And We're Off!

Huzzah! Been a long time coming, but 2019 finally began an hour ago and I sped off into the wilds in search of beetles, flies or bugs. 

Guess what...I found just one individual beetle and it's a lifer for me! 

So I was sneaking around in the grounds of Uig Hotel (don't worry - I live and work in the hotel, it's all perfectly fine and legit) with my pathetic wee torch that puts out about as much light as your average glow worm, hence I couldn't see anything, when I missed my footing whilst descending a flight of concrete steps and very almost fell over. I put my hand out to grab the wall and cleverly managed to cut my thumb open. Gee, well that's a great start...

Luckily, there's a laundry shed situated in the grounds which stays lit all night. I gave up falling over in the dark and headed for that. I can easily set the timer so that the shed lights turn off after hours, but I prefer to use it as a massive light-trap and see what it attracts. Tonight I struck solid gold

Chances are I won't be winning too many prizes for the quality of this image

This small beetle (approx. 3 or 4mm) was sat immobile on the ceiling. I stood gazing up at it for a good five or ten seconds trying to place it into a family. Then I saw sense and gave up, took a pic and potted it up. 

Here's the cropped version

Initially I thought it had some dried scuzz stuck on the elytra, but now I think it's patterning. I think I know what it is too. I think this is Ptinus fur, somewhat related to the Niptus Golden Spider Beetles I have wandering around the skirting boards of my downstairs loo. In fact, one common name for it is the White-marked Spider Beetle. It certainly has a weird gangly way of walking, somewhat similar to Niptus though not as comical. 

Tomorrow (well, later today actually) I shall have a go at keying through and carding the beast. So, against all expectations, Nebria brevicollis was not my first beetle of the year. One hour in and already 2019 is throwing me a curveball. And a probable lifer.

I'll continue with this beetle tomorrow (today...) Hope you all had a great New Year, I'm off to grab some beauty sleep.