| Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea (Linnaeus, 1761)) |
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Scientific name: Pyrochroa coccinea (Linnaeus, 1761) Common name: Black-headed Cardinal Beetle French name: Cardinal, Pyrochre écarlate. Order: Coleoptera Family: Pyrochroidae Wingspan : 14-18 mm. Biotope: Woodland edges, clearings, parks, especially with flowers. Geographic area: All Europe from central Italy to southern Scandinavia, east to Kazakhstan. Observation period : May to July. |
The Black-headed Cardinal Beetle is a coleoptera with bright red elytra and thorax. The legs, the head and the antennae are black. Males have comb-like antennae, females' antennae are rather lightly serrated. The Black-headed Cardinal Beetle feeds on nectar, pollen or sap. The eggs are laid in the bark of rotten wood. The lengthy and flat larvae feed on insects and other larvae captured between bark and wood. They will pupate after two or three years. The Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis), very similar species, has a red head and is slightly smaller. |
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At least one black head, here is the Black-headed Cardinal. I had only observed its red-headed cousin so far. The comb-like antennae indicate that this one is a male. |
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I have observed this Black-headed Cardinal on a woodland edge. |
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Here is a back side view to admire the beautiful red colour of the elytra. |
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Front view. |
André Bon November 2022