Cantharis cryptica (Ashe, 1947)
A relatively common species, Cantharis cryptica is often commonly referred to by schoolboys as Bloodsucker. It belongs to the Cantharidae family which are known as Soldier Beetles. There are about 40 UK species, including several similar species and they are frequent visitors to thistles and umbelliferous flowers, where they probably prey on other flower-feeding insects as C. cryptica is a carnivorous species.
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Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Cantharis cryptica
 
 
 
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. NBGRC. M L Denton (2002 Sherwood Forest Coleoptera survey). Netherfield Wildlife Group. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. K N A Alexander (Invertebrate assemblage condition at Birklands and Bilhaugh SSSI and Birklands West and Ollerton Corner SSSI survey reports 2009-10). Tim Sexton. Stuart Warrington. The National Trust (Clumber Park invertebrate records). Rob Johnson. David Shaw.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated January 2024
copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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