Common Springtail-stalker Notiophilus biguttatus

Quite a beautiful insect!

This individual was 4.8mm long, found on arable land.

Common Springtail-stalker Notiophilus biguttatus showing close-ups of elytra and pronotum, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 30th October 2022

The 4th elytral interval on this one was distinctly broader than the 3rd and 5th which suggests the much rarer quadripunctatus. However pronotal sides and the ridges on the frons appeared to match biguttatus so I don't think it can be quadripunctatus. THere was only one discal puncture on the 4th elytral interval (two more towards the apex but I don't think these can be described as discal) - quadripunctatus usually has 2-3. This one turned up in my vane trap.

Common Springtail-stalker Notiophilus biguttatus showing elytral disc, pronotum and frons, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 8th May 2024

This one appeared on the table while I was dining outside at the cafe at Creake Abbey. This was before I had access to any decent beetle identification resources and I was unable to determine it to species level at the time, putting it down as Notiophilus sp. Judging from my blog written at the time it appears that I was under the impression that the genus could not be identified to species level without dissection. Not sure where that came from but it certainly isn't true - indeed, armed with better resources today I think it can even be identified from these photos.

Common Springtail-stalker Notiophilus biguttatus, Creake Abbey (Norfolk, UK), 4th May 2015

I don't know if it's possible to get bored of seeing these, but if so I'm a long way off that point. My heart skips a beat when I find one...

Common Springtail-stalker Notiophilus biguttatus showing frontal grooves, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 18th March 2023

Common Springtail-stalker Notiophilus biguttatus showing frontal grooves, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 18th December 2023