Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Clytus arietis

Adult Wasp Beetle (subspecies C. a. arietis) at Geddington, Northants - May 2016

Featured Subspecies: Clytus arietis arietis
Length: 9-18mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This is a species which has developed wasp like patterns to deter predators, being harmless itself but by mimicking something poisonous may put off predators, which is is able to back up by simulating a buzzing like noise.  As a larvae they feed on the wood of deciduous trees that have been invaded by certain fungi, and the adults then emerge in May, but have generally died by the end of Summer.

Related Species: 
Order: Coleoptera 
Family: Cerambycidae 
Genus: Clytus 
SUBSPECIES: C. a. arietis, C. a. cloueti, C. a. lederi, C. a. oblitus 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Dytiscus ("little diver") marginalis ("of the border")

Adult Great Diving Beetle (subspecies D. m. marginalis) at Geddington, Northants - August 2011

Featured Subspecies: Dytiscus marginalis marginalis
Length: 27-35mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

One of the largest and most powerful predators in small ponds - great diving beetles are one of the few insects in the UK capable of regularly tackling vertebrates - they feed on small fish like stickleback and minnows in addition to tadpoles.  There are a number of fairly similar Dytiscus diving beetle species in the UK, but this species is the most common.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Dytiscidae
Genus: Dytiscus
SUBSPECIES: D. m. marginalis, D. m. czerskii

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and several other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Thick-Legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

OTHER NAMES: Swollen-thighed Beetle, False Oil Beetle

Latin Etymology: Oedemera (?) nobilis ("noble")

Adult Thick-Legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) at Mullion, Cornwall - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 8-10mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

Also known as the False-Oil Beetle and the Swollen-Thighed Beetle, as the name suggests the distinctive feature for the males is the massive bulky thighs, combined with the metallic green shells.  This species is apparently a fairly common and widely distributed species in the UK, but I have only knowingly encountered it once - on a flower in Mullion is Cornwall.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Oedemeridae
Genus: Oedemera
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Mullion and various other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)

OTHER NAMES: Red-headed Cardinal Beetle

Latin Etymology: Pyrochroa ("fire ?") serraticornis (?)

Adult Common Cardinal Beetle (subspecies P. s. serraticornis) at Geddington, Northants - May 2011

Featured Subspecies: Pyrochroa serraticornis serraticornis
Length: 10-18mm 
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Common Cardinal Beetle is a pretty common beetle species found throughout much of the UK - normally present around the edge of woodlands they are highly tied to trees for their habitat inhabiting both live and dead wood.  There are three Cardinal Beetles found in the UK, but the Common is, as one would expect from the name, the most common of the three.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Pyrochroidae
Genus: Pyrochroa
SUBSPECIES: P. s. kiesenwetteri, P. s. serraticornis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and various other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

24-Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata)

OTHER NAMES: Alfalfa Ladybird, Alfalfa Lady Beetle

Latin Etymology: Subcoccinella ("sub-ladybird") vigintiquatuorpunctata ("twenty-four spotted")

Two adult 24-Spotted Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata) at Geddington, Northants - May 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 3-4mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The 24-Spot Ladybird is another highly variable species capable of having a wide range of spots up to 26.  More unusually though, unlike all other British ladybirds, its shell has a somewhat velvet-like quality with tiny downy hair like structures giving it a bit more of a matte appearance.  Also unusual is that this ladybird is often flightless - a sample in the UK found that none had wings under their wing cases, while individuals in other countries may have a portion of the population be winged.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Subcoccinella
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

22-Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata)

OTHER NAMES: Twenty-two-spot Ladybird

Latin Etymology: Psyllobora (?) vigintiduopunctata ("twenty-two spotted")

Adult 22-spotted Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) at Geddington, Northants - September 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?

Length: 3-5mm 
UK Status: Not Evaluated /IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The 22-Spot Ladybird is another of the small yellow ladybirds that are fairly widely distributed across the UK and the rest of Europe. Unlike most ladybirds however, instead of being an aphid specialist it feeds on mildew from shrubs and certain other slightly taller plants.  The obvious species for confusion is the more common 14-spot ladybird, but that has fewer and more rectangular spots.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Psyllobora
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and several other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Oulema (?) melanopus ("dark ?")

Adult Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus) at Newton, Northants - September 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 6mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Cereal Leaf Beetle is a tiny beetle that feeds on grains including crops and so is considered an agricultural pest.  There are two very similar species which are essentially impossible to differentiate between without a very detailed examination, but I have placed this as Oulema melanopus rather than Oulema rufocyanea on a bit of an educated guess, although there is the very strong possibility that I am wrong.  They can cause substantial problems to crops in both their native range of Eurasia and the introduced range in North America.  They will consume most cereal crops, but the major staples of human consumption such as oats, barley, rye and wheat are particular favourites, probably contributing to it's success.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Oulema
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident.

 - Seen in Newton

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Nicrophorus humator

Adult Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator) at Cornwall - April 2014

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 20-30mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED /  IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Sexton Beetles are large carrion feeding beetles found in many places around the world.  They bury the carcasses of small vertebrates which provide the food for their grubs to develop in.  The family is generally covered in distinctive bright red bars, but the fact this particular species is entirely black actually makes it the easiest of the UK species to identify.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Silphidae
Genus: Nicrophorus
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Cornwall in April 2014

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Formosan Longhorn Beetle* (Olenecamptus formosanus)

OTHER NAMES: * This species does not have an English name, therefore, this name is speculative based on its latin name.

Latin Etymology: Olenecamptus (?) formosanus ("of Formosa" - ie. of the isle of Taiwan)

Adult Formosan Longhorn Beetle* (Olenecamptus formosanus) at Arashiyama, Japan - June 2013

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: ?
UK Status: Not Present / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This is another species that falls into the category of no official English name and very minimal information on it (in English at least) available online.  Although the latin name (and by extension, my own speculative English name) suggests it is a Taiwanese species, it is found at least in Honshu in Japan, where I encountered this individual.  It's habitat seemed to be the forest floor of the hillsides that led up to the Monkey Sanctuary at Arashiyama, although given we were walking up this hillside, I must admit I didn't really want to stop to look at it beyond a few quick photographs.  I noticed it in the first place for its unusual brilliant white shell, and the massive antennae which you unfortunatly cannot really see in this picture.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Genus: Olenecamptus
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - 高さゴーシロー髪切り  /  Takasago-shiro-kamikiri

Resident seen in Summer..

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: A single individual at Arashiyama.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,.RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Banded Soft-Shell Flower Beetle* (Anthacomus fasciatus)

OTHER NAMES: Anthacomus fasciatus has no English name, therefore this name is my suggestion based on it's Latin name
Latin Etymology: Anthacomus (?) fasciatus ("banded")

Adult  Banded Soft-Shell Flower Beetle* (Anthacomus fasciatus) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 4mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A very tiny beetle species with distinctive red marking, despite it's diminutive size this species is actually a predator of even smaller insects such as gnats.  It can be found in any location which can accomodate sufficient prey.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Malachiidae
Genus: Anthocomus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident.

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Bronze Beetle (Chrysolina bankii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Chrysolina ("gold thread") banski ("Banks'")

Adult Bronze Beetle (Chrysolina bankii) in Cornwall - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Bronze Beetle is very aptly named - a beautiful metallic carapace that looks as if it's been hammered into shape.  This species took me a long time to identify, as most of the Chrysolina genus do not have widely noted common names.  It's taxonomy has been slightly tweaked - it was originally known as Chrysolina banksi".

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Chrysolina
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A local species.

 - Seen in Cornwall.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Spotted Longhorn (Rutpela maculata)

OTHER NAMES: Harlequin Longhorn, Black and Yellow Longhorn Beetle
Latin Etymology: Rutpela (?) maculata ("stained")

Adult Spotted Longhorn (subspecies R. m. maculata) at Geddington, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Rutpela maculata maculata
Length: 15-20mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A fairly large, striking looking beetle with a distinctive wasp like carapace. It is apparently a fairly common beetle, although I've only found it once. It is apparently highly variable in patterning. It is mostly found on flowers.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera 
Family: Cerambycidae 
Genus: Rutpela
SUBSPECIES: R. m. irmasanica, R. m. maculata, R. m. nigricornis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington 

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris)

OTHER NAMES: Field Tiger Beetle

Latin Etymology: Cicindela ("glowworm") campestris ("field")

Adult Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris - unknown subspecies) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 10-14mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A large distinctive beetle found on Heath and Dunes - it is one of five Tiger Beetle species found in the UK, and probably the most famous. It has an easily recognisable colour scheme which will make it one of the simpler ground beetles to distinguish. It is a predatory species which chases down prey on the ground, so can move surprisingly fast.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera 
Family: Carabidae 
Genus: Cicindela
SUBSPECIES: C. c. atlantis, C. c. balearica, C. c. cyprensis, C. c. nigrita, C. c. olivieria, C. c. palustris, C. c. pontica, C. c. saphyrina, C. c. siculorum, C. c. suffriani, C. c. calabrica 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very rare and local resident

 - Beetles seen at Trevose Head.

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Fourteen Spotted Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata)

OTHER NAMES: 14-spotted Ladybird
Latin Etymology: Propylea (?) 14-punctata ("14 spot")

Adult Fourteen Spotted Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata) at Geddington, Northants - May 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 3.5-4.5mm 
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A common species, but not necessarily one that will be noticed as much as others due to its small size and less obvious colours. Care should be taken to differentiate it from the similarly sized and coloured 16-spot and 22-spot ladybirds, although the 14-spot does seem to be the most common of the yellow ladybirds.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Propylea
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and various other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Lesser Stag Beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dorcus ("antelope") parallelipipedus (?)

Adult Lesser Strag Beetle (subspecies D. p. parallelipipedus) at Geddington, Northants - August 2010

Featured Subspecies: Dorcus parallelipipedus parallelipipedus
Length: 18-32mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

Lesser Stag Beetles, are as the name suggests, smaller than stag beetles, however, they are still large beetles in themselves. They don't have the huge jaws of the other stag beetles. This particular specimen was found walking along a pavement just outside Geddington. They generally live in woodland.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera 
Family: Lucanidae 
Genus: Dorcus
SUBSPECIES: D. p. parallelipipedus, D. p. truquii

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and various other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)

OTHER NAMES: Asian Ladybeetle, Halloween Ladybeetle, Multicoloured Asian

Latin Etymology: Harmonia ("Goddess of Harmony") axyridis (?)

Adult Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis - unknown subspecies) at Geddington, Northants - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 6-8mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Harlequin ladybird is an invasive species currently in the process of establishing itself in the UK. It is hugely variable in appearance - it can be black on red, red on black, orange on black or black on orange with anywhere between 0 and 22 spots on its back. It is potentially threatening native ladybirds by competing for food.  Intriguingly, however the history of this population is a bit more complex - therewere repeated attempts to inroduce it to the US, which all failed until a single wild population near New Orleans became established, and quickly spread across the states, and if is from this population that the species arrived in the UK.  Presumably that population developed some genetic or behavioural adaptation which allowed it to spread in a way the original ones hadn't been able to.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera 
Family: Coccinellidae 
Genus: Harmonia
SUBSPECIES: H. a. aulica, H. a. conspicua, H. a. equicolor, H. a. forma, H. a. frigida, H. a. intermedia, H. a. novemdecimsignata, H. a. siccoma, H. a. spectabilis, H. a. succinea, H. a. transversifascia

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An introduced species that is spreading throughout the UK

 - Seen in Geddington and various other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .