palustris, Bewdley; H. nigrita, Knowle, Bewdley; H. atricapilla, Knowle; the rare Leptinus testaceus has been taken at Needwood in the nests of wild bees. Agathidium nigripenne Sutton Park; A. lævigatum, Knowle, Dudley; A. atrum, Yardley, Sutton Park, Cannock Chase; A. seminulum, Coleshill, Knowle, Cannock Chase; A. varians, Knowle; A. rotundatum, Cannock Chase; A. convexum, Hopwas Wood; Amphicyllis globus, Bewdley; Leoides orbicularis, Cannock Chase; Anisotoma picea, Cannock Chase; A. litura, Knowle.
Several of the Burying Beetles—Necrophorus and Silpha—occur generally in the district, as also do many of the Cholevæ. Colons are conspicuous by their absence—only two species having put in an appearance, viz: Colon dentipes, Knowle; and C. brunneum, Knowle. The interesting groups of Scydmænidæ and Pselaphidæ are remarkably well represented, but room can be found for only a few of the rarer species: e.g., Scydmænus exilis, Sutton Park, Hopwas Wood, Cannock Chase, Bewdley; S. angulatus, Cannock Chase; S. hirticollis, Sutton Park; Eutheia plicata, Budden Wood, E. Schaumii, Smallheath, Knowle; E. Scydmænoides, Knowle (abundantly); E. clavata, new to Britain, discovered by the writer in Sherwood Forest; Bryaxis impressa, Coleshill; Euplectus punctatus, Knowle, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; E. nigricans, throughout the district; E. nanus, Edgbaston, Bewdley, Cannock Chase; E. bicolor, Sutton Park, Hopwas Wood, Cannock Chase, Bewdley; E. nubigena, a very distinct species, new to Britain, discovered by the writer in Sherwood Forest in 1885.
The Brachelytra have not had much attention paid to them in the Midlands, the group being a very large one, and the species mostly difficult to determine. These insects are plentiful in the district and many rare forms occur. A few only, comparatively, can be here specified:—Ischnoglossa corticina, Olton, Sutton Park, Old Hill; Thiasophila angulata, Hopwas Wood, Bewdley (Ants’ Nests); Dinarda Markelii, Bewdley (in Ants’ Nests); Atemeles emarginatus, Bewdley (in Ants’ Nests); Ilyobates nigricollis, Callicerus obscurus, C. rigidicornis, Knowle; Tachyusa scitula, Bewdley; Ocyusa maura, Coleshill; O. picina, Sutton Park, Bewdley; Oxypoda exoleta, Smallheath, O. recondita, Budden Wood (Ants’ Nests, Formica rufa); O. sericea, new to Britain, Smallheath, Edgbaston, Knowle.