Send us your wildlife sightings

Beetles are a vital part of any wildlife garden. They will munch on garden insects like aphids and snails, whilst acting as food for our larger garden visitors such as hedgehogs and birds. Unfortunately, beetle populations are threatened by things like pesticides, habitat loss and climate change - but you can help! 

Download the FREE guide to Bringing Back Beetles in your own garden, with instructions for building your very own beetle bucket, beetle bank, or dead hedge. 

Take part in our Wildlife Spotter Survey and keep your eyes peeled for these three beetles. 
 

Two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)

The two-spot ladybird has declined over the last decade, with one of the factors believed to be linked to the presence of the non-native harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis). It is believed that the two-spot has declined in areas where the harlequin has become established.
 

Thick-legged flower beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

This showy bright metallic green beetle is not of conservation concern, in fact it may be increasing in number and range. Help us put your beetle on the map, we believe it may be found in many gardens, especially if you have plants from the Asteraceae family – wild or exotics.  Check out the petals of any of this family for example chrysanthemums, cosmos, dahlias, marigolds, burdock, cat’s ear or hawksbeard, you never know what you might find lurking.
 

Devil’s coach horse (Staphylinus olens)

The Devil's coach horse is a member of the rove beetle family, of which there are more than 1,000 species in the UK. Rove beetles are one of the most diverse families of animals on the planet: there are at least 46,000 species described so far, and many more still to be discovered. The Devil’s coach horse is found in gardens, look under stones or in a compost heap for this black beetle that look out for it curling up its abdomen like the tail of a scorpion if threatened.
 

Two-spot ladybird

• The two-spot ladybird is our most common ladybird.
• Both the adult and the larva feed on aphids, making them a friend to any gardener.
• The female will lay eggs in batches of 40 at a time.
• The two-spot ladybird is the one you are most likely to find indoors over winter.
• In Norfolk ladybirds are also known as bishy barnabee.

 

Thick-legged flower beetle

• Only the males have the swollen femora – hind legs.
• Pollen is the main diet of the thick-legged flower beetle.
• They are now expanding their range northwards through Britain, having once only been common in the south of the UK.
• This beetle is part of the False Blister Beetle family, so called because their body fluids contain Cantharidin, a poisonous defence to predation.
• The female lays her eggs in tree bark.

 

Devil’s coach horse

• This beetle is a ferocious and fast predator, hunting invertebrates after dark.
• If threatened they will curl up their abdomen like a scorpion and emit a foul smelling liquid. Beware, they can give a painful bite too.
• When the larva are carnivorous.
• The Devil’s coach horse is the largest of the rove beetles – so names because they are continually on the move.
• There are many myths linked to this beetle with one being its ability to curse a person by pointing its upraised body in their direction.