Red-headed cardinal beetle

Ian has sent us a picture of a red headed cardinal beetle, whose scientific name, Pyrochroa serraticornis, translates roughly but appropriately as fiery-shelled thing with serrated antennae.

The red-headed cardinal beetle is a predator; it lies in wait for small flying insects, sometimes for hours, in the upper layers of tall vegetation near water. Ian’s specimen is hanging around in the nettles on the banks of the Lambrok’s tributary stream.

In the UK, three species of beetle go by the name of cardinal. There is the black headed cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea), the scarce cardinal beetle (Schizotus pectinicornis) and this one, the red headed  or common cardinal beetle, which is the only one of the three that has been been identified in the reserve.

Scarce cardinal beetles are just that: scarce. But we would love to add a black headed cardinal to our Coleoptera lists so keep an eye out for red beetles with a black head and send us a picture, please.

Header image: red headed cardinal beetle © Ian Bushell (SCPLNR May 24)