Cantharis rustica

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.

Areas with tall grasses, and in open woodland.

Mid May to late June

It is a predator and hunts mainly on flowers.

Common throughout England and Wales

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 64 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.