We welcome contributions from anyone with an interest in wildlife. Our aim is that the blog will be used for sharing sightings, photographs, events, and any other aspects of natural history interest in the East Glamorgan area of Vice County 41. This covers Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and the western part of Caerphilly.
Southern Marsh Orchids
Tuesday, 6 June 2017
Cantharis fusca query
Saw this at Cosmeston last week - certainly a soldier beetle, possibly Cantharis fusca .... ?
There is a good key here: https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/cantharidae Doesn't really help with yours as you can't see the head but it gives an idea as to what characters to look for in the field.
Thanks Dave. I've downloaded the keys and having read through the Cantharis section I think I would have to pot a specimen to get the angles for ID ... so that's not going to happen often.
Hi Howard Found this site which might be of use to you and others it allows you to compare beetle photos so you can see the difference between them.Kerbtier.de All the best Mike
Could be Cantharis rustica, but tricky to tell from a photo.
ReplyDeleteBottoms ... ! that's the one I meant - with the central black mark on the pronotum. Thanks Dave - I'll just log it as Cantharis sp possibly C. rustica
ReplyDeleteThere is a good key here:
ReplyDeletehttps://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/cantharidae
Doesn't really help with yours as you can't see the head but it gives an idea as to what characters to look for in the field.
Thanks Dave. I've downloaded the keys and having read through the Cantharis section I think I would have to pot a specimen to get the angles for ID ... so that's not going to happen often.
ReplyDeleteHi Howard
ReplyDeleteFound this site which might be of use to you and others it allows you to compare beetle photos so you can see the difference between them.Kerbtier.de
All the best Mike