Welsh Journals

NOTES ON SOME COLEOPTERA FROM CADER IDRIS BRYAN L. SAGE, F.R.E.S. FROM 23rd-30th June, 1956, I was staying near Dol-y-cae in the vicinity of Tal-y-llyn Lake, Merionethshire. During this period I made a small collection of beetles on and around Cader Idris. The exact area covered consisted of the southern slopes and foothills of Cader, from the peak to the northern shores of Tal-y-llyn and eastwards to Cwmrhwyddfor near Dol-y-cae. All these localities will be found marked on the 1* O.S. map number 116, seventh series, published 1953. No aquatic beetles were found in Llyn Cau and no attempt was made to collect any from Tal-y-llyn. In the list which follows the order and nomenclature follow that of Dr. N. H. Joy, 1932, Practical Handbook of British Beetles, London. My thanks are extended to Mr. Colin Matheson, who has checked this list against the card index of Welsh Coleoptera at the National Museum of Wales. By this standard eleven of the species listed appear to be new records for Merionethshire, these are marked with an asterisk (*). I am indebted to Mr. C. T. Gimmingham for confiiming my identification of Pterostichus madidus and for naming Otiorrhynchus singularis. CURCULIONIDAE.—Otiorrhynchus singularis L. (= picipes F.). — A specimen taken on Scots Pine at 800 ft. on 25th June. This species is frequently a pest of raspberries and other fruits. In recent years it has been recorded from Dyffryn, Merioneth. SCARABAEIDAE.—Geotrupes vernalis L.-A number were encountered at 2500 ft. on 25th June. *Geotrupes spiniger Marsh.-¾A pair found burrowing in sheep dung at 900 ft. above Tal-y-llyn on 27th June. Phyllopertha horticula L.-A very common species on bracken and in flight up to 2500 ft. CICINDELIDAE.-Cicindela campestris L.-One taken at 2600 ft. on 25th June. CARABIDAE.—*Europhilus gracilis Gyll.-One taken by Tal-y-llyn Lake on 26th June. *Lyperosomus adstrictus Esch.-A specimen found in a rotten stump at Dol-y-cae on 25th June. *Pterostichus madidus F.-One taken from beneath stones at 2600 ft. on 25th June. *Anchomenus ruficornis Goez = albipes F.)-A number found under stones at Dol-y-cae on 29th June. CERAMBYCIDAE.-Rhagium bifasciatum F.-¾A specimen taken on Scots Pine at 750 ft. near the Dol-y-cae Falls on 25th June. CHRYSOMELIDAE.—Timarcha tenebricosa F.-Many found on the rough grass at 2500 ft. on 25th June. This is one of those species which emits a drop of red fluid from the mouth when stimulated *Phyllotreta vittula Redt. — The species of this genus are found chiefly on Cruciferae, but several were found on bracken by Tal-y-llyn Lake on 27th June. DASCILLIDAE.—Dascillus ceriinus L.-A very common species in flight and on bracken and low herbage up to 800 ft. CANTHARIDAE, *Cantharis pallida Goez.One taken on bracken by Tal-y-llyn on 27th June. ELATERIDAE. -This family contains the well known click beetles of which I encountered three species. They are often taken in flight. Athous haemorrhoidalis F.-A quite common species on bracken and low vegetation, but only encountered at low altitudes. Corymbites cupreus F.-Found in fair numbers on rough grass and in flight at 2500 ft. *Selatosomus impressus F.-This is predominantly a northern species found on conifers and silver birch. I took one from a Scots Pine at 800 ft. on 25th June. COCCINELLIDAE.—*Coccinella septempunctata L. (7-punctata). -Numerous on grass at heights up to 2500 ft. *Coccinella decempunctata L. (I0-punctata).—A few specimens found on firs at Dol-y-cae on 25th June. "Caldey" I I, Deepdene, Potters Bar, Middlesex, August 17th, 1956.