Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus

A beautiful little beetle that I come across during the daytime fairly regularly, mostly in May and June.

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, St Mary's churchyard, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 31st May 2021

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 8th May 2020

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 2nd June 2022

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 2nd June 2022

I had some doubts about this one when I was reviewing my photos. I think I would have keyed it using Hackston's key at the time. Looking back at it now, I think I was right but a few things made me question whether it could have been Cordylepherus viridis, a fairly common species that is quite similar but which I've not so far found and identified. Most of my photos show no red at the foreangles of the pronotum which would suggest Cordylepherus viridis, however the one facing down (taken from slightly in front of the insect) does show a little on one side - but also the photo of Cordylepherus viridis underside at UK Beetles shows some red on the foreangles of the underside of the pronotum, so could this be what we're seeing in my photo? All of my photos of this individual appear to show a darker, less green insect, than my other bipustulatus, and Cordylepherus viridis is supposed to be less bright green (though more bluey green whereas this looks bronzier). The extent of red on the elytral tips seems to be a bit variable, but Cordylepherus viridis has less - I think this is more like Malachius bipustulatus but it's got less than some examples. I think the shape of the pronotum (more transverse in bipustulatus, more quadrate in viridis) fits bipustulatus best and I think the swelling on the fourth segment of the antenna clinches it as bipustulatus. So in the end I think I got it right, but please shout if you disagree.

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 27th June 2018

This one was before I was recording beetles systematically and I didn't record how I found it, however I'm pretty sure it would have been at my moth trap. If so I think it's the only one I've ever had to light - the others all being found during the day.

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 26th May 2015

Common Malachite Malachius bipustulatus, Narborough (Norfolk, UK), 6th June 2015