Anacaena limbata

Judging from the number of records of 3 common species in this genus, finding my first was long overdue.

I thought this was strikingly convex from the side and nearly misidentified it as Anacaena globulus. The beetle was too curled up to have a clear view of the mesosternum in order to see if there was a tooth or not. It as only when I took a photo of it side-on that I began to have doubts. I clearly needed to see the mesosternum to be sure, and good job I did as when I carefully snapped off the front of the beetle (from the fore coxae forwards) this revealed an obvious sharp tooth along the centre of the mesosternum. The extent of the glabrous area at the tip of the hind femora allowed me to identify it as limbata. Although the extent of this glabrous region is not described for globulus in Duff, judging from the photo on NatureSpot it would also have been another character I could have used to eliminate globulus. I measured the beetle at 2.16mm long, though it was slightly curled so would have been a bit longer than this in life.

Anacaena limbata showing mesosternal tooth (2 views) and hind femur, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 8th September 2023

This one was caught (to light) at the same time and place as the one above. It was just over 2.2mm long.

second Anacaena limbata showing mesosternal tooth and hind femur, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 8th September 2023

This one was nearby, also to light, and measured around 2.3mm long.

second Anacaena limbata showing maxillary palp, hind tarsus, mesosternal tooth and hind femur, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 11th September 2023