Cantharis rustica
Description
Length 9 to 12.5 mm. There are several Cantharis beetles but this is one of the more common. It has black, shiny elytra (wing cases) covered in fine hairs, red femora (thighs) and a central dark mark in the centre of its red pronotum.
Identification difficulty
Habitat
Areas with tall grasses, and in open woodland.
When to see it
Mid May to late June
Life History
It is a predator and hunts mainly on flowers.
UK Status
Common throughout England and Wales
VC55 Status
Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 64 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.
David NichollsRatby24 May 2014
Graham CalowBramble Walk, near Cosby01 June 2014
David NichollsUlverscroft NR11 June 2010
Graham CalowBramble Walk, near Cosby01 June 2014
David NichollsRatby09 June 2012
Kate NightingaleCharnwood Lodge18 June 2015mating pair
Paul RuddochMelton Country Park27 May 2015
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
David NichollsKetton Quarry25 May 2012 Field Near Donkey Lane Sapcote SP 4860 9292 (taken 22.5.2009),.JPG)
Graham CalowSapcote22 May 2009
HAPeacockCity Farm - Sheep Field Path26 June 2012
HAPeacockCity Farm - Sheep Field Path26 June 2012
David NichollsStonesby Quarry16 May 2014
David NichollsGrace Dieu06 June 2008
Kate NightingaleCharnwood Lodge18 June 2015mating pair
Barbara CooperHolwell Nature Reserve20 June 2012
LostashWhetstone Garden10 June 2012
Barbara CooperClawson Hill09 June 2013
LostashWhetstone Footpath31 May 2014
 Field Near Donkey Lane Sapcote SP 4860 9292 (taken 22.5.2009),.JPG)
