Litargus connexus

This one keyed to Litargus easily enough (using Duff) and most characters pointed to connexus, but there was one problem. Foretarsomere 1 was slightly wider than tarsomere 2 (not sure about "clearly wider" as the key states) but it was about three times longer than wide. According to Duff it should only be 1.6x longer than wide, vs. 3.5x longer than wide in Litargus balteatus. The other characters seemed clear enough for connexus, but this was problematic. I turned to Hackston and this problem doesn't go away. It does however provide some additional characters that also support connexus, including the overall shape, so I'm as satisfied I can be that it is connexus. The other foretarsus was marginally better but still a fair way off from 1.6x longer than wide. The beetle was 2.6mm long and was found in a pheremone lure trap (loaded with a lure for Currant Shoot Borer Lampronia capitella).

Litargus connexus showing elytra (punctures and edges), antenna and fore tarsi, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 11th July 2022