by Jane Allyson

Created on: August 17, 2011   Last Updated: August 18, 2011

Common beetles that can be found in Great Britain:

Bee-eating beetle – Trichodes apiaries

These beetles live in warm places and measure 9-15 mm in length. Adult beetle look for other insects to eat, by searching flowers. They are seen from May to July. Larvae develop in the nests of solitary bees and then eat the bee’s larvae or pupae.

Bloody-nosed beetle – Timarcha tenebricosa

The bloody-nosed beetle will use a curious defence mechanism known as “reflex bleeding”. If it is threatened it will release a drop of red fluid from its mouth and body joint. The fluid is a mixture of blood and a bitter tasting chemical which acts as a deterrent to predators.

Click Beetle – Agriotes lineatus

Click beetles are also known as skipjacks and their larvae are sometimes called wireworms. The beetles have the ability to leap in the air to if they are in danger. This action is marked by a clicking sound which gives them their name.

They can be found in long grass, gardens, meadows and lawns. When disturbed they will drop to the ground and feign death and then when danger is imminent they will jump about a foot into the air at a speed measured at 2.5 m per second. Sometimes they may somersault several times to land the right way up.

Common cockchafer or May-bug – Melolontha melolontha

This beetle will fly in the evening and measure 20-30mm. You may notice it from the loud, almost angry buzzing noise that it will make in a lighted room in the early summer. Once inside it will fly around clumsily colliding with things in the room.

Colorado beetle – Leptinotarsa decemlineata

This is a regulated pest for the EU and the Republic of Ireland and can be found all over Europe and is a pest of potato crops. It measures approximately 10mm long and has a bright yellow/orange body with five bold stripes running down its elytra. The female hibernates in deep soil and in the spring gnaws at the germinating potatoes.

Death watch – Anobium pertinax

It measures 5 -7 mm and can be found in wood, timber of houses and old furniture where it devours tunnels. It will bang its head on the wall of the tunnel to attract female of the species. The sound of the death watch beetle has long been believed to portend death. The female will lay her eggs in the tunnel opening. It is known as a pest because their tunnels can destroy a piece of timber over time and render it useless. If found, and handled this insect will play dead.

Devil’s coach horse

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