At first glance, this species looks dangerous because the elytra glow in intense colors. There are a few species that cause confusion among laypeople. But on closer inspection, this beetle can be clearly identified.
The scarlet fire beetle lives up to its name with its color
How to recognize the animals
The fire beetles or cardinals represent a family that includes about 140 species. Three members of the family are native to Germany, with Pyrochroa coccinea being observed frequently. This beetle is characterized by an elongated and flat body. It reaches a length of about two centimeters and shines in scarlet hues. The head is completely black in color. Striking are the antennae, which are serrated in females and combed in males.
confusion
- lily chicken: does not have fanned antennas
- Red-Headed Fire Beetle: has a distinct red coloring on the head
- fire bug: with a distinct black and red pattern
larval stage
The offspring have a flattened shape and are bright yellow in color. Two thorns at the end of the abdomen are noticeable. It takes two to three years for the larva to pupate and emerge from the cocoon as a fully developed specimen. In this final stage, the animals rarely eat.
Occurrence and Occurrence
This species is distributed across the entire European continent. Their range extends north to central Sweden, central Finland and southern Norway. Because of their food, they prefer densely wooded areas with deadwood. Their main flight time is between May and June. In gardens, the animals are less common if the property is near the forest.
Useful bugs
While adult specimens feed on sweet liquids like honeydew and tree sap, their larvae prove to be genuinely beneficial. They live in dead wood and under tree bark. There, the robbers not only eat fungi, but also beetle larvae and insects. The bark beetle lave takes a place on the menu.
Are fire bugs dangerous?
Red colors represent a warning signal in the animal world. They signal potential predators that they are inedible or poisonous. Pyrochroa coccinea also tries to protect itself with its red coloring by misleading predators. It is completely harmless to humans. With its mouthparts, the beetle is unable to pierce the skin. There is also no evidence of toxic effects on human health.
Are countermeasures necessary?
The adult cardinals do no harm to crops or ornamental plants. They stay where aphids live and plant sap leaks from open wounds on the tree. They do not destroy any plant tissue to get their food. So fighting it doesn't make sense. The larvae do not cause any damage either, as they do not decompose the wood. Because of their preference for insect larvae, these can be considered beneficial.