LEICESTERSHIRE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Recent records of scarce VC55 beetles Graham L Finch Rhinocylus conicus GL Finch LESOPS 31 (March 2015) ISSN 0957 - 1019 14 Thorndale, Ibstock, Leics. LE67 6JT
[email protected] LESOPS 31 (2015) Scarce beetles 2 Introduction The total number of beetle species for the British Isles is currently around 4,072 (Duff, 2012). In Leicestershire & Rutland (VC55) over 2,000 have been recorded although it is quite difficult to get a precise count as the checklists have changed dramatically and new species have been added in recent years. Also, our late county coleopterist, Derek Lott, did have reservations about certain records and recorders. Approximately 4,000 records have been added over the last four years although the majority of these represent the more noticeable species. Nevertheless, due to industrious fieldwork and, of course not being denied our fair share of luck, several new species have led to a creditable list of the more notable species in VC55. Included are some noteworthy range extensions and even a good number with a Nationally Notable status. The following account is a summary of species that are (i) first records for the county, (ii) of particular interest based on county rarity or (iii) have not been seen for a long time. Derek Lott’s VC55 Coleoptera database has been used as the baseline for this report but very few records were entered during his illness. Accordingly 2010 and most of 2011 were years in a kind of limbo or interim state with hardly any collection and co-ordination of records occurring.