Beetles (Coleoptera) @ Peartree

There are around 4,130 different species of beetle (Coleoptera) in Britain, in 112 families, of which 95 species have been recorded so far at Peartree Green. They vary considerably in their size, appearance and life cycles. Some of those seen in the nature reserve are shown below, grouped by family

Cantharidae

Soldier Beetles (41 British species)

Rhagonycha fulva - Red Soldier Beetle A distinctive orange-red beetle which can be frequent on flowers. The larvae are predatory on other small invertebrates in soil and leaf litter, while the adults prey on small insects on flowers, as well as eating pollen and nectar

Photo: Geoff Frampton (seen on our July 2023 Insect Walk)

Cerambycidae

Longhorn Beetles (73 British species)

Paracorymbia fulva - Tawny Longhorn Beetle A beetle that is mostly confined to southern and southeast England. Little is known about its life cycle. The larvae are believed to develop in decaying wood

Photo: Jill Doubleday

Pseudovadonia livida - Fairy-Ring Longhorn Beetle A beetle that is often seen on flowers in sunlit areas. The beetle's larvae feed on the hyphae of the fairy-ring mushroom Marasmius oreades

Photo: Geoff Frampton (from tree sampling on our June 2024 Insect Walk)

Rutpela maculata - Spotted Longhorn Beetle A common beetle with variable colour patterns whose larvae develop in decaying tree stumps and fallen timber

Photo: Uncredited

Chrysomelidae

Leaf Beetles (279 British species)

Cryptocephalus moraei A small beetle typically associated with St John's Wort

Photo: Geoff Frampton (from plant sweeping on our July 2023 Insect Walk)

Phratora laticollis A small beetle typically associated with Poplar trees, although this one was found on Aspen

Photo: Geoff Frampton (from tree sampling on our June 2024 Insect Walk)

Coccinellidae

Ladybirds (55 British species)

Coccinella 7-punctata - Seven-Spot Ladybird A familiar and common ladybird whose adults and larvae feed on aphids

Photo: Geoff Frampton (seen on our June 2023 wildflower walk)

Harmonia axyridis - Harlequin Ladybird (succinea and spectabilis colour forms) Originating from Asia, this ladybird was first seen in Britain in 2004 and has become one of the commonest ladybirds here. The adults and larvae are voracious predators of other small insects

Photos: Geoff Frampton (seen on our April 2024 Flower & Insect walk)

Hippodamia variegata - Adonis' Ladybird A ladybird whose adults and larvae feed on aphids

Photos: Geoff Frampton (seen on our July 2023 insect walk)

Tytthaspis 16-punctata - Sixteen-Spot Ladybird A very small ladybird that is easily overlooked. The adults and larvae feed on fungi, pollen and nectar

Photo: Geoff Frampton (seen on our June 2023 wildflower walk)