Ophonus rufibarbis (Fabricius, 1792)
Female	Occurs throughout southern England and the midlands although there are only a few, and mostly coastal, records from west of Wiltshire and from Wales. North of York there a few English east coast records and two from the east coast of Scotland; Fife and Aberdeen. In the west there are a few (coastal) lake district records and one from the Western Isles (Tiree). A generally common and sometimes abundant species which occurs throughout our Watford area in a range of habitats; during the winter we have found the adults under dead bark on Salix stumps and extracted them from grass tussocks and debris from around logs. During the spring and summer they are active in parkland, wasteland and, more especially, gardens. Adults are active nocturnally and mat be found with a torch on parkland pathways, along the pathway by the river Colne in Radlett road they may be seen in numbers, usually alongside other carabids, though by the late spring under sodium lights. They often turn up in pitfall traps in dry and not too densely vegetated areas. The species is a spring breeder (Luff, 1998) and is fully winged and capable of flight; we have recorded them at MV in gardens throughout our area. On the warmest nights from the end of June to early August they will arrive at MV through the evening in our town centre gardens, and records of more than a dozen in an evenling are not unusual. Unfortunately, all specimens should be taken and examined (Live) as O.puncticeps is also attracted to light, the vast majority will be rufibarbis as this is nationally as well as locally by far our most common species. 6.5-9.5mm (Luff, 2007). Forebody shiny brown, not metallic, front of head and sides of pronotum generally lighter. Elytra dul, darker, often black with paler margins. Legs pale brown. Head sparsely punctured and pubescent, with a single puncture besied eyes. Eyes convex and protruding. Mandibles sharp. Maxillary palps well developed, last segment about as long as penultimate. Antennae pubescent from third segment. Pronotum punctate and pubescent; densely towards margins, very sparsely so on disc, this varies. A little less shining than head due to microsculpture which varies widely in strength. Lateral margins rounded to behind middle then gently sinuate before sharp, perpendicular hind angles. Hind margin not bordered (Look carefully). With two long setae (sometimes an extra one) along lateral margin, one near middle and another anterior of this, generally among a series of shorter striae. Transverse, average of our specimens 2:3. Elytra broadly rounded to apex, strongly bordered to a sharp shoulder angle which may have a very small tooth, basal border from shoulder angle to base of first striae more or less straight. Striae impunctate and well developed to apex. Scutellar striae well developed although often interupted. Interstices flat or a little convex towards apex, finely punctured and with very fine erect setae, generally two or three rows of punctures although these may become confused and there may be small areas with four rows. Sometimes this puncturation may be absent from part of an interstice. Usually dull due to microsculpture which varies in strength but is clearly visible at X20. Legs stout. Basal segments of pro and mesotarsi dilated in male. Protibiae deeply notched on inner side and with a very stout spur inside at apex. Meso and Metatibiae with two apical spurs, the larger of which is at least as long as the first tarsal segment. Penis characteristic; ventral surface almost straight and apex bent ventrally (See below). Description from 5 Watford specimens at X20.
Female	Male
Male	Female
Aedeagus
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