Beetle & Weevil Species Recorded At Woolston Eyes

Species: Dytiscus marginalis Family: Dytiscidae an aquatic diving beetle which live in freshwater, still or slow flowing. One of our largest beetles, to 30mm and oval shaped, are dark coloured above and yellow-orange underneath , as are the legs. Males have shiny wing cases whilst females are grooved.

Species: Agelastica alni Family: Chrysomelidae a distinctive metallic blue-black beetle around 7mm long and feeds mainly on Alder.

Species: Anthocomus rufus Family: Melyridae a small, 5 to 6mm red and black beetle associated with damp places, reed beds and other water margins. The red wing cases (elytra) are shorter than the body which is dark with black on the head and thorax. Feeds on pollen and smaller insects on flowers.

Species: Rhagonycha fulva Family: Cantharidae a shiny orange-brown beetle to 10mm in length with black antennae and bar across the tips of the wing cases. Feeds on pollen and smaller insects, aphids in particular, and prefers open flowers especially Hogweed and other umbellifers.

Species: Agapanthia villosoviridescens Family: Cerambycidae a distinctive larger beetle at 20mm length with a golden iridescent wash to the upper body and dark and light banding on the antennae. Feeds on umbellifers and active May to July in moist grassland, hedgerows and similar margins.

Species: Polydrufus formosus Family: Curculionidae a vibrant iridescent green weevil 5 to 6mm in length and pale legs which can be coated in displaced green scales. Confusion with the smaller Pale Green Weevil P. impressifrons is possible but is 20% larger has stronger lined wing cases, a longer, narrower face and noticeable larger eyes.

Species: Phyllobius maculicornis Family: Curculionidae a green leaf weevil which requires closer examination to separate the nine similar species. For P. maculicornis the ID keys are; front femora (thighs) have a ‘tooth,’ their base colour is dark not pale, the tibia are finely hairy and the body scales which give the iridescent green colour are elongated. Found from April to August in habitats that have mixed deciduous tree species.

Species: Pterostichus niger Family: Carabidae a medium sized, to 20mm long, beetle, all shiny black except for the orangey leg spines and end claws. The pronotum is slimmer than similar species, widest in front of the middle and has sinuate side. Nocturnal, found in moist places under dead wood or rank vegetation during the day, carnivorous hunts on the surface on other smaller insects and larvae.

Species: Harmonia axyridis Family: Coccinellidae a very familiar species which is highly variable in both colour and markings. It is an alien species, larger than our native ladybirds at 8mm. It is active from April to October and hibernates over winter and predates on smaller insects, larvae and other ladybirds.

Species: Coccinella septempunctata Family: Cocinellidae a very familiar and common ladybird, red with seven black spots, three on each wing case and one at the back split between the wings. The pronotum is black with two white patches on the front edge and two smaller ones on the head. Active March to October and hibernate over winter. Both the adult and larvae feed on aphids.

Species: Cantharis nigricans Family: Cantharidae at 10mm long this is a medium sized beetle dark wing cases which look grey from the coating of hairs, orange-brown pronotum and legs, the hind femur have a broad black band above the tibia joint. Attracted to flowers where their prey of smaller insects and larvae feed from May to August.

Species: Oedemera noblis Family: Odemeridae to 10mm long this is a striking metallic green beetle. The males are easy to identify with swollen femurs on the hind legs, which the females do not. The wing cases are pointed and gape open towards the rear when folded. This is a pollen feeder and is found in flower rich areas from April to September.

Species: Clytus arietis Family: Cerambycidae a striking and unmistakable beetle black with yellow transverse stripes and up to 18mm in length. The legs are orange-brown grading darker towards the abdomen. The adults feed on pollen and nectar but breed in decaying wood and are active from May to August.

Species: Agabus bipustulatus Family: Dytiscidae possibly the UK’s commonest water beetle, all black and 10mm long and is smoothly rounded in contour. Although there is some brown on the mid and hind legs the front legs and antennae are all pale brown. It is carnivorous and feeds in and out of water, and is active May to September but can be found all year round. Males are glossy and females are dull.

Species: Propylea quattuordecimpinctata Family Coccinellidae Common across England and Wales, scarce in Scotland, there is variation in the body colour and shape and size of the black spots. Frequents shrubs and tall sward.