Black-headed Cardinal Beetle
Pyrochroa coccinea
This record describes Pyrochroa coccinea (species). Recorded family: Pyrochroidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Length 14 to 20 mm. Pronotum and elytra quite smooth and bright red or scarlet, otherwise rather shiny black and with a black head. Records must be supported by good photograph(s). They are diurnal and lead an exposed and conspicuous lifestyle on herbaceous vegetation, typically in wooded situations with a supply of decaying logs and fallen timber. Adults are short-lived and have a brief season, usually appearing in April, becoming common through May and early June and only rarely encountered later. Mating occurs early in the season and females oviposit among or beneath areas of dead bark on a range of broadleaf wood, more especially Oak and Beech, usually on fallen timber. In the UK it is generally common in southeast England but more local and sporadic further north to the Lake District and is generally absent from the West Country and the west of Wales.
Wikipedia reference for Pyrochroa coccinea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_beetle.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Pyrochroidae
- Genus
- Pyrochroa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
They are diurnal and lead an exposed and conspicuous lifestyle on herbaceous vegetation, typically in wooded situations with a supply of decaying logs and fallen timber.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are short-lived and have a brief season, usually appearing in April, becoming common through May and early June and only rarely encountered later.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Mating occurs early in the season and females oviposit among or beneath areas of dead bark on a range of broadleaf wood, more especially Oak and Beech, usually on fallen timber.
Additional species information
Recorded status
In the UK it is generally common in southeast England but more local and sporadic further north to the Lake District and is generally absent from the West Country and the west of Wales.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Pyrochroa coccinea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-headed Cardinal Beetle
What is Black-headed Cardinal Beetle?
Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea) is a species in the family Pyrochroidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Black-headed Cardinal Beetle?
14 to 20 mm. Pronotum and elytra quite smooth and bright red or scarlet, otherwise rather shiny black and with a black head.
Where is Black-headed Cardinal Beetle found?
Habitat: They are diurnal and lead an exposed and conspicuous lifestyle on herbaceous vegetation, typically in wooded situations with a supply of decaying logs and fallen timber.
When is Black-headed Cardinal Beetle active?
Black-headed Cardinal Beetle: seasonal activity - Adults are short-lived and have a brief season, usually appearing in April, becoming common through May and early June and only rarely encountered later..
What is the life cycle of a Black-headed Cardinal Beetle?
Mating occurs early in the season and females oviposit among or beneath areas of dead bark on a range of broadleaf wood, more especially Oak and Beech, usually on fallen timber.