Cardinal beetle

The cardinal beetle is a striking insect, exhibiting red or orange hues with a distinctive red head. It primarily exists in three main varieties: the red-headed (or 'common') cardinal beetle, the black-headed cardinal beetle, and the scarce cardinal beetle. The red-headed cardinal beetle, which measures approximately 20 millimeters, is commonly found throughout Britain. The black-headed cardinal beetle, slightly larger and a deeper shade of red, is also widespread across Britain. In contrast, the scarce cardinal beetle is smaller, about 9 millimeters in length, and appears only in specific regions of Scotland and Wales. These beetles are predatory, feeding on other insects, with their vivid red coloration serving as a deterrent to potential predators.

You can typically spot red-headed cardinal beetles at the edges of woodlands, where they begin to appear in May in England. They prefer to hide under loose bark on deciduous trees, in fallen timber, rotting stumps, and dense low vegetation. They also enjoy basking on large leaves, particularly near water sources like the Grand Union Canal.

To distinguish cardinal beetles from the similarly colored scarlet lily beetles, observe that scarlet lily beetles have shiny, rounded wing cases with tiny dimples, whereas cardinal beetles possess dull, narrow, flattened, and elongated wing cases. Additionally, cardinal beetles have toothed antennae and prey on flying insects, while scarlet lily beetles are herbivores, typically feeding on lily leaves.