Black-headed cardinal beetle, zwartkopvuurkever by Juliette.Gribnau

Photography • Insects • posted on May 02, 2014

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Description

The name cardinal beetle typically refers to three different species of beetle. The Red-headed or 'Common' Cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) is a red to orange beetle with, as the name suggests, a red head. It is approximately 20mm long and found throughout Britain and Netherlands. The rarer Black-headed Cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea), similarly found at sites across Britain, is larger and a deeper blood red. The Scarce Cardinal beetle (Schizotus pectinicornis) also has a black head but is smaller at around 9mm long. The Scarce Cardinal is only found at a few sites in Scotland and Wales. Cardinal beetles prey on other insects while their bright red colour prevents them being the target of other predators which believe them to be toxic. Habitat Red-headed Cardinal Beetles are normally found at the edges of woodland. Adults of this variety usually emerge around May time in England when they tend to found under loose bark on deciduous trees. Fallen and standing timber and rotting stumps may also host this species. As the weather gets warmer they disperse and are often found on dense low herbage.They bask for long periods on large leaves often near water â�� the Grand Union Canal being one particular hotspot.