Pyrochroa
coccinea (Linnaeus,
1761)  |
| Pyrochroa
coccinea is one of just three European species, all
of which are found in the UK. They are more commonly
known as Cardinal Beetles, due to their bright red
coloration and belong to the Pyrochroidae
family. The larva is carnivorous and lives
under loose bark or within rotting wood. The adults are
very conspicuous and found in May and June, but we have
only found them in the Sherwood Forest area. P.
coccinea differs from the very similar P.
serraticornis, by having the head black. |
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| The two
photographs show something that unfortunately wasn't
noticed at the time they were taken. Or rather, what is
on the antenna of this P. coccinea, wasn't what
we thought it was. Only when we uploaded the photographs
onto the computer, did the hitchhiker become known... a
Pseudoscorpion. Pseudoscorpions have been noted to hitch
a lift as a means of transport to new areas, but such
photographs are unusual. Just wish they had been of
better quality. |
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| The following
four photographs show most of the life-cycle stages. A
full grown larva was found under the bark of a felled
Pine at Clipstone Old Quarter in early 2012. The pupa
darkened around 24 hours prior to hatching and the
emerged adult aquired full colouration after 36 hours. |
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