Bembidion guttula
This record describes Bembidion guttula (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A small ground beetle (only about 3 to 3.5 mm long). It is black or dark bronze with sub-apical pale spots on the elytra and paler tips to the elytra as well. It only has 6 stria (excluding the scutellary stria). Bembidion biguttatum is similar and also has pale sub-apical spots but this species can be separated by having a 7th stria (visible as a short row of shallow punctures). It is hard to separate from Bembidion mannerheimi by lifting the elytra and examining the wings, which are usually well developed in Bembidion guttula and vestigial or absent in Bembidion mannerheimi . B. mannerheimii also generally lacks the apical spots but does have the pale elytral ends. Can only be separated from Bembidion mannerheimi by lifting the elytra and examining the wings, which are well developed in Bembidion guttula and vestigial or absent in Bembidion mannerheimi . On the ground, under stones and logs etc. It is strongly, though not exclusively, associated with damper areas, and water margins. Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Carabidae
- Genus
- Bembidion
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
On the ground, under stones and logs etc. It is strongly, though not exclusively, associated with damper areas, and water margins.
Seasonal Activity
All year round.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Bembidion guttula. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Bembidion guttula (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bembidion guttula
What is Bembidion guttula?
Bembidion guttula is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
Where is Bembidion guttula found?
Habitat: On the ground, under stones and logs etc. It is strongly, though not exclusively, associated with damper areas, and water margins.
When is Bembidion guttula active?
Bembidion guttula: seasonal activity - All year round..