Cardinal Beetle - Pyrochroa serraticornis

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Description

One of several Cardinal Beetles, this species has a red head to distinguish it from P. coccinea which has a black head.

Identification difficulty

Adult Larva

Habitat

On flowers, trunks and stumps where it hunts other insects.

When to see it

Between May and July.

Life History

It is a predator.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 108 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.

  • David Gould
    Narborough Bog, Leics
    21 May 2015
  • Annie Smith
    Old Ingarby
    07 May 2018
  • David Nicholls
    Grace Dieu
    06 June 2008
  • AJ Cann
    Narborough Bog
    18 June 2015
  • Mark Skevington
    Whetstone
    12 May 2021
  • David Gould
    Enderby, Everards Meadows
    08 March 2020
    larva

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle, Common Cardinal Beetle
Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Pyrochroidae
Records on NatureSpot:
243
First record:
21/05/2007 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
17/06/2023 (Pochin, Christine)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Andy's Rutland
    Merry' Meadows
    15 May 2018
  • Barbara Cooper
    Grantham Canal
    04 May 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    24 June 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Tilton Cutting NR
    23 May 2009
  • David Nicholls
    20 Acre Piece NR
    28 May 2010
  • David Nicholls
    Tilton Cutting NR
    23 May 2009
  • David Nicholls
    Narborough Bog
    02 May 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Rutland Water
    27 May 2011
  • Lostash
    Whetstone Fields
    28 May 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Stonesby Quarry
    16 May 2014
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    13 June 2013
  • Lostash
    Lutterworth
    06 June 2010
  • Graham Calow
    Jubilee Walk Leire
    25 June 2012
  • Mark Skevington
    Ketton Quarry
    29 March 2019
  • David Gould
    Enderby, Everards Meadows
    08 March 2020
  • David Gould
    Enderby, Everards Meadows
    08 March 2020
  • David Gould
    Enderby, Everards Meadows
    08 March 2020