In Germany we share our nature with an abundance of small and large, black-brown and colorful beetles. Native species from 10 known beetle families can often be found. This guide provides practical assistance in identifying beetles.

The Colorado potato beetle is a well-known and feared native beetle

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Characteristics typical of beetles
  3. 5 black-brown beetle species
  4. 5 colorful beetle species
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • Specific beetle characteristics are body type with head, pronotum and 2 pairs of wings (hardened elytra over membranous wings), biting-chewing mouthpart, 6 legs and 2 antennae
    • Native black-brown beetle families are weevils (Curculionidae), longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), ground beetles (Carabidae), bark beetles (Scolytinae) and Schröter (Lucanidae)
    • Native colorful beetle families are leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), checkered beetles (Cleridae), ladybirds (Coccinellidae), jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and shine beetles (Nitidulidae)

    Recognize beetles - typical characteristics

    Beetles represent the largest order within the insect class. To date, 180 beetle families with more than 350,000 species are known around the world. An estimated 20 beetle families with around 8,000 species are native to Central Europe. Given this dizzying variety, native beetles come in a variety of shapes and colors. This circumstance does not make it easy for the layperson to make an informed determination. After all, beetles are characterized by these typical properties that clearly distinguish them from other insects:

    • anatomy: head, pronotum, elytra (with or without caplets)
    • wing construction: 2 pairs of wings, sclerotized (hardened) elytra in front, membranous, folded hindwings
    • mouth tool: biting-chewing
    • size: 0.5 to 80 mm (European species)
    • extremities: 6 legs and 2 antennae (short, long, filiform, clubbed, fanned out, combed)
    • eyes: compound eyes

    Significant distinguishing features to other insects are physique and wing structure. The classic insect structure of head, chest and abdomen does not apply to a beetle's body. Here the breast and abdomen form an optical unit, covered by often hardened elytra, under which skin wings are located. The pronotum is usually visible on the upper side of the beetle. This structure gives many beetles a tank-like appearance.

    digression

    Bugs in the house - a double-edged sword

    Little black and brown bugs really test our appreciation for insects. Grain weevils (Sitophilus granarius), flour beetles (Tenebrio molitor) or fur beetles (Sitophilus granarius) cheekily invade the house, contaminate food and destroy our belongings. Nevertheless, valuable beneficial insects sometimes get lost in the apartment in a desperate search for winter quarters, such as ladybirds (Coccinellidae) or hair beetles (Malachiinae). Nature lovers always take the time for a competent identification of beetles, so that no innocent beneficial insect has to lose its life for the infamous pests.

    Identify black-brown domestic beetles - 5 common species

    For the beetle layman, the color is an important criterion on the way to accurate identification. Size, body shape, special characteristics and occurrence provide further information for the naming. The following table provides an overview of 5 common beetle families in Germany that have opted for a dark color. A typical native beetle species is named as representative of each beetle family.

    Dark colored beetle families weevil longhorn beetle ground beetle bark beetle Schroeter
    botanical name Curculionidae Cerambycidae Carabidae Scolytinae Lucanidae
    hue black to dark brown black, gray or colored black to shiny variegated brown-black to copper-colored black, reddish brown to red
    size 3-20mm 10-30mm 1-85mm 2-8mm 8-80mm
    body shape oval elongated, stretched flat, elongated cylindrical, cylindrical elongated to cylindrical
    Special feature long trunk long feelers long hind legs dentate elytra margins enlarged upper jaw
    Happen forest, garden inside, outside in the wood in leaf litter on conifers in/on deadwood
    Typical species Ridged Weevil house goat Large Broad Beetle printer stag beetle
    botanical name Otiorhynchus sulcatus Hylotrupes bajulus Abax parallelepiped Ips typographus Lucanus cervus

    We present the representatives of each beetle family in the following short portraits with tips on specific characteristics.

    Weevil - Lined Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)

    Weevils are dreaded plant pests

    Of the approximately 1,000 weevil species found in Germany, the vine weevil is the most well-known representative. Identifying features are:

    • 10mm tall
    • long trunk as a head extension
    • black upperside with dark brown spots

    The shell-like elytra catches the eye, as well as thighs with a thickened middle segment.

    Longhorn Beetle - Longhorn (Hylotrupes bajulus)

    If a beetle has the addition "Bock" in its name, the alarm bells will ring. Many species of this family are considered to be dreaded wood pests, such as the house longhorn. This is how the beetle is determined:

    • 2-8 mm long and slender
    • very long antennae (similar to the horns of an ibex)
    • black with white patches of hair on the elytra

    On closer inspection, small humps or thorns can be seen on the pronotum as an additional identifying feature.

    Ground Beetle - Large Broad Beetle (Abax parallelepipedus)

    The ground beetle can grow up to 2cm

    A magnificent example of the ground beetle family is the large broad beetle. The domestic beetle can be identified by these characteristics:

    • 16 to 21mm tall
    • black, broad body
    • 2 bristles above the compound eyes
    • Longitudinal grooves on the elytra

    Because our protagonist wraps himself in a dark beetle robe, he is represented in the table above. Shiny colors such as gold-yellow, blue or violet are also popular in the beetle family.

    Bark beetle - book printer (Ips typographus)

    If you notice dark shapes of beetles on the bark of coniferous trees, you are most likely seeing bark beetles. A typical family member is the printer:

    • 4.5 to 5.5mm in size
    • Elytra at the fall with 8 little teeth
    • colored semi-matt dark brown

    The typographer is characterized by a solid carapace that extends over the head.

    Schröter - stag beetle (Lucanus cervus)

    Stag beetles fight for their mates

    The encounter with a stag beetle makes our hearts beat faster, because the largest beetle in Germany is honored. The domestic Schröter beetle can be determined by these attributes:

    • 30 to 80mm tall
    • Black-brown ground color with red-brown elytra
    • The hallmark of the males is an "antler" as a greatly enlarged upper jaw

    Experience in the following video how Germany's largest beetle fights for the lady beetle of his heart. Clear the ring for the fascinating stag beetle:

    youtube

    Identify colorful native beetles - 5 common species

    If you come across a colorful beetle in Germany, it usually comes from one of five common beetle families. The following table focuses on beetle beauties that cause a sensation in blue, yellow, green or red. A representative from each family has the task of making it easier for you to identify the beetle:

    Colorful beetle families leaf beetle beetle ladybug jewel beetle soft beetle
    botanical name Chrysomelidae Cleridae Coccinellidae Buprestidae Cantharidae
    shades blue, yellow, red, green colorful with stripes or dots red, black, yellow multifaceted colors red, orange, yellow, blue, black
    size 1-18mm 3-40mm 2-12mm 2-30mm 1.2-15mm
    body shape ovoid, arched elongated spherical oblong-oval elongated-flat
    Special feature artistic, colorful pattern densely hairy dotted elytra big eyes soft body
    Happen on plant leaves on trees, bushes strongly curved body on trees and shrubs forests, meadows
    Typical species Colorado potato beetle bee beetle seven point Lime jewel beetle Common soft beetle
    botanical name Leptinotarsa decemlineata Trichodes apiarius Coccinella septempunctata Scintillatrix rutilans Cantharis fusca

    The following short portraits summarize more detailed information on the ambassadors of local beetle families:

    Leaf beetle - Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

    The leaf beetle family struggles with the reputation of having numerous pests under one roof. The Colorado potato beetle is famous and notorious and you can recognize it by this appearance:

    • 7 to 15 mm in size
    • yellow and black striped
    • yellow-orange pronotum with black dots

    By the way, his voracious brood looks completely different. An insatiable Colorado potato beetle larva is red with two rows of black dots on each side.

    Bee Beetle (Trichodes apiarius)

    Funeral beetles are not really brightly colored, but rather bright red - black

    The beetle family keeps what the name promises. This assertion is convincingly demonstrated by the wonderful bee beetle. Significant features for a correct determination are:

    • 9 to 16 mm in size
    • bright red with black horizontal stripes
    • Head, pronotum and legs metallic green or blue

    Ladybug - Siebenpunkt (Coccinella septempunctata)

    Germany's flying lucky symbol on six legs likes to eat aphids. For this reason, seven-spot ladybugs are welcome in every garden. This is what the favorite local beetle of all children looks like:

    • 5 to 8 mm in size
    • red elytra with seven black dots
    • black pronotum with white corners in front

    For a while it was feared that Siebenpunkt would be pushed out by the immigrant Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis). The experts from the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU) have found in recent years that seven-spot ladybirds are benefiting from ongoing climate change and can assert themselves against their Asian competitors.

    Jewel beetle - Linden jewel beetle (Scintillatrix rutilans)

    The jewel beetle lives up to its name

    With a bit of luck, you can admire one of the most beautiful jewel beetles near Linden. You can recognize linden jewel beetles by this picturesque look:

    • 9 to 15 mm in size
    • Basic color metallic green
    • abdomen metallic blue
    • Cover wings with shiny red gold border

    Soldier Beetle - Common Soldier Beetle (Cantharis fusca)

    Soft beetles are also popularly known as soldier beetles because of their colorful uniform. The common wart beetle, which is characterized by these identifying features, sets a good example:

    • 11 to 15mm
    • sleek slim body shape
    • red ground colour, black elytra
    • abdomen bright orange

    The warbler spices up its long, thread-like antennae with contrasting colours. The first segments near the head shine in elegant red. The remaining antennal segments are matt black.

    tips

    Who is the prettiest in the local beetle country? Numerous beetle species in Germany are in a neck-and-neck race to find the answer. The gold rose beetle (Cetonia aurata) from the scarab beetle family has the best chance of winning the title, closely followed by dazzling jewel beetles such as the native species cherry jewel beetle (Anthaxia candens). Bright sealing wax red lily beetles (Lilioceris lilii) from the leaf beetle family are beautiful to look at, but of course they feed on flowers and leaves, which significantly reduces the chances of winning the title.

    frequently asked Questions

    What are these beetles with long antennae?

    The long-sensing longhorn beetle family is huge

    Several species of beetle show off their long antennae in Germany. The long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae) are responsible, whose antennae are significantly longer than their bodies. In this respect, the house longhorn and other beetles are the ibexes among the native beetles. Furthermore, soft beetles (Cantharidae) carry impressively long feelers in front of them.

    Can all native beetles fly?

    The vast majority of native beetles can fly. Of course, a body with two pairs of wings is no guarantee that a beetle can actually fly. A prime example are the vine weevils (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) from the weevil family (Curculionidae). In the course of evolution, the large black beetles have chosen to live on the ground. In the course of this, the two armour-like cover wings have now grown together.

    What characteristics distinguish beetles from other insects?

    You can clearly distinguish a beetle from other insects by the structure of its body and wings. Visible from a beetle's body are the head, pronotum, and elytra. The breast and abdomen parts of the body that are recognizable in other insects form a visual unit under the elytra of beetles. The flying machine itself consists of two pairs of wings. The mostly hardened elytra lie protectively over the membranous wings. The latter can only be seen when beetles fly.

    tips

    Some native insects come in a beetle look and lead the nature lover to the black ice when identifying them. Prime examples are large species of bugs, such as fire bugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), striped bugs (Graphosoma lineatum) or the green stink bug (Palomena prasina). American bug beetles (Leptoglossus occidentalis) even carry the risk of confusion in their name. Those who know their way around will no longer fall for the deceptive manoeuvre. You can read about the five most important differences between bugs and beetles here.

Category:

Animals in the garden