The bright red Cardinal beetles make themselves obvious at this time of year, as they sit about on foliage along woodland rides and edges. We have two species in Glamorgan (there is also a third, much rarer species which inhabits upland birch woods and isn't known from the county). Luckily, the two can be distinguished easily based on the colour of the head.
The Red-headed Cardinal
Pyrochroa serraticornis is the commoner of the two, and although it occurs in ancient woodland it isn't restricted to this habitat, and can be seen, for example, along the Taff river corridor in Cardiff. I even had one in my garden last year.
The Black-headed Cardinal
Pyrochroa coccinea is more restricted to ancient woodlands. The individual in the photo below was seen on a leaf in the woods near Castell Coch a couple of weeks ago.
Keep an eye out for them, and please submit any records to SEWBReC.
Hi George. Saw a Red-headed Cardinal Beetle on the path bordering Morganstown playing fields recently and, coincidentally a worn looking one turned up on the garage wall this afternoon. I've never seen the black-headed version though.
ReplyDeleteHad one of the red heads at Aberthaw last weekend, also one at Cosmeston the week before
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