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Malthodes minimus
This small beetle is only 3-4mm long. The elytra are dark and usually yellow tipped, exposing part of the wings and abdomen beneath.
There are fifteen species in the genus and they are very hard to separate. For males examination of the appendages at the tip of the abdomen under a microscope is required. Females can't usually be identified to species.
Well wooded areas, but also in long grass and water meadows.
Early May to late August
As with other members of the Cantharidae family, they are mainly predatory, preying on other insects.
Common in southern Britain, scarcer in the north
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 44 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Species profile
- Species group:
- Beetles
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Coleoptera
- Family:
- Cantharidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 9
- First record:
- 14/06/2008 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 04/06/2022 (Higgott, Mike)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
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