Another day, another beetle. The elaterid Kibunea minuta was out in numbers today. Climbing up un-mown grass in the garden. At only 6mm it's one of the smaller click beetles I've encountered.
The small second and third short and rounded antennal segments are a diagnostic feature for this species.
There was some confusion on my part as the species known here as Kibunea minuta was transferred to the genus Limonius by Cate (2007). Leseigneur & Mertlik (2007) showed that two closely related species are present in Europe and can only be differentiated by the male genitalia and that all British material has so far proved to be poneli. L. minutus appears to be a species with a more southerly distribution, although it could turn up in Britain.
Confused? I still am. For now we'll continue to call this Kibunea minuta !
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