Couple of unidentified crawlies

ChrisJB · #1 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 02:09 PM

Can anyone identify this rather mean looking beetle and tell me how common/rare they are please. It was about an inch long and was on an upland plantation forest track in Galloway, Scotland.

And, is this just a field grasshopper. Taken at Kirkconnel Flow, near Dumfries.

Regards, Chris

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 02:21 PM

Hi Chris

I can't help you with the Rove beetle,but the Grasshopper looks like a Mottled Grasshopper to me.

Cheers ,Jason

job_rohns · #3 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 02:32 PM

Staphylinus genus for the Rove beetle?? Although I'm not too hot on these to be honest.

ChrisJB · #4 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 03:50 PM

Thanks for the pointers folks. I have just searched a few and come up with Staphylinus erythropterus which is a distinct possibility and the heathy, moorland habitat I saw it in is bang on for this species. However, I can't find anything on their distribution in G.B.

Regards, Chris

Jason Green · #5 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 03:56 PM

Afternoon Chris,

See here: NBN Gateway: Staphylinus erythropterus grid map

Take care,

Jason

ChrisJB · #6 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 04:21 PM

Cheers for that Jason. The single red square in Galloway looks spot on for the location I saw it! It appears it is not particularly common from the map. There is another very similar species, Staphylinus caesareus that it could be as well.

Regards, Chris

job_rohns · #7 (**permalink**) 31-07-2010, 04:24 PM

There's a thread on here somewhere that points out the difference between the two, I saw it earlier but don't have time to search for it now. Sorry about that, but it's there somewhere!!! haha.