Cantharis rustica

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Description

9 to 12.5 mm. It has black, shiny elytra (wing cases) covered in fine hairs. The red/orange pronotum has a central black heart spot. The mid and hind tibia are black.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Your specimen should have these features:

  • 9-12.5mm
  • black wing cases
  • black heart-shaped spot on the pronotum
  • blackish tibia
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.

  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    09 June 2012
  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields, Aylestone, Leicester
    05 June 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Lea Meadows NR
    27 May 2020
  • stepgray4
    Narrow Lane, Wymeswold
    06 June 2021
  • David Nicholls
    Grace Dieu
    06 June 2008
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    22 May 2015

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Beetles
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Cantharidae
Records on NatureSpot:
141
First record:
31/05/2003 (Gould, David)
Last record:
15/06/2023 (Poole, Adam)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    25 May 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby
    24 May 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Ulverscroft NR
    11 June 2010
  • Graham Calow
    Bramble Walk, near Cosby
    01 June 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    22 May 2009
  • Graham Calow
    Bramble Walk, near Cosby
    01 June 2014
  • Kate Nightingale
    Charnwood Lodge
    18 June 2015
    mating pair
  • David Nicholls
    Stonesby Quarry
    16 May 2014
  • Kate Nightingale
    Charnwood Lodge
    18 June 2015
    mating pair
  • Barbara Cooper
    Holwell Nature Reserve
    20 June 2012
  • Lostash
    Whetstone Garden
    10 June 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Clawson Hill
    09 June 2013
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    24 May 2022
  • CAPochin
    Gartree Road
    02 June 2022
  • sue
    Bagworth, Manor Farm LNR
    14 May 2020
  • David Gould
    fields near Fosse Park
    08 June 2018
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Melton Country Park
    22 May 2015
  • Steve Mathers
    River Soar, Ratcliffe on Soar
    02 June 2020
  • Pete Leonard
    Harby Hill Wood SSSI (S)
    28 May 2019
  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields
    17 June 2018