Category Archives: Beetles

[300] Rhagonycha fulva, Common Red Soldier Beetle

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[300] Rhagonycha fulva, Common Red Soldier Beetle

Introduction

Rhagonycha fulva, the Common Red Soldier Beetle, is one of the most common and widespread species of Beetle in the UK and is often seen in summer on flowers. It has recently acquired the informal name (Hogweed) Bonking Beetle.

It is also known as the Bloodsucker Beetle.

I will also consider Cantharis species, the other most common Soldier Beetles found in Britain

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder – Polyphaga

Infraorder – Elateriformia

Superfamily – Elateroidea (Click beetles, Soldier beetles, fireflies and others)

Family – Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles)

Subfamily – Cantharinae

Tribe – Cantharini

Genus – Rhagonycha

Scientific Name – Rhagonycha fulva

Not surprisingly, the genus Cantharis comes in the same Tribe.

Soldier Beetles

There are over 1300 species in about a hundred genera in the family Cantharidae. Most species do not have common names.

The Taxonomy of Insects is complicated because it has well over a million species divided into over two hundred families. Soldier Beetles, Cantharidae, were named because one of the first noted species had colours reminiscent of the red coats of British Soldiers. They are also called Leatherwings because of their soft elytra (wing coverings.) They are divided into five subfamilies and several tribes.

[A] Rhagonycha fulva

There are about 150 species of Rhagonycha of which seven are found in Britain. The name Bloodsucker Beetle for Rhagonycha fulva just comes from its red colour.

I cannot trace the origins of the word Rhagonycha. Fulva in Latin is an amber or orange shade of the colour red.

Rhagonycha fulva is a medium size, roughly rectangular beetle, mostly a shiny dark red in colour. The elytra have a black patch on their ends. Its antennae are black.

Larvae live at the base of grasses and eat invertebrates such as slugs and snails. The relatively short-lived adults feed on pollen and nectar and may eat Aphids.

Habitat

Rhagonycha fulva is common over most of Europe and parts of Asia Minor. It has become established over eastern Canada.

Adults can be found in summer on grassland and woodland, in hedgerows and in parks and gardens. They are fond of Hogweed and other plants in the carrot family Apiaceae, and also Asters.

Other Notes

It is commonly seen on [174] Hogweed and other flowers. Like many insects the adult phase us relatively short and is mostly dedicated to seeking a mate and mating. The mating process takes quite a long name, which is where its modern common name comes from.

[B] Cantharis Species, Soldier Beetles

Cantharis is a genus containing about a hundred species of Soldier Beetles without individual species Common Names. Fifteen of the species can be found in the UK.

It should not be confused with the strangely named Spanish Fly, Lytta vesicatoria, that used to be called erroneously Cantharis vesicatoria. (The Spanish Fly is actually a beetle, coming from an unrelated family.)

You won’t be surprised at a bit of confusion with names. The genus Cantharis, and hence the tribe, subfamily and family of soldier beetles, are all named from the Ancient Greek word Kantharis, which means the Spanish Fly, Lytta vesicatoria. As noted above, this shiny green beetle (Spanish Fly is a beetle) used to be called Cantharis but is unrelated – it doesn’t even look that similar. Now the soldier flies have the name Cantharis and the Spanish Fly had to be renamed!

Description

There are 32 central European species of Cantharis of which 15 are to be found in the British Isles. They are relatively large beetles with a long, straight, darkly coloured abdomen and fairly long antennae. I won’t guarantee my pictures to species level but with a bit of help from social media I will give suggestions.

This is Cantharis flavilabris.

This is Cantharis pellucida.

This is Cantharis lateralis.

Other Notes

These species are not nearly as common as Rhagonycha fulva. As always, keep looking on the top of open flowers in summer to spot beetles.

[288] Pyrochroa serraticornis, Cardinal Beetle and other Beetles

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[288] Pyrochroa serraticornis, Cardinal Beetle and other Beetles

Introduction

We have met several beetles and this blog collects all the many other species seen in the UK, including Pyrochroa serraticornis, the (Common) Cardinal Beetle.

Pyrochroa coccinea and the closely related Schizotus pecticornis, are also known as Cardinal Beetles.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera

Suborder – Polyphaga

Infraorder – Cucujiformia

Superfamily – Tenebrionoidea

Family – Pyrochroidae (Fire-coloured Beetles)

Subfamily – Pyrochroinae

Genus – Pyrochroa

Scientific Name – Pyrochroa serraticornis

See text for other beetles

Name

Like the Cardinal birds and many other things called cardinals, the Cardinal Beetle derives its name from the vivid red colour of Roman Catholic Cardinals. (You will not find Cardinal birds in the UK. They are native to the Americas.)

It won’t surprise you (if you haven’t picked it up from these blogs) that pyro-chroa, from Ancient Greek roots, means fire-colour, and serrati-cornis means having serrated antenna.

For other species, see text below.

Beetles

There are about half a million species of beetle, of which about five thousand are seen in the UK. They are divided into well over 200 families and I will not attempt to look at them all.

You can find other beetles in this blog from the Beetle category listed below.

Before I go on to individual species it’s worth remembering that beetles are fully metabolous and spend most of their life in the larval stage, underground or otherwise out of sight. But we only ever see the adult stage, which may be a short period of mating and egg-laying.

My only requirement for those that have chosen to include in this blog is that I have good pictures. So here they are, in no particular order.

[A] Cardinal beetle

Pyrochroa serraticornis is one of about 150 species of Fire-coloured Beetles (Pyrochroidae) that look a fiery red or orange-red. The larvae live under the bark of trees and Wikipedia notes that while they normally eat fungus, if it gets crowded, they will eat each other.

[B] Carpet Beetle

Anthrenus verbasci, the Varied Carpet Beetle, is in the family Dermestidae, which has over 500 species often called Skin Beetles, Leather Beetles or Carpet Beetles. Larvae, especially from the genus Anthrenus, can cause extensive damage to stored wool, leather, silk, feathers and other materials. This makes them unwanted pests and gives them their names. (Anthrenus comes from the Ancient Greek anthrene, a hornet or wasp. Verbascum is a genus of plants known as Mulleins. The genitive ending verbasci suggests that it is one possible food plant for this beetle.)

The larvae are quite hairy and are one of several species known as woolly bears. They develop often in the nests of birds or in stored fabrics. Larval and pupal stage may take from one to three years, depending on their environment.

Adult beetles, that look like small [278] Ladybirds, live for only about two weeks.

[3] Cereal Leaf Beetle

Oulema melanopus, the Cereal Leaf Beetle, is in the family Chrysomelidae, Subfamily Criocerinae, Tribe Lemini. There are about 50 000 species in the Chrysomelidae family, loosely known as Leaf Beetles.

(Oulema is somehow derived from Lema, another genus in the same tribe, from which Lemini is derived. Melanopus is a New Latin word meaning black and red.)

This beetle is one of the worst members of Chrysolemidae as a crop pest. The larval stage, which only lasts two to three weeks, does all of the crop damage at its critical growing stage. Pupation underground also lasts two to three weeks and the adults normally overwinter, hidden in protective crevices.

It is native to Europe and Asia but has spread with agriculture to other countries. It eats most cereals and other grasses but particularly sems to like the major crops Oats, [177] Barley, Rye and [345] Wheat.

[4] Oil Beetle

Meloe proscarabaeus is a European species of Oil Beetle. All species in the genus Meloe are generally called oil beetles. This may come as a surprise – but the genus Meloe comes in the Meloidae family, Meloinae subfamily, and Meloini tribe!

They are called oil beetles because when disturbed they release oily droplets of haemolymph (the insect equivalent of blood,) from their joints. Most species, including Meloe proscarabaeus, are flightless. They lack the hind wings and hence the elytra are smaller. (Meloe has been used since about 1650 but its origins are unknown. Proscarabaeus relates to the Scarab Beetles in the family Scarabeidae. Scarab is an ancient name for various types of beetle.)

Meloe proscarabaeus is found over all of Europe except the far north. When the larvae hatch, they climb into a flower and wait for a solitary bee (such as [024] Andrena.) They attach themselves to the bee, return to its nest and feed on the eggs and the pollen and nectar collected for the nest. The pupal stage takes place still in the solitary bee’s nest. The newly emerged imago seeks a mate immediately on emergence.

[5] Dor Beetle

Anoplotrupes stercorosus, the Dor Beetle, is a species of earth-boring dung beetle in the Geotrupidae family. (Dor is a Middle English name for this insect, from the humming noise as it flies. It comes from Old English for a general humming insect, cognate with drone. Geo-trupi- means earth-boring and anoplo- means unarmed. Stercoro- relates to dung, so the scientific name means an unarmed (earth-)boring dung beetle.)

It is present throughout Europe and where cattle have been introduced. They generally live in forests. This beetle is very similar to Geotrupes stercorarius and can be distinguished by counting tiny bumps on the outside of the hind legs.

Larval and adult phases feed on dung, rotting fungi, litter mould and tree sap. I found one in the Forest of Dean, where it was benefitting from the dung of [328] Wild Boar.

[6] Bloody-nosed Beetle

Timarcha tenebricosa, the Bloody-nosed Beetle, is another species from Chrysomelidae, the Leaf Beetles. It gets its name in the same way as the Oil Beetle above. As a defence, they may exude bright red-orange haemolymph from the mouth. (The nearest I can find to the origins of Timarcha is someone called Timarchus who ruled the Seleucid Empire in Media briefly around 160 BC, and another Greek called Timarchus about two hundred years earlier. The Latin tenebricosa means dark or gloomy.)

The larvae feed only on [155] Bedstraw. They pupate over winter.

The last three species here illustrate the fact that most ground-dwelling beetles are completely black in colour – or at least a very dark blue or similar, nearly black, colour

Other Notes

Please note that, as always, common names are not agreed and can be ambiguous. Also note that identification to species level is not always guaranteed.

See also

[300] Rhagonycha fulva will get its own blog post soon. I have already written this. There are thousands of other beetle species but most of them spend almost all of their lives at or below ground level. You are unlikely to see one flying.

[278] Propylea quattuordecimpinctata, Fourteen Spot Ladybird and other Ladybirds

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[278] Propylea quattuordecimpunctata, 14-spot Ladybird

Introduction

Ladybirds can have very long scientific names that include Latin versions of numbers but you can call this beetle Propylea 14-punctata, the 14-spot (or 14-spotted) Ladybird. It is also sometimes known as a P-14. (Let’s not get too worried about hyphenation or capitalization or ‘fourteen’ instead of ‘14’.) It is rarer and much smaller than the two ladybird species we have already met. (You can read about labybirds, ladybugs or lady beetles in [086] the 7-spot Ladybird. We have also seen [169] the Harlequin Ladybird, which comes in many coloration forms.)

I will also consider briefly all our other native species of ladybirds.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family – Coccinellidae

Subfamily – Coccinellinae

Tribe – Coccinellini

Genus – Propylea

Scientific Name – Propylea quattuordecimpunctata

See text for other species

Name

The nearest I can find to Propylea is the Latin propylaeum, the entrance to a temple, coming from Ancient Greek. I don’t why the name was used but the spelling is no surprise.

Ladybirds

You have to start by noting that many ladybirds are named by a number of spots, even when their markings are only loosely like spots. Also note that most species have many colour variations – the base colour, the spot colour and the number, location and sizes of the spots may vary.

You are unlikely to find any of these minor species of ladybirds. They are less common and smaller. I won’t say much about the individual species.

14 Spot

Propylea quattuordecimpunctata, the 14-spot Ladybird comes in over a hundred colour and pattern varieties, some of which are from light yellow to orange with fourteen square black spots. It is native to all of Eurasia, except South-East Asia, and northern Africa. Often the dark spots enlarge and merge together so it may look black with twelve small yellow spots.

They may be found in parks and gardens and, like most ladybirds, they eat aphids and other small insects. All ladybird larval species look similar apart from some variation in colour.

11 Spot

Coccinella undecimpunctata, (or 11-punctata,) the Eleven Spot Ladybird, is similar to its close relative the Seven Spot.

16 Spot

Tytthapsis sedecimpunctata, (or 16-punctata,) the Sixteen Spot Ladybird, is a smaller ladybird, cream coloured. It has a dark central line in addition to its dark spots.

Two Spot

Adalia bipunctata, the Two Spot Ladybird, is a small ladybird with many colour forms. The most common variety is red with two black spots.

Other forms include types having black elytra with four or six red spots.

Cream Streaked

Harmonia quadripunctata is known as the Cream-streaked Ladybird or the Four Spot Ladybird. Like its sister species, the Harlequin, it has several colour forms. These are based on 18 spots, but not all of these always occur. Often just two each at the edges give it the name Four Spot.

Other Notes

Use of abbreviated forms such as 14-punctata gets round the difficulty of mastering Latin spelling. While the species epithet quattuordecimpunctata is used, quatuordecimpunctata is also common. The first of these looks like more accurate Latin but I am not sure which one is officially correct. Both seem to be used. (There is no requirement for scientists to get the spelling correct and many mis-spellings have become official. Propylea looks like a mis-spelling)

See also

About fifty species of ladybirds may be found in Britain but most are quite rare.

We are coming to the end of our blogs on beetles. Just two more to come, one of which will include some leftovers.

[262] Phyllopertha horticola, Garden Chafer

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[262] Phyllopertha horticola, Garden Chafer

Hoplia philanthus, Welsh Chafer

Introduction

Phyllopertha horticola, the Garden Chafer, and Hoplia philanthus, the Welsh Chafer, are two related species of Scarab beetles.

Many of the species within the family Scarabaeidae are called Chafers, sometimes Flower Chafers, Rose Chafers or Leaf Chafers, but the group also includes June Beetles (or May Beetles,) dung beetles and others.

Phyllopertha horticola may also be called the Garden Foliage Beetle

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder – Polyphaga

Infraorder – Scarabaeiformia

Superfamily – Scarabaeoidea

Family – Scarabaeidae

Subfamily – Rutelinae (Leaf Chafers)

Tribes – (Uncertain)

Genus – Phyllopertha; Hoplia

Scientific Name -Phyllopertha horticola; Hoplia philanthus

There are so many changes that I can’t give an agreed taxonomy below the family level. Many of the subfamilies of Scarabaeidae have been elevated to family level or demoted to tribe level without universal agreement. The subfamily Rutelinae is sometimes considered a separate family, Rutelidae.

Name

Beetle comes via Middle English from Germanic roots, as a diminutive of bite. Chafer also comes via Middle English from Germanic roots, meaning some kinds of beetle.

The ancient Greek phyllon means leaf. Horticola, of course, means garden.

Hoplia may come from Greek roots, meaning heavily armed. Phil-anthos means loves-flower.

Description

There are about a hundred families of beetles (out of about two hundred) with representatives found in the UK. The Scarab Beetles, Scarabaeidae, may contain about 30 000 species, if we include some taxonomic groups that have been or will be split off, then less than a hundred of these species are found in the UK and of these about ten or twenty are leaf chafers, Rutelinae or Rutelidae.

I will not attempt to go into the anatomical differences that define the families of beetles or lower groups, or even the genera and species. You can use the links below to see all the blog entries in the Beetle Category.

  • Phyllopertha horticola is the only species of Phyllopertha found in the UK.

Its elytra are chestnut brown with hairy edges. The head and thorax are a very dark green with dotted indentations. Antennae are short with three-pronged ends.

Eggs are laid in the soil. The larvae feed on grass, cereal and clover roots, without doing significant damage. They overwinter in the larval stage. In March, after a short period they pupate. Adults may emerge in large numbers and are often seen on the foliage of [358] Viburnum or [103] Hawthorn or other trees or shrubs. Adult Garden Chafers eat leaves and can be pests on roses or fruit trees.

  • Hoplia philanthus is the only species of Hoplia found in the UK.

It looks very similar to Phyllopertha species until you look closely at the end of its legs. (The hind legs have a single claw where Phyllopertha have two.) The elytra are brown and hairy. The head and thorax are dotted but black (in comparison to the dark green of the Garden Chafer.)

Eggs are laid in the ground and larvae feed on fine roots. They overwinter as larvae, pupate around May and the adults live for a short while in summer. The adults eat flowers and leaves such as [304] Rose, [306] Bramble, [051] Birch and [142] Beech trees.

Habitat

The Garden Chafer has a sporadic distribution across central and northern Europe. It is common across Britain, especially the west. It likes parks and grassland.

The Welsh Chafer has a sporadic distribution across central and western Europe. It is fairly common in Wales and parts of West England. It likes scrubland and open grass, especially hills and mountains.

Other Notes

The Welsh Chafer shown above seemed to be trying out its wings to learn to fly. It was photographed in Wales at the top of a mountain.

See also

You may see many other species of beetles. I haven’t necessarily selected the most common ones, just the ones I have seen.

[244] Otiorhynchus armadillo and Other Weevils

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[244] Otiorhynchus armadillo and other Weevils

Otiorhynchus sulcatus, Black Vine Weevil

Phyllobius argentatus, Silver-green Leaf Weevil

Polydrusus formosus, Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil

Sitona lineatus, Pea Leaf Weevil

Introduction

Otiorhynchus armadillo is taken as a representative of the Weevil family, Curculionidae, which contains about 10 000 species. They don’t all have common names. About four hundred species can be found on the UK. Many of them are considered to be agricultural pests.

Their peculiar appearance is characterized by long snouts with bent antennae projecting sideways.

(Other species in the superfamily Curculionoidea are also called weevils, as are a few other unrelated species.)

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Infraorder – Cucujiforma

Clade – Phytophaga

Superfamily – Curculionoidea

Family – Curculionidae (True Weevils)

Subfamily – Entiminae (Short-nosed or Broad-nosed Weevils)

Tribes – Otiorhynchini, Phyllobini, Polydrusini, Sitonini

Genera – Otiorhynchus, Phyllobius, Polydrusus, Sitona

Scientific Names – Otiorhynchus armadillo and others as listed.

Names

The word weevil from Old English and Germanic roots used to mean any beetle. It is cognate with weave, probably from the appearance of the pupal case. Individual species tend to be named from their appearance or from one of their host plant species, but many have no common name.

The genus Curculio derives its name from the Latin for a type of weevil. as for many type species, this has given the names to higher taxa up to the superfamily Curculionoidea.

Otiorhynchus, often erroneously spelled as Otiorrhynchus comes from Ancient Greek roots otio-rhunkos, meaning ear-snout. [It’s always easier to find the etymological roots of scientific names than to find why the name was picked. Perhaps the snout looks a bit like an ear.] Armadillo is presumably an allusion to the animal called an armadillo. Sulcatus, from the Latin, means ploughed or grooved.

Phyllobius comes from the Greek phyllo- meaning leaf. Argentatus means silver (coloured.)

Polydrusus perhaps comes from Greek roots, poly-drosos meaning ‘much-dew.’ Formosus means beautiful or well-formed

Sitona from Latinized Greek relates to grains. Lineatus means lined.

Weevils

With so many genera and species, it is not surprising that the taxonomy of this family is complicated and disputed. There are about two dozen subfamilies most of which are not universally agreed. Entiminae, the largest subfamily, has over fifty tribes.

Most of what I can say about weevils applies to all the species that I have seen in Britain. They feed on plants. The larval stages live underground and feed on roots. They overwinter, then pupate, and adults also feed on plant matter. They look like beetle with long snouts.

Some are very specific as to their host species but many have more general tastes.

They are all common and widespread over Britain and found over much larger areas.

Some weevils have very long snouts that can be longer than the rest of the body but all of my examples are from the relatively short-nosed subfamily Entiminae.

Otiorhynchus armadillo

The first insect identified in my new house three years ago.

Otiorhynchus sulcatus, (Black) Vine Weevil

Common and widespread throughout Britain, the larvae feed on roots and overwinter.

Two years later, another visitor to my home.

Phyllobius argentatus, Silver-green Leaf Weevil

A bright metallic green weevil, widespread and common.

I saw this one in mid-Wales.

Polydrusus formosus, Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil

This weevil lays its eggs in the bark or leaves of deciduous trees. Larvae feed on roots underground and overwinter. It is becoming common and widespread in England.

Sighted in Pittville Park, one of my local haunts.

Sitona lineatus, Pea Leaf Weevil

Brown with longitudinal stripes. Feeds on peas and beans causing very little damage. Common and widespread.

Seen at Coombe Hill Nature Reserve, a local site that I visit for birds and dragonflies.

See also

We have more insects to come, even some more beetles, but they won’t look like weevils

As I have said before, keep looking on the leaves and flowers of plants, but also look out in you homes and gardens!

[240] Oedemera nobilis, Thick-legged Flower Beetle

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[240] Oedemera nobilis, Thick-legged Flower Beetle

Introduction

Oedemera nobilis, the Thick-legged Flower Beetle, is an impressive, bright green beetle often found on open flowers. Only the male has the swollen legs that give it its name.

It is also known as the Swollen-thighed Flower Beetle.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family – Oedemeridae

Tribe – Oedemerini

Genus – Oedemera

Scientific Name – Oedemera nobilis

Name

The Latin edema from Ancient Greek oidema, means swelling. The word, spelled as oedema or œdema in British English, is used in medicine.

Description

Nearly five thousand species of beetle can be found in Britain. This is one of the very common species that I have seen often.

Oedemera nobilis has a bright green appearance with a metallic sheen. The elytra have a distinct gap and they do not cover the entire wings.

The males have very distinctive swollen hind legs.

The female does not have the swollen legs.

The larvae develop on stems of [082] Thistles. Adults feed on nectar and pollen from many flower species.

Habitat

Oedemera nobilis is common and widespread over Western Europe and the Northwest coasts of Africa. In Britain its range is limited to England and Wales.

Other Notes

These beetles are very common in late spring and summer. They can be seen on open flowers.

See also

Oedemera luridahas a similarrange to Oedemera nobilis. The males do not have the thick legs. It has a duller cover and the gap between the elytra is less evident.

[203] Leptura quadrifasciata, (Longhorn Beetle)

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[203] Leptura quadrifasciata, a Longhorn Beeetle

Introduction

Leptura quadrifasciata is another Longhorn Beetle, closely related to [188] Pachytodes cerambyciformis (Judolia cerambyciformis)

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder – Polyphaga

Infraorder – Cucujiformia (Most plant eating beetles)

Clade – Phytophaga (Cerambycoidae and Weevils)

Superfamily – Cerambycoidea (Cerambycidae, Flower Beetles and a few others)

Family – Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Subfamily – Lepturinae (Flower Longhorns)

Tribe – Lepturini

Genus – Leptura

Scientific Name – Leptura quadrifasciata

Name

Like many beetles this species does not have a common name. When insects are called long-horned it generally means that the antennae are relatively long.

In Ancient Greek mythology the shepherd Cerambus was transformed into a large beetle with horns. He has given his name to the type species Cerambyx and hence to the whole family of long-horned beetles.

Leptura, from Greek Roots, means thin-tailed. Quadrifasciata is modern Latin meaning four-banded.

Description

There are about 30 000 species in the family Cerambycidae. Almost all have very long antennae, longer than the rest of the body.

Leptura quadrifasciata is a medium sized beetle, about a centimetre long with antennae not quite so long as other Longhorns. The elytra have four bright orange-yellow bands. The rest of the body is all black.

Larvae of this beetle feed on many species of deciduous and coniferous trees, including [017] Alder, [051] Birch, [142] Beech, [266] Spruce, [291-2] Oak, [307] Willow and [308] Elder. Their life cycle is two or three years.

Habitat

Leptura quadrifasciata is common over Northern and Central Eurasia.

See also

I have unashamedly copied much of this post from [188] another Longhorn Beetle, which is very closely related.

[188] Judolia cerambyciformis or Pachytodes cerambyciformis

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[188] Judolia cerambyciformis or Pachytodes cerambyciformis

Introduction

Judolia cerambyciformis or Pachytodes cerambyciformis is a species of long-horned beetle, with no common name.

The general opinion in the UK is that now Judolia and Pachytodes are distinct genera. They used to be all in the genus Judolia.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder – Polyphaga

Infraorder – Cucujiformia (Most plant eating beetles)

Clade – Phytophaga (Cerambycoidae and Weevils)

Superfamily – Cerambycoidea (Cerambycidae, Flower Beetles and a few others)

Family – Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Subfamily – Lepturinae (Flower Longhorns)

Tribe – Lepturini

Genus – Pachytodes

Scientific Name – Pachytodes cerambyciformis

Synonyms include Judolia cerambyciformis and Leptura cerambyciformis

Name

Like many beetles this species does not have a common name. When insects are called long-horned it generally means that the antennae are relatively long.

In Ancient Greek mythology the shepherd Cerambus was transformed into a large beetle with horns. He has given his name to the type species Cerambyx and hence to the whole family of long-horned beetles. That make cerambyciformis a particularly meaningless species epithet here. I can’t trace either judolia or pachytodes.

Description

There are about 30 000 species in the family Cerambycidae. Almost all have very long antennae, longer than the rest of the body.

Pachytodes cerambyciformis is a medium sized beetle, about a centimetre long with antennae slightly longer than the body. The elytra are light brown with black marking and the rest of the body is all black.

Larvae of this beetle feed on the roots of many species of deciduous and coniferous trees, including [266] Norway Spruce, [069] Chestnut and Goat Willow. They pupate underground and in summer the adults can be found on flowers.

Habitat

Pachytodes cerambyciformis is found in most of Europe and is very common in Central Europe.

Other Notes

Sorry, it’s too late in the process for me to file this one under Pachytodes.

See also

There is another long-horned beetle coming soon – [203] Leptura quadrifasciata.

[169] Harmonia axyridis, Harlequin

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[169] Harmonia axyridis, Harlequin Ladybird

Introduction

Harmonia axyridis, the Harlequin Ladybird, is an invasive ladybird that has recently spread across Britain.

It is also called the Multicoloured Ladybird or Asian Ladybird and has many other names. It has been called the Many-named Ladybird!

As noted with [086] the Seven-Spot Ladybird, these insects may be called Ladybugs, Ladybird Beetles or Lady Beetles. In context Harmonia axyridis may just be called a Harlequin.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family – Coccinellidae (Ladybirds)

Genus – Harmonia

Scientific Name – Harmonia axyridis

Its original name was Coccinella axyridis.

Name

The well-known Harlequin character is noted for his colourful, chequered coat.

In Greek mythology, Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, was the goddess of harmony.

I can’t trace ‘axyridis.’

Description

As all beetles, this species is holometabolous. Apart from a very occasional caterpillar, this is the only insect you are likely to see in its larval stage. To be honest, if you look around you at plants in the summer you are very likely to see a few of these.

They have five instar stages of which the last two are more often seen. They are mostly black with some orange markings and spiny defences along their backs. (The Seven-spot Ladybird has a similar larval stage with less orange markings.)

They just roll up and pupate where they are on a leaf.

The adult insect is similar in size and shape to the Seven-spot Ladybird and may be similar in its colouring, but it has a number of different forms. It is said to have a common form with various shades of orange to red elytra and from zero to twenty-two spots of variable size – but this covers a large number of different forms. Other forms may be black, with or without a number of spots, or more complex patterns of black, orange and red.

The pronotum usually has a pattern with more areas of white than the Seven-spot Ladybird and this can be a useful identification feature.

[Note: The thorax of an insect is formed of three parts, each connected to a pair of legs. The front section is called the prothorax, while the other two segments bear the wings or, for beetles, elytra. The prothorax consists of the upper pronutum, the lower prosternum and two lateral propleurons. All of this means that what entomologists call the pronutum is what you might think of as its ‘shoulders,’ or the part of its back in front of the wings.]

It is generally considered to be one of the worst invasive insects worldwide. In Europe is spreads to the detriment of native species. It competes with and may even eat other ladybird species.

It was first sighted in the UK in 2004 and was declared the fastest invading species in 2015. It has led to a significant decline in native British Species such as the Seven-spot Ladybird.

They feed voraciously on Aphids.

Habitat and use

The Harlequin is native to parts of East Asia but has been very widely introduced elsewhere to control [217] Aphids. where it has been introduced it tends to spread rapidly and become Invasive.

Other Notes

You can find these insects on Summer by looking around on plants that might have aphids. They are easier to spot that the aphids they might have eaten.

See also

There are several other species of Ladybird that may be found in Britain, generally much smaller than the Seven-spot and Harlequin. See [278] 14-spot Ladybird.

[160] Gastrophysa viridula, Green Dock Beetle

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[160] Gastrophysa viridula, Green Dock Beetle

Introduction

Gastrophysa viridula, the Green Dock Beetle, is a small beetle noted for the pregnant form of the female in the mating period.

It is also known as Green Sorrel Beetle.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Superfamily – Chrysomeloidea

Family – Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Subfamily – Chrysomelinae (Broad-bodied Leaf Beetles)

Genus – Gastrophysa

Scientific Name – Gastrophysa viridula

Name

Gastro-physa comes from Greek roots meaning abdomen inflated, from the phenomenon of physogastry described below. (I am not sure which of these two words may have produced the other one by reversal of the roots.) The Latin viridula means green.

Description

The family Chrysomelidae contains about 50 000 species. They are mostly small with dome shaped bodies. There is no simple way to define the family but you could start by counting the segments on each leg. But be careful – the fourth tarsal segment on all of them are very small and are hidden by the third. There are many subfamilies of which Wikipedia says, ‘The precise taxonomy and systematics are likely to change with ongoing research,’ but you have heard me say that about almost every species so far!

As for many small beetles, the elytra of Gastrophysa viridula are glossy and metallic in appearance in sunlight, covered with a pattern of tiny indentations. They are green but may appear golden or other colours in bright light. The antennae are fairly long and serrated in appearance.

They produce from two to four broods each year and the last brood hibernates as an adult.

Like all species of Gastrophysa this beetle exhibits physogastry (or physogastrism.) The abdomen of the female is enlarged to enable her to produce large numbers of offspring. Even without this, the female is about twice the size of the male. She produces over a thousand eggs for each brood.

After three instars the larva pupates underground and the adult emerges in about a week.

Habitat

Gastrophysa viridula is common and widespread in Britain and found over much of Europe.

Larvae grow on species of Rumex – Dock, including Sorrel. Adults can occasionally feed on other species.

Other Notes

I am sure you can search out individual types of beetle but you are most likely to spot any from the family Chrysymelidae by just looking at plants as you walk in the countryside. You may spot one of the thousands of species I have missed!

[086] Coccinella septempunctata, Seven-spot Ladybird

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[086] Coccinella septempunctata, Seven-spot Ladybird

Introduction

Coccinella septempunctata, the Seven-spot Ladybird, was until recently the most common and widespread ladybird in Britain. It’s what most people would imagine when using the word ladybird.

In North America it is known as the seven-spotted ladybug.

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family – Coccinellidae (Ladybirds)

Genus – Coccinella

Scientific Name – Coccinella septempunctata

Name

To most people in Britain this is the only species of ladybird. The word ‘ladybird,’ and the names of the genus, Coccinellus, and family, Coccinellidae, all come from this beetle from its red colour and seven spots. The Virgin Mary was often depicted in a red cloak and the spots on this beetle were taken to signify her seven joys and seven sorrows. So, this beetle became known as Our Lady’s Bird or the Lady Beetle. It became the Ladybird and, in the USA (where bug is used more generically to mean any insect or small invertebrate,) it was changed to Ladybug. In entomology, they are sometimes now known as Ladybird Beetles or Lady Beetles.

Inevitably the name ladybird has spread to other small beetles with spots.

Coccineus is Latin for scarlet and, of course, septem-punctata means seven-spotted.

Beetles

This is our first species of beetle. Coleoptera is by far the largest order of insects with about half a million known species and probably at least another half a million yet to be discovered. They generally have a particularly hard exoskeleton and use only one pair of wings. The front pair of wings are hardened into elytra (Singular: elytron,) which are used as wing covers.

There are at least two hundred families of beetles covering diverse habitats and lifestyles. The larval stage may live for many years and for some species the adult stage is short-lived.

Ladybirds

Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles, many much smaller than this one. There are about six thousand species, many of which have brightly coloured elytra with spots, stripes or other patterns. They are dome shaped with small legs. Some have no markings and are not obviously ladybirds and some similarly shaped small beetles from other families look superficially like ladybirds.

Many species of ladybirds are considered useful as they prey on insects that are considered pests – but some ladybirds are herbivorous. 

Description

Coccinella septempunctata is a typical ladybird. Its elytra are bright red, sometimes orange-red, with seven black spots. Many ladybirds are named from the number of spots and those with an odd number have at least one spot on their midline, coming from both elytra. With a body length of about a centimetre, it is larger than most of the other rarer UK species.

Both the larval and adult stages feed voraciously on aphids or sometimes other small insects such as leafhoppers.

Habitat and use

The 7-spot Ladybird is found in Europe, most of Asia and Australia and lives in many different habitats, wherever there are aphids to eat.

It has been introduced to the USA to control aphids and is spreading. Five US States have it as their official State Insect.

Other Notes

Numbers of 7-spot Ladybirds in Britain have declined considerably in recent years with the advent of [169] the Harlequin Ladybird. At least 95% of the ladybirds I now see are Harlequins.

See also

There are several other species of ladybird found in Britain. Most are significantly smaller.

[278] 14-spot Ladybird will look at some of them. We also now have the Harlequin.