Oxypselaphus obscurus

Marsh Enghalsläufer

The Swamp Enghalsläufer ( Oxypselaphus obscurus obscurus Platynus synonymous ) is a beetle of the family of beetles and the subfamily of Platyninae. The genus name was Oxypselaphus from AltGr. οξύς oxys " sharp " and ψηλαφάω pselapháo " ιch betaste " formed for the pine key and refers to the fact that the jaw button ends pointed. The species name obscurus (Latin ) " dark, gloomy " alludes to the color of the beetle. The term ' narrow neck " does not refer to the neck, but on the neck plate, " runner " is commonly used for ground beetles, the prefix " swamp "means one of the habitats in which the bug occurs.

Characteristics of the beetle

Head and pronotum are black or black -brown, the wing -coverts dark brown, antennae and legs light brown contrast. The body to a length of 4.5 to six millimeters.

On the head sit four long bristles, one each front and rear on the upper rim of the eyes ( supraorbital bristles). More bristle hair sitting on the upper lip. Lips and jaw buttons are remarkably long and slender, the end members fusiform acuminate (name ). The large eyes are elongated. The eleven-membered antennae are long and filiform, they range up to about half of the wing-cover. The sensor elements are all only shine terete and 4 member on hairy and dull, have the second and third antennal segment only at the top individual and small bristles. The second sensor element is short, but longer than wide, the third antennal segment is shorter than the first and second composite.

The pronotum is very slim heart-shaped, the curvature inward begins long before the base, the largest width is already achieved in the first third. The base is a straight line. Especially towards the sides it is very concise punctured, the hind angles are acute. The neck label also bears four bristles. The one sitting on the rear corners, each one directly over the side edge at about the widest part of the neck plate.

The elytra are elongate oval, the rows of coarse points lie in furrows strongly developed far beyond the middle, only backwards, they are increasingly flatter. In the third interval between the rows of dots are pores points with other bristle hair. In addition, can be found at the edge of elytra long bristles.

The legs are long and not too strong. The first three members of the five-membered tarsi are somewhat broadened in the males. The slim front rails are only slightly broadened forward. The claws are unperforated.

Biology

The name swamp Enghalskäfer suggests that the beetle is found in swamps. Its occurrence, however, is by no means limited to such, but it is only dependent on high humidity. It is found in humid forests (eg, riparian forests ), in river floodplains on flood meadows, reed zone, near water, and in the Seggenzone of pastures, as well as on wet heaths. Among the sites he prefers moist humus-rich habitats, in comparative censuses he is usually in wet forests at most.

The adult animals are often found under leaves, bark and stones mostly. They overwinter as imagos. The highest activity they unfold in the spring, a second peak of activity is in the fall. The style is light -loving, in the light organ they prefer the mid-range.

Dissemination

The species is circumpolar to be found, in Europe it is absent only in the South but occurs even in the north of Spain, Italy and Greece.