Bembidion (Notaphus) brullei Gemminger and Harold 1868

Bembidion (Notaphus) brullei Gemminger and Harold, 1868

Fig. 10, 45, 75

Bembidion variegatum Brullé, 1838: 44. Type locality: Montevideo, Uruguay. Primary homonym of Bembidium variegatum Say, 1823.

Other synonymy as in Larochelle and Larivière (2001: 80).

Description. Body length 5.1–6.5 mm. Forebody piceous; elytra yellowish with a dark variegated color pattern; antennae and legs yellowish (antennal segments 2–11 infuscated apically). Microsculpture of head, pronotum, and elytra very strong, isodiametric or almost brick-shaped. Dull, with metallic lustre (bronze, greenish). Thorax. Pronotum: sides moderately rounded anteriorly, moderately sinuate posteriorly; posterolateral angles rectangular, sharp at tip; laterobasal foveae moderately deep, flat and square, moderately long, reaching basal margin. Elytra. Sides subparallel. Scutellar striole consisting of a row of punctures. Striae complete, shallow, finely punctate; stria 7 strong, finely punctate. Apical striole shallow, connected to stria 7. Aedeagus. Lateral view (Fig. 45): moderately arcuate; base slightly convex dorsally; middle wide, subparallel; apex subtriangular, mostly straight dorsally, with extreme tip wide and short.

Material examined. 51 specimens (NZAC).

Geographic distribution (Fig. 75). North Island: AK, BP, GB, HB, ND, WA, WI, WN. South Island: DN, KA, MB, MC, NN. Offshore Islands: AU. Extralimital range: Uruguay, Argentina, Falkland Islands, Australia (mainland), Lord Howe Island. Adventive. First New Zealand records: Auckland, AK, 1959 (NZAC); Auckland Islands, AU (Jeannel, 1962: 621). Well established.

Ecology. Coastal lowland. Epigean. Salt flats; banks of lagoons and estuarine streams. Open ground; wet, sandy, loamy or muddy, bare or sparsely vegetated soil. Nocturnal; hides during the day under vegetal debris, stones, at the base of plants, and in soil crevices. Gregarious.

Biology. Seasonality: December–May. Tenerals: September–October, December–January, March. Defence mechanism: when alarmed, the adult escapes by running or flying.

Dispersal power. Macropterous, capable of flight. Occasional flier to artificial lights at night. Moderate runner. Vagility strongly favoured by flight capacity.

Collecting techniques. Turning debris and stones; pouring water over the ground; treading the soil with the feet.

Reference. Larochelle and Larivière 2001: 80 (catalogue; biology, dispersal power, ecology, geographic distribution, references).

Remark. Lindroth (1976) recorded only four localities for this species; it is now known from many localities across the North Island, the South Island, and the subantarctic Auckland Islands.