Hedobia imperialis

A fairly small species with a very distinctive brown and buff patterning.

Found around old Hawthorn hedges.

Peak time is May to July.

The larva is a wood borer, usually in Hawthorn.

Once considered scarce this beetle has now become more widespread in the southern half of Britain, although it is still infrequent.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 17 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.