Rove beetles
These long beetles are quite distinctive: they have very elytra (wing cases) over their hind bodies. leaving their abdomens exposed. There are more than 1000 species in the British Isles. Some are very small, the largest is the 'devil's coach-horse, Ocypus olens.
Tenebrio molitor Mealworm beetle
Most tenebrionids are quite small and many are pests of stored products. T. molitor is quite large and is perhaps the beetle most often mistaken for a carabid because of its elytral striations. Its larvae are mealworms sold for pet and wildbird food.
Stag beetles
Three British species: the Stag beetle Lucanus cervus (which may be quite rare - right, by Fred Linehan), the Lesser Stag beetle Dorcus parallelopipedus (whch is quite numerous under dead wood and rotting tree stumps) and Sinodendron cylindricum (left).
Water beetles
Pollen beetles
These tiny beetles (probably Meligethes species) may be very numerous on flowers, particularly in gardens, in summer. They are members of the Section Clavicornia and can be seen (using a lens!) to have clubbed antennae.
Longhorn beetles
These take their name from the long antennae. There are some large and brightly patterned species. Most have larva which live in wood and make take many years to develop.
| Cantharidae Cantharis sp (Commonly known as composite bonking beetles!) These soft-bodied beetles may be very numerous on flower heads in Summer. |
As their common name suggests, most of these eat plant leaves (as with the aspen on the left: the small, bright blue beetle can be seen on the upper left by those with keen eyesight!). Many are pests such as flea beetles or the notorious Colorado beetle. Some are quite large and innocuous such as the Bloody-nosed beetle Timarcha tenebricosa (right) which is found in sandy grassland - it has the capacity to reflex bleed when threatened. (More)
They have forward projections (rostra) on their heads although this is not prominent on the species to the left. They eat various parts of plants and some of them are serious pests in horticulture and agriculture. Right © Les Wilson
Larder and carpet beetles
As their common name suggests, these can be pests of stored products and natural fabrics. In the wild they tend to live in nests scavenging feathers, hair &c. The Anthrenus to the left (probably A. verbasci) is the genus most commonly misidentified as a ladybird in our surveys. It does perhaps appear somewhat spotty to the naked eye but under a lens is clearly seen to be very hairy or scaled.
Click beetles
Cigar-shaped beetles which can jump (with a characteristic clicking sound) using tension between fore and hind parts of the body. The larvae (wire worms) of some species may be a pest of root crops.