Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 35–44mm; hindwing 24–30mm. Male is red with a narrow pointed abdomen. Female is greenish-yellow. Thorax and eyes are dark brown in both sexes. Flies busily.
HABITAT
Ponds, lakes, ditches and brackish waters at up to 1,800m. Found across Europe from Ireland, and south from southern Scandinavia to North Africa.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies June–October. Feeds on insects. Usually seen in large numbers. Often perches on twigs.
Common Blue Damselfly
Enallagama cyathigerum
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 29–36mm; hindwing 15–21mm. Male has a blue abdomen with black spots. Eighth and ninth segments are all-blue. Female has a yellowish or bluish abdomen, with variable dark markings. Strong flier.
HABITAT
Pools, ponds, peat bogs and lakes. Found throughout Europe except Iceland and much of Mediterranean.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies mid-May–mid-September. May swarm in large numbers over water. Will pounce on dark spots on leaves, mistaking them for aphids.
Brown Hawker
Aeshna grandis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 70–77mm; hindwing 41–49mm. Brown wings make this species unmistakable. Male has a brown abdomen with bright blue spots. Female has yellow markings on her brown abdomen. Both sexes have diagonal marks on the sides of the thorax. Strong flier.
HABITAT
Ponds, lakes, canals, peat bogs and slow-flowing rivers. Absent from Iceland, Iberia, Italy, Greece, Scotland and northern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies mid-June–mid-October. Hunts flies, mosquitoes, moths and butterflies.
House Cricket
Acheta domesticus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 16–20mm. Straw-coloured to brown body, with black marks on the head. Wings extend beyond the tip of the abdomen. Female has a straight ovipositor up to 15mm long.
HABITAT
A native insect of Asia and Africa, but now widespread in Europe. Lives in buildings, but may also be found in refuse tips in summer. Song is a soft warble delivered at dusk or at night.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on refuse, but will also eat stored food.
Common Field Grasshopper
Chorthippus brunneus
Length 14–18mm (m), 19–25mm (f). Colour grey, green, purple or black. Wings narrow, extending beyond the tip of the abdomen. Male’s (and sometimes female’s) abdomen has a reddish tip. Song a hard ‘sst’ sound, lasting about 0.2 seconds, repeated at 2-second intervals. Widespread in dry grassy habitats. Particularly common in southern England. Adults seen July–October.
Oak Bush-cricket
Meconema thalassinum
Length 12–15mm. Pale green with wings extending beyond the tip of the abdomen. Female has a long, upwards-curving ovipositor. Male has two thin, inwards-curving cerci (paired appendages on rear-most segments), about 3mm long. Lives in trees, particularly oaks, and also found in gardens, in much of Europe, but not far north and far south. Adults seen July–October.
Common Earwig
Forficula auricularia
Length 10–15mm; pincers 4–9mm (m), 4–5mm (f). Abundant in Europe in many habitats; very common in gardens. Mainly vegetarian. Displays parental care. Female lays 20–40 eggs in soil and cares for them during winter. After they hatch, she continues to feed and tend the young even after they come above ground.
Common Cockroach
Blatta orientalis
Length 18–30mm. Male’s leathery wings extend to the last three segments of the abdomen. Female’s wings barely cover thorax. Found in warm indoor places such as kitchens, and rubbish tips in summer. Survives outdoors in mild parts of Europe. Originated in Asia and Africa. Scavenges on the ground for food scraps and decaying matter.
Green Shield Bug
Palomena prasina
Length 10–15mm. Bright green in spring and summer, bronze-coloured in autumn. Wing-tips are dark brown. Inhabits woodland edges and glades, hedgerows, and gardens with shrubs and herbaceous borders across much of Europe. Eats the leaves of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Hibernates in leaf litter.
Common Flower Bug
Anthocoris nemorum
Length 3–4mm. Shiny and generally brownish, with a black spot on greyish forewings. Head is black. Found on almost any type of tree, shrub or herbaceous plant. Occurs across most of Europe. A predator of aphids, Red Spider Mites and other insects. Adults hibernate under loose bark and in clumps of grass.
Common Backswimmer
Notonecta glauca
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 16mm. Long and bristly hindlegs. Swims on its back, which is keeled, clutching a large air-bubble to its ‘underside’. One of several water boatman species.
HABITAT
Swims in still water, and will fly in warm weather. Widespread in Europe, including Britain.
FOOD AND HABITS
Active all year round. A hunter of tadpoles, small fish and other insects.
Common Pond Skater
Gerris lacustris
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 10mm. Dark brown with a relatively narrow body and large eyes. Short forelegs, and long and slender hindlegs. Usually fully winged. There are several similar species.
HABITAT
Lives on the surface of slow-moving water. In Britain not found in the Outer Hebrides or Shetland Isles.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies away from water to hibernate. When swimming it moves across the water’s surface with a rowing action of the middle legs. The trailing hindlegs act as rudders, while the front legs catch insects that fall into the water.
Woolly Aphid
Eriosoma lanigerum
Length 1–2mm. Purplish-brown with or without wings, and covered with strands of whitish fluffy wax. Inhabits orchards and gardens across Europe. Accidentally introduced from America. Sucks the sap of fruit trees. Most young are born live by parthogenesis (form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual, occurring quite commonly among insects).
Rose Aphid
Macrosiphum rosae
Length 1–2mm. Can be either green or pink. Long black cornicles on abdomen not found in other aphids. Occurs in woodland edges, hedges and gardens across Europe. Feeds on roses in spring, and scabious or teasel in summer.
Common Froghopper
Philaenus spumarius
Length 6mm. Variable brown pattern. Wings are held together like a tent. Young coat themselves in a white froth called ‘cuckoo-spit’ – the sap of a plant that has passed through them – which acts as a protection from predators and from drying out. Adults do look a little like frogs from above, and jump well. Found on woody and herbaceous plants throughout Europe except far north. Flies June–September. Feeds on plant sap.
Potato Leafhopper
Eupteryx aurata
Length 4mm. Black-and-yellow pattern, often orange-tinged. Wings reach past the tip of the abdomen. Occurs on wasteland, and in gardens and hedgerows throughout Europe except far north. Adults seen May–December. Sucks sap from herbaceous plants.
Scorpion fly
Panorpa communis
Length 15mm; wingspan 35mm. Head mounted with large eyes, and drawn into a prominent upwards-pointing beak opening at the tip of the head. Scorpion-like tip to male’s abdomen comprises complex reproductive organs (it is not a sting). Found in woods, hedgerows and shaded gardens in Europe except far north. Flies May–August. Adults spend most of the time crawling on vegetation in damp shady places near water and along hedgerows.
Green Lacewing
Chrysopa pallens
Length 15–20mm; wingspan 30–40mm. Bright green body, golden eyes and green veins on transparent wings. Several species in continental Europe; two similar species in Britain. Inhabits woods, hedgerows, gardens and well-vegetated areas. Found in most of Europe, but not Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Flies May–August. Mainly nocturnal. Adults and larvae prey on aphids.
Large White
Pieris brassicae
Forewing 25–35mm. Black tips extend halfway down the forewing’s edge. Upperside of the forewing has two black spots in female, one in male. Underside of the forewing has two spots in both sexes. Larva is green with black spots and yellow stripes. Lives in gardens and other flowery places. Flies April–October. Eggs are laid on the undersides of leaves. Larvae feed on brassicas and nasturtiums.
Small White
Artogeia rapae
Forewing 15–30mm. Upperside white with one black or grey spot on male’s forewing and two on female’s. Black or grey forewing patches extend further along the leading edge than down the side of the wing. Two spots on the underside of the forewing. Underside of the hindwing yellowish. Larva is green with a yellow stripe running along the sides. Abundant in gardens, hedges and flowery places in Europe. Flies March–October. Eggs are laid on leaves. Diet as Large White.
Brimstone
Gonepteryx rhamni
Forewing 25–30mm. Male’s wings sulphur-yellow on top, paler beneath. Female white with a pale green tinge. Larva is green with white stripes along the sides. Inhabits open woodland, gardens and flowery places in Europe, but not most of Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Flies February–September. Larvae eat Purging Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. Adults overwinter in holly or ivy.
Orange Tip
Anthocaris cardamines
Forewing 20–25mm. Male has orange wing-tips and green blotches on the underside of the hindwing. Female has greyish patches on the forewing and mottled underwing. Lives in hedgerows, gardens, damp meadows and woodland margins. Found across Europe except south-west and southern Spain, and far north. Flies April–June. Larvae eat Garlic Mustard and Lady’s Smock, and Sweet Rocket and Honesty in gardens.
Holly Blue
Celastrina argiolus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 12–18mm. Upperside of male violet-blue. Female paler blue edged with a broad dark band, which is broader in the second brood. Undersides of the wings are pale blue-grey. Larva is small, green and slug-like. The blue most likely to be seen in gardens.
HABITAT
Woodland margins, hedgerows, parks and gardens. Found throughout Europe except Scotland and northern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies April–September. First brood feeds on flowers and the developing fruits of holly; second brood feeds on ivy. Adults drink honeydew, sap and the juices of carrion. Overwinters as a pupa.
Small Tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 25mm. Upperside bright orange and black, with a row of blue spots on the edges of the wings. Larva is bristly and black.
HABITAT
All kinds of flowery places. Common in Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies March–October. Adults overwinter, often in buildings. Larvae feed on nettles, elms and hops.
Peacock
Inachis io
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 30mm. Wings have four large peacock-like ‘eyes’. Upperside orange, underside very dark brown. Larva is black and bristly.
HABITAT
Flowery places including gardens. Occurs across Europe to southern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies March–May and July–September. Larvae feed on nettles. Adults often overwinter in buildings.
Comma
Polygonia c-album
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 23mm. Wings have jagged edges. Upperside is orange with black and buff markings. Underside of hindwing has a comma-shaped white mark. Larva is black and sparsely bristled. Its rear end becomes white, making it look like a bird dropping – a form of protection from predators.
HABITAT
Woodland margins, gardens, hedges and other flowery places. Common across Europe, but absent from Ireland, northern Britain and far north.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies March–September, in two broods. Second brood is darker than first. Adults overwinter, hanging from leaves. Larvae feed on nettles, hops and elms.
Painted Lady
Cynthia cardui
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 20–25mm. Upperside orange with a black forewing tip patched with white. Underside pale with three blue underwing spots. Black larva has tufts of hairs and a yellow-and-red stripe down each side.
HABITAT
Flowery places including roadsides and gardens. Occurs throughout Europe, but is a migrant from North Africa. Does not survive European winters.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies April–November, arriving in Britain in late spring to early summer. Produces only two broods in Europe, and throughout the year in North Africa. Feeds on thistles and sometimes nettles.
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 30mm. Upperside velvety dark brown with bright orange bars on each wing. Tips of the forewings are black with white markings. Underside of the hindwing is pale brown, while underside of forewing shows orange, blue and white markings. Dark larva has bristles and a pale yellow stripe along each side.
HABITAT
Flowery places across Europe except northern Scandinavia. Resident in southern Europe, moving north in spring.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies May–October, in two broods. Larvae feed on nettles. Adults feed on rotting fruits in autumn.
Gatekeeper
Pyronia tithonus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 17–25mm. Orange patches on the wings. Black ‘eyes’ with two highlights at the tops of the forewings. Green or brown larva.
HABITAT
Hedgerows, woodland margins and gardens. Found in southern Britain and Ireland, and south across the rest of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies July–September. Larval foodplants are fine-leaved grasses. Adults are fond of Bramble blossom and Marjoram.
Lackey Moth
Malacosoma neustria
Forewing 13–20mm. Occurs in a range of browns. Darker wing bands curve inwards. Long and tufted grey-blue larva has white, orange, black and yellow stripes along the body. Found in many habitats across Europe, but not Scotland and northern Scandinavia. Flies June–August at night. Single-brooded. Larvae live in colonies in cocoons, feeding on the leaves of Blackthorn, hawthorn, plums and sallows. Overwinters as an egg.
Winter Moth
Operophtera brumata
Forewing 15mm. Males have greyish-brown wings with a faint pattern; females have stunted relict wings. Green looper larva is about 20mm long. Abundant wherever there are trees and shrubs. Flies October–February. Nocturnal and attracted to lighted windows. Females can be seen on windowsills and tree trunks. Larvae feed on deciduous trees. Favours hard fruits, especially apples.
Peppered Moth
Biston betularia
Forewing 20–30mm. Variable. Normal form white, peppered with fine dark marks, or sooty black. Green or brown looper larva is up to 60mm long. Found in woods, gardens, scrub and parks across Europe except far north. Flies May–August, coming to lighted windows. Larvae feed on a range of trees and shrubs, including sallows, hawthorn, Golden Rod and Raspberry.
Peach Blossom
Thyatira batis
Forewing 15mm. Forewings are brown with pink blotches. Larva is dark brown with slanting white lines and bumps on its back. Found in woodland and woodland edges in northern and central Europe, including Britain. Flies May–August at night. One brood a year. Larvae feed on Bramble, Raspberry and Blackberry. Overwinters as a pupa.
Magpie Moth
Abraxas grossulariata
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 20mm. Variable black-and-white pattern with a yellowish-orange line across the middle of the forewing and near the head. Looper larva is about 30mm long, and pale green with black spots and a rusty line along each side.
HABITAT
Woods, gardens and hedgerows.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies June–August. Larvae feed on Blackthorn, hawthorn and many other shrubs. Overwinters as a small larva and pupates in May–June.
Privet Hawkmoth
Sphinx ligustri
Forewing 41–55mm. Brown wings have black markings, and there is a tan trailing edge to the forewing. Body striped with pink and black. Larva is up to 100mm long, and green with purple-and-white stripes on each side of its body. Occurs in woodland edges, hedges, parks and gardens across Europe except Ireland, Scotland and far north. Flies June–July, drinking nectar on the wing, especially from honeysuckle. Larvae feed on privets, Ash and Lilac.
White Ermine
Spilosoma lubricipeda
Forewing 17mm. White with more or less sparse black spots. Hairy thorax and black-spotted yellow abdomen. Larva is up to 45mm long, dark brown and very hairy, with a dark red line down its back. Found in hedgerows, gardens, waste ground and other habitats throughout Europe. Flies May–August, in 1–2 broods. Adults do not feed, but larvae feed on herbaceous plants, including docks and numerous garden plants.
Garden Tiger
Arctia caja
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 25–35mm. Chocolate-brown forewings have cream patterning. Hindwings are orange with black spots. Very hairy black-and-brown larva is known as a ‘woolly bear’.
HABITAT
Open habitats, including gardens and scrub, across Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies June–August. Larvae feed on herbaceous plants. Winters as a small larva.
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Xestia c-nigrum
Forewing to 20mm. Greyish-brown to chestnut with a purplish tinge. There is a pale patch on the leading edge of the forewing. The larva is initially green, before becoming pale greenish-grey. Found in lowland areas including cultivated regions, woodland and marshes throughout Europe except far north. Flies May–October. Two or more broods a year. Larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants.
Green Arches
Anaplectoides prasina
Forewing 20mm. Greenish forewings have variable black markings, while hindwings are dark grey or brown. Larva is brown with darker markings. Inhabits deciduous woodland over most of Europe. Flies mid-June–mid-July at night. Larvae feed on a range of plants, especially honeysuckle and Bilberry.
Grey Dagger
Acronicta psi
Forewing to 20mm. Pale to dark grey, with dark, apparently dagger-shaped marks. Hairy grey-black larva has a yellow line along its back, red spots along its sides and a black horn on its first abdominal segment. Occurs in woodland, commons, parks and gardens across Europe except far north. Flies May–September, with larva feeding August–October on a wide range of broadleaved trees.
Angle Shades
Phlogophora meticulosa
Forewing 25mm. Varies from brown to green, with distinctive V-shaped markings. Forewing’s trailing edge has a ragged look, exaggerated by its habit of resting with its wings curled over. Fat green larva is up to 45mm long and has a white line (often faint) along its back. A migrant found in almost any habitat in Europe. Flies most of the year, but mainly May–October. Larvae feed on a variety of wild and cultivated plants. Overwinters as a larva.
Large Yellow Underwing
Noctua pronuba
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 25mm. Varies from pale to dark brown. Hindwings are deep yellow with a black border. The yellow flashes when the moth takes flight, which is thought to confuse predators. Green larva is up to 50mm long with two rows of dark markings on its back.
HABITAT
Well-vegetated habitats throughout Europe except far north.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies June–October. Flight is fast and erratic. The yellow flashes shown in flight become invisible the moment it lands.
Red Underwing
Catocala nupta
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 30–35mm. Grey-mottled forewings make this moth well camouflaged on tree bark, but bright red underwings are very conspicuous in flight. Pale brown larva has warty bud-like lumps on its back.
HABITAT
Woodlands, hedges, gardens and parks throughout Europe except northern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies August–September at night. Flies erratically, flashing its red underwings to confuse predators. Larvae feed in May–July on willows, poplars and aspens.
Common Crane-fly
Tipula paludosa
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 25mm. Dark brown along the leading edges of the wings. Female’s wings are shorter than her abdomen. Male has a square-ended abdomen, while female’s is pointed, with an ovipositor. Dull brown grub is known as a ‘leather-jacket’. Also called Daddy-long-legs.
HABITAT
Common in grasslands, parks and gardens throughout Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies throughout the year, but most numerous in autumn. Adults rarely feed. Grubs live in the soil and appear at night to gnaw the bases of plant stems.
Large Bee-fly
Bombylius major
Length 10–12mm; wingspan 20–25mm. Brown, furry and bee-like coat, and a long proboscis. Dark leading edges to the wings. Legs are long and slender. Inhabits sunny wooded places across Europe, but rare in far north. Hovers, using its long front legs to steady itself as it reaches for nectar with its long proboscis. Female drops eggs in flight, and larvae develop as parasites in solitary bee and wasps’ nests.
Cleg-fly
Haematopota pluvialis
Length 11mm. Dull grey horsefly with a rather cylindrical abdomen. Wings are mottled, and held above abdomen when at rest. Flies silently. Common in May–September, especially in damp woods. Replaced in northern and upland areas by another similar species. Flies May–October. Most active in humid and overcast weather. Females are bloodsuckers, biting humans and livestock. Males drink nectar and plant juices. Larvae live in damp soil, where they prey on other invertebrates.
Syrphus-fly
Syrphus ribesii
Length 10mm. Yellow-and-black-striped with a rounded abdomen. Larva is green and slug-like. There are several similar species. Found in flower-rich habitats across Europe. Flying adults seen March–November. Males perch on leaves or twigs up to 2.5m from the ground and make a high-pitched whining noise. Feeds mainly on nectar, but will also crush and swallow pollen. Larvae feed on aphids and are themselves victims of parasitic wasps.
Narcissus-fly
Merodon equestris
Length 10–15mm. A bumblebee mimic. Occurs in gardens, parks, woods and hedges throughout Europe. Flies March–August. Larvae burrow down into bulbs.
Bluebottle
Calliphora vomitoria
Length 12–15mm. Rounded metallic-blue body. Carrot-shaped creamy white larva. Widespread throughout Europe. Often flies in and around houses. Can be seen all year round, often sunning itself on walls. Females lay eggs on meat and carrion, on which the larvae feed. Males can often be seen on flowers, feeding on the nectar.
Greenbottle
Lucilia caesar
Length 8–15mm. Abdomen varies from blue-green to emerald, becoming coppery with age. Silvery below eyes. Occurs in most habitats in Europe. Common around houses. Active all year round. Feeds on nectar, carrion and wounds.
Common Carrot-fly
Psila rosae
Length 4mm. Black thorax and abdomen with brown legs. Creamy white grub. Found in gardens and on farmland. Lays eggs in late spring near young carrots. Larvae infest the roots, often turning them into empty shells.
Common House-fly
Musca domestica
Length 8mm. Black and tan abdomen. Found in and around houses throughout Europe. Especially numerous in places where there is plenty of decaying matter. Occurs during most of the year, but is most common June–September.
Celery Fly
Euleia heraclei
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 6mm. Wings mottled dark or reddish-brown. Body bulbous.
HABITAT
Found in gardens and open countryside where umbellifers grow, in most of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies April–November. Larvae eat the leaves of umbellifers from the insides, causing brownish mines.
Yellow Ophion
Ophion luteus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 15–20mm. Yellowish-brown with a strongly arched abdomen and thorax. Large black eyes.
HABITAT
Well-vegetated habitats in most of Europe except far north.
FOOD AND HABITS
Adults fly July–October. Attracted by lighted windows. Feeds on nectar and pollen. Eggs are laid in larvae or pupae of several species. Usually one grub per host. Adult always emerges from the host’s pupa.
Horntail
Urceros gigas
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length to 40mm, including ovipositor (in female). Female is black and yellow. Male is smaller with an orange abdomen with a black tip, and orange legs. Despite the fearsome appearance of the females, horntails are harmless.
HABITAT
Coniferous woodland; can also survive in treated timber, from which they may emerge in new houses.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies May–October in sunshine. Males usually fly near tree tops. Females drill into bark and deposit eggs in the trunk. Larvae are almost legless and feed on the timber.
Red Ant
Myrmica rubra
Length 4–5mm (worker). Workers chestnut-brown. Males and queens, which appear in late summer and early autumn, about one-and-a-half times as long as workers. Males have longer and less bulbous abdomens than females. Red Ants can sting. Occurs in open habitats across Europe. Omnivorous, tending towards animal food.
Black Garden Ant
Lasius niger
Length to 5mm (worker). Workers black or dark brown. Flying ants, which emerge July–August, are males and females. They are about twice the size of workers. Black Garden Ants do not sting. Occurs in open habitats across Europe, including gardens. Omnivorous, but especially fond of sweet foods – will ‘milk’ aphids for their honeydew.
Common Wasp
Vespula vulgaris
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 11–14mm (worker). Black and yellow with four yellow spots at the rear of the thorax. Yellow marks on either side of the thorax usually have parallel sides.
HABITAT
Common in most habitats across Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Usually nests in well-drained underground sites such as hedge banks, but also uses cavities in walls and lofts. Nests are built of yellowish paper.
SIMILAR SPECIES
German Wasp (V. germanica). 12–16mm long (worker). Like Common Wasp, but with marks on either side of the thorax bulge. Common in most habitats except far north. Nesting similar to Common Wasp, but nest paper is greyer and less brittle.
Hornet
Vespa crabro
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 18–25mm (worker). Chestnut-brown and yellow in colour.
HABITAT
Wooded areas, parks and gardens throughout most of Europe, but not Scotland, Ireland and northern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Nests in hollow trees, wall cavities and chimneys. Preys on insects as large as butterflies and dragonflies to feed young.
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 12–15mm. Queens are about 20mm long, but are rarely seen outside the nest. Colours vary. Can be identified by a narrow cell near the tip of the wing’s leading edge. Male has a stouter body than female.
HABITAT
Found almost everywhere in Europe, but becoming increasingly scarce.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies spring–late autumn. Lives in colonies with a single queen. Males, or drones, appear spring–summer in small numbers. Nests contain combs of hexagonal cells, used for rearing grubs and storing pollen and honey.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva). 10–12mm long. Female has a bright yellow abdomen; male is smaller and dark. Favours open habitats including gardens, parks and woodland edges, in central and southern Europe, including southern England. Flies April–June. Nests in the ground, especially on lawns, throwing spoil from nest hole into a small volcano-like mound. Solitary species.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 20–22mm. Orange collar and second abdominal segment. Tip of the abdomen is buffish-white; queen’s abdominal tip is buffish in Britain, but white elsewhere.
HABITAT
Well-vegetated habitats across Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Queens visit sallow catkins in March–April; workers visit apple and cherry blossoms. Nests well below ground level.
SIMILAR SPECIES
White-tailed Bumblebee (B. lucorum). 20–22mm long. Yellow collar and second abdominal segment, with a white tip to the abdomen. Inhabits well-vegetated places across Europe. A very early flier, with queens emerging in February and feeding on sallow catkins. Nests below ground.
Garden Bumblebee
Bombus hortorum
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 20–24mm. Collar, rear of the thorax and first segment of the abdomen are yellow. Tip of the abdomen is whitish. Fairly ‘scruffy’ appearance, with long hair. Tongue is as long as the body.
HABITAT
Common in well-vegetated habitats, especially in gardens, throughout Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Queens often seen on White Dead-nettle. Exceptionally long tongue allows it to obtain nectar from plants with deep-tubed flowers. Nests on or just beneath the ground, typically in banks and among tree roots. Like many other bumblebee species, has undergone a decline due mainly to changes in agricultural practices that have lead to loss of habitats and foodplants.
Devil’s Coach Horse
Staphylinus olens
Length 20–30mm. Long-bodied black rove beetle with small and almost square elytra (wing-cases), which leave the long abdomen exposed. Inhabits woods, hedges, parks and gardens throughout Europe. Often found in damp outhouses. Nocturnal predator with powerful jaws. Feeds on slugs, worms, woodlice and other invertebrates. When under threat it raises its tail and opens its jaws.
Cockchafer
Melolontha melolontha
Length 20–30mm. Black thorax. Rusty elytra do not quite cover the abdomen, exposing the pointed tip. Legs are brown and the antennae fan out. Male has larger antennae than female. Whitish larva has a brown head. Inhabits woodland margins, parks and gardens throughout Europe, but absent above 1,000m and from far north. Flies May–July at night. Adults chew the leaves of trees and shrubs. Larvae, which take three years to develop, feed on roots.
Rose Chafer
Cetonia aurata
Length 14–18mm. Flattened squarish elytra are green, but may be bronze or bluish-black. Found in woodland margins, hedges, scrub and gardens in southern and central Europe, including southern England. Adults fly May–August by day, and nibble the petals and stamens of flowers. Larvae feed in decaying wood, taking 2–3 years to develop.
Click Beetle
Athous haemorrhoidalis
Length 7–10mm. Long black or dark brown thorax and ridged brown back. Larva is brown with a thin segmented body. Found in grassland, including parks and gardens, across Europe except far north. Flies May–July. Adults chew grasses and flowers, especially stamens with pollen. Larvae, called ‘wireworms’, cause severe damage to roots. Click beetles are so-called because if they find themselves on their back, they can snap their thoracic segments with an audible ‘click’, causing their body to flip in the air to right themselves.
Carabid Beetle
Carabus nemoralis
Length 20–30mm. Black tinged with metallic colours varying from bronze to brassy green. Elytra are pitted in lines and finely ridged. Female is less shiny than male. Occurs in most habitats throughout Europe, but not northern Scandinavia. Fast-moving flightless beetle that is a nocturnal predator of ground-dwelling invertebrates.
Violet Ground Beetle
Carabus violaceus
Length 20–35mm. Black with violet tinges to the thorax and elytra. Thorax is flanged and the elytra have a smooth oval shape. Larva has a shiny black head and thorax, and a long, segmented dusky body. Found in woods, hedges, gardens and scrub. Non-flying, fast-running nocturnal predator of invertebrates. Larva is also a predator, but is less agile than the adult beetle.
Cardinal Beetle
Pyrochroa coccinea
Length 14–18mm. Bright reddish-orange elytra and thorax, with a black head and feathery antennae. Black legs. Larvae are yellowish-brown with a squarish rear end. Found in woodland edges in northern and central Europe. Flies May–July. Found on flowers and old tree trunks. Larvae live under bark and prey on other insects.
Soldier Beetle
Cantharis rustica
Length 11–14mm. Black elytra. Orange thorax bears a dark mark. Beaded antennae. Larva has a flattened and segmented dark brown body with a pair of legs on each of the first three segments. Abundant throughout Europe in damp situations, including woodland edges and open country. Flies May–August. Preys on other insects, which it finds on flower blossoms.
Pea Weevil
Sitona lineatus
Length 4–5mm. Pale and dark brown stripes run along the body. Eyes are very prominent. Found wherever wild and cultivated leguminous plants grow. Native to Europe, but absent from far north. Adults, which are mainly active in spring and autumn, chew semi-circular pieces from the edges of leaves and may damage seedlings. Larvae live inside root nodules. There are several species of weevil that attack garden plants.
Potato Flea Beetle
Psylliodes affinis
Length 2.8mm. Reddish-brown beetle with thick black thighs on its hind legs. Common on nightshades and potatoes in Europe, including southern and central Britain. Adults nibble leaves, while larvae feed on roots. Beetles hibernate under bark and leaf litter, emerging in spring to resume feeding.
Stag Beetle
Lucanus cervus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 25–75mm. Smooth dark-tan elytra, and black head and thorax. Male’s huge jaws look like antlers (hence the name). Whitish larva has a brown head.
HABITAT
Oakwoods, parks and gardens in England, and in central and southern Europe. In Britain, may be seen in gardens in London and elsewhere in the south-east. Becoming rare everywhere.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies May–August in the evenings and at night. Feeds on tree sap. ‘Antlers’ are used by breeding males for grappling with each other – males are harmless to humans. Larvae take about three years to mature. They feed on rotting wood.
Seven-spot Ladybird
Coccinella 7-punctata
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Length 5.2–8mm. Bright-red elytra with seven black spots. Larva is steely blue with yellow or cream spots.
HABITAT
Abundant in well-vegetated habitats in Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies early spring–autumn. Adults and larvae feed on aphids. Passes winter in small groups or individually in leaf litter and sheltered places near the ground.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Twenty-two-spot Ladybird (Thea 22- punctata). 5mm long. Lemon yellow with 10–11 black spots on each elytron and five spots on the pronotum. Inhabits well-vegetated places across Europe. Flies April–August. Eats mildew on umbellifers and other plants. Winters in leaf litter, but may appear in mild weather.
