Small red beetles sparkle in the garden, which cannot be overlooked. What species of beetle might it be? Is it a pest, nuisance or beneficial? We invite you to take a stroll through the species-rich world of red beetles in Germany. Informative short portraits provide practical assistance in recognizing red beetles and calling them by their correct names.

Fire beetles are beneficial insects

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Identify red bugs
  3. Red bugs eat lilies
  4. frequently asked Questions

    5. the essentials in brief

    • Common red beetles in Germany are: lily beetles, fire beetles, ladybirds, red-covered beetles, fire bugs and nasturtium beetles.
    • Red mini beetles in the garden are not pests, but mostly beneficial or, in the worst case, pests.
    • The only exception is bright red lily beetles, which eat flowers and leaves. Natural remedies are shaking off, showering, soap solution, algae lime or rock flour.(14.13€)

    Recognizing red beetles - appearance, characteristics, locality

    Prudence reigns in the natural garden when many small red beetles appear on the scene. In consideration of the great insect mortality, responsible hobby gardeners are investigating which species of beetles are visiting the plants. Gone are the days of widespread plagues that destroyed crops and devastated entire regions. Even the formerly dreaded may beetle and potato beetle have lost their terror. Pests that trigger comprehensive control measures are now few and far between. In fact, the vast majority of German beetles are useful, or at worst a nuisance. Unfortunately, the Red List of Threatened Insects is getting longer every year.

    The following table gives an overview of the appearance, special characteristics and typical location as important criteria for an accurate identification of red beetles in Germany's gardens:

    Red Bugs lily chicken fire beetle ladybug red-covered beetle fire bug Nasturtium beetle
    status pest beneficial beneficial beneficial nuisance endangered Red List
    size 6-9mm 14-18mm 5-8mm 5-9mm 6-12mm 6-15mm
    body shape slim flat, elongated spherical elongated oval cylindrical
    Special feature with long antennae black head with black dots red stripes lengthwise with black pattern black head
    Common locality of lilies on flowers in the bed in the wood at the tree deadwood, firewood
    botanical name Lilioceris lilii Pyrochroa coccinea Coccinella septempunctata Platycis minus Pyrrhocoris apterus Bostrichus capucinus
    middle name lily beetle Scarlet Fire Beetle seven point Small Red-Covered Beetle fire beetle Carmine Nasturtium

    You can read more detailed information about these red beetles, which are common in Germany, in the following short portraits:

    Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii)

    The lily beetle can do a lot of damage in the garden

    Varnish red elytra, black legs and antennae reveal the presence of lily beetles in the bed. Informed hobby gardeners do not fall for the decorative deception. In fact, the little red bugs can wreak havoc in the garden with their fatal food preferences. In particular, the nasty larvae in the brown dung sack are voracious pests. In the garden, on the balcony and terrace, lily beetles have these plants in their sights:

    • All kinds of lilies
    • imperial crowns
    • lily of the valley
    • daffodils
    • checkered flowers
    • chives

    Fire Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea)

    Elytra and pronotum are fiery red. Pitch-black wings, antennae, head and legs create contrasts worth seeing. The long antennae, which are serrated in females and combed in males, are striking. To spot a red bug with these attributes, look out for the following locations:

    • On flowers
    • On plants with aphid colonies
    • On deciduous trees
    • In flowering hedges and mixed hedges

    Because the larvae of the fire beetle on the tree under the bark enthusiastically hunt and kill bark beetle larvae, the categorization as beneficial is quite legitimate.

    Seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

    The seven-spot ladybird is native to us, but is gradually being pushed out by the Asian species

    As a red beetle with seven black dots, the ladybug has taken people's hearts by storm. Each red wing cover is decorated with three black dots. The eponymous seventh point is located in the middle of the front edge and extends over both wings. Two white corners can be admired on the black pronotum. From April to October, the flying lucky charm can be found here:

    • On plants with aphids
    • On the house wall (in autumn)

    In contrast to the native seven-spot, the immigrant Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) likes to show off its shiny black elytra, which are adorned with several red spots. The beneficial insect lives up to its middle name, Harlequin ladybird, with varied coloring, such as light yellow wings with black spots, dark red wings with black spots, or unicolored elytra without a pattern.

    tips

    A black and red striped beetle is called striped bug (Graphosoma lineatum). Trademarks are black and red stripes that adorn its 10 to 12 mm long body on the upper side. On the red underside, black dots spice up the eye-catching costume. The distinctive, beetle-like insect is a harmless guest in the garden, not a pest.

    Red-covered beetle (Platycis minutus)

    The Lesser Red-Covered Beetle looks slightly similar to the Lily Beetle, but is significantly smaller and less luminous

    At this point, the Lesser Red Covered Beetle is representative of seven picturesque red cover beetle species in Germany. The mini beetle shines with bright red, grooved elytra and wears a black pronotum. In relation to its body size, the tiny creature shows off epically long, black antennae. The best chances of encountering this natural gem are at these locations:

    • In the garden, preferably on flowers and in green dry stone walls
    • In the forest, mostly on deciduous trees
    • In a cemetery with old trees, often in fungus-ridden deadwood

    The beetle owes its beneficial status to the insatiable larvae, which feed on the eggs and larvae of other insects, many of which are considered pests.

    Fire bug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)

    As a beetle, the fire bug is a sham. The bright red insect with the distinctive black pattern is one of the bugs (Heteroptera) without a functioning flight apparatus. A flat top and arched bottom characterize the oval body outline. Short antennae sit on the thick, black head. Favorite food are the juices of plant seeds that have fallen to the ground. Fire bugs like to hang out at the feet of these plants:

    • on mallows
    • under hibiscus
    • on the root disc of black locust

    Fire bugs maintain a sociable lifestyle. The pretty insects like to gather in droves to enjoy a long sunbath on stones. Concerned hobby gardeners fear that a plague will hit the garden. In fact, the fire bug is completely harmless. The following video with impressive images explains why the fire bug is wrongly demonized as a pest in the garden:

    youtube

    Nasturtium beetle (Bostrichus capucinus)

    The Nasturtium beetle owes its name to the brick-red elytra and a black, rasped pronotum that covers the black head like a hood. Adult beetles and larvae feed on dead wood, converting the cellulose into valuable humus. Typical locations for the beneficial insects are:

    • light forests
    • vineyards
    • orchards

    Shrinking habitats and pesticides have put the beautiful nasturtium in distress, leading the Red List to classify its status as endangered in Germany.

    digression

    Red bugs in the house - what to do?

    If many small red beetles pay a visit to the apartment, they are often ear beetles (Anthocomus equestris). Red elytra with 2 black spots make the 4 mm small beetle beauties unmistakable. The larvae get into the house as stowaways of fresh potting soil. This is no cause for concern, because the little predators feed on mites and other microorganisms. In early summer, the hatched hair beetles leave their nursery and fly around the house. The black and red beetles often sit on the window pane and look longingly outside. By opening windows and balcony doors for a short time, you release the harmless, peaceful guests into freedom.

    Red bugs eat lilies - what to do?

    Lily beetles eat holes in lilies and other plants

    The only pest among the common red beetles in Germany is the lily beetle. A huge appetite for lilies, imperial crowns, lilies of the valley and herbs, preferably chives, is chalked up to the mini beetle. The infestation does not have to develop into a plague in the garden if you use these natural remedies against lily beetles:

    • Shake off: Spread out the foil, shake off the cold-rigid lily beetle in the early morning
    • shower off: spray infested plants from above and below with a strong jet of water
    • soap solution: Dissolve 15 ml curd soap, 15 ml alcohol in water, spray on every 3-4 days (upper and lower sides of the leaves)
    • powder: Apply algae lime or rock powder to leaves and shoots with a powder tip

    The stubborn, orange-brown egg packets of busy female lily beetles sometimes resist biological control agents. Please examine the undersides of the leaves regularly. Discarded eggs can be wiped off with paper towels. Alternatively, tear off the affected leaves with a bold jerk.

    frequently asked Questions

    Small red bugs in the garden eat holes in flowers and leaves. What to do?

    Pitting is a typical symptom of lily beetle infestation. In the early stages, you can effectively control the pests with repeated water showers. Spray infested plants vigorously. Hold the water hose so that you can also reach the undersides of the leaves. Then treat the plants with a mixture of 1 tablespoon each of liquid curd soap and spirit dissolved in 1 liter of water.

    Small red beetles with a black pattern sit on hibiscus and mallows. Are these pests?

    According to their description, they are fire bugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), which are also known as fire beetles. The bright red insects with the striking black pattern like to eat the seeds of hibiscus, hollyhocks and other mallow plants. Fire bugs use their tiny proboscis to poke a hole in the seed coat and suck up the nutritious juice. Leaves, flowers and other parts of plants are not part of the food spectrum. For this reason, these are not pests that need to be fought.

    tips

    Close-to-nature gardeners warmly welcome tiny little beetles with red velvet robes to the garden. The velvet mite (Trombidium holosericeum) has arrived. The 2-4 mm small, velvety red insect rushes around on 8 legs, always on the hunt for tasty eggs and juicy larvae. Unfortunately, the velvet mite's similarity with the red spider, which is vehemently fought as a pest on apple trees, strawberries and other fruit plants, is its undoing.

Category:

Animals in the garden