Pubescent Harpalus

There are four British species of Harpalus Latreille with pubescent, or partly pubescent, elytra; our three species of the subgenus Pseudophonus Motschulsky, and Harpalus affinis (Schrank). Our species of Pseudophonus are distinct from Harpalus s.str. in having the dorsal surface of the tarsi finely pubescent, in Harpalus s.str. there are a few outstanding setae but otherwise the tarsi are glabrous. In H.(pseudophonus) calceatus (Duftschmid) (10.5-14mm) there is very fine and easily overlooked pubescence on the eighth and ninth interstices, otherwise the elytra are glabrous. This is a dark, almost black species with the antennae, tarsi and extreme lateral margins of the pronotum lighter. The third interstice lacks setiferous punctures and there is coarse and confluent puncturation along the base of the pronotum. This ia a seldom recorded species with single records from Essex, Sussex and Yorkshire. On the continent it is known to be migratory (Lindroth). H.(Pseudophonus) rufipes (DeGeer) is a large, 11-16mm, and distinctive species the identification of which has until recently been straightforward, the recent addition of a further species, H.(Pseudophonus) griseus (Panz.) has complicated the matter. With completely punctate and pubescent elytra, dark body with pale appendages and glabrous head, griseus may be confused with rufipes. At 8-12mm most specimens will be smaller than rufipes. In rufipes the pronotal hind angles are acute with the lateral margin in front of these sinuate, in griseus these lateral margins are straight and narrowed to obtuse hind angles. (Luff). Recently added to our British list by Owen (1996) from specimens taken at light in Wimbledon 1995, although it may have occurred on several occasions in the past; there are records dating back to the nineteenth century but no verifable specimens to support these, a discussion on its possible occurence is given by Owen. Reference Owen, J.A. 1996. Harpalus(Pseudophonus) griseus at Wimbledon, Surrey- The first definitely British record? Ent. Rec. 108:69-72