Subpage beetles:   Ground beetles (Carabidae)      Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)      Snout beetles, weevils      Longhorn beetles, similar to longhorn beetles      Ladybirds, Ladybugs, Coccinellidae      Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)      Small  beetles                            

Nederlands / Dutch

Beetles in the garden   

I have made subpages of some families. On this page I have placed a photo of one species of the family and a link.

Seven-spot ladybird, Seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)

Flea beetle Asiorestia spec - Neocrepidodera spec.  Family leaf beetles Chrysomelidae.

Corymbia rubra Leptura rubra and Stictoleptura rubra are former scientific names.

Dasytes cyaneus. Family Dasytidae. It looks like a small longhorn beetle.

Notiophilus spec. Family Ground beetles (Carabidae).

Polydrusus sericeus  Subfamily: Brachyderinae. Family Curculionidae

Philonthus spec. Family Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)

Ptilinus pectinicornis. Family Anobiidae. All families, mainly of small beetles on a subpage.

In the water:

Dytiscidae.

.. . . Diving beetles, Predaceous water beetles, Dytiscidae. This family is related to the ground beetles. Besides they can swim, they can fly too. The body has a streamlined shape. They store air under the elytra (the space between the abdomen and the elytra) They have no gills. The larvae are also carnivores and aquatic. The beetles usually overwinter. Sometimes I see a water beetle in the pond. But this was the first I found in the landing net, when I removed the leaves out of the pond.  Photos beetle 13/3/2010 Length: 10 mm. It is mot easy to determine the dark water beetles from a photo. It may be one the family Agabus or of the family  Ilybius. The beetle looks like a Agabus bipustulatus.

..   Hydroporus palustris. Family predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae). There are a lot of these small beetles in our pond. Most likely Hydroporus palustris, because that's a common beetle in the Netherlands. The resembling  Hydroporus species are rare. The upper side is dark brown with brown yellow spots (variable), the underside is black. They feed on small invertebrates. The adult beetle overwinters under water. Length about 3,5 mm. Palearctic. Photos: 6-6-2012. German: Sechsfleckige Zwergschwimmer, Gemeine Zwergschwimmer.

..   Dytiscus spec. Family predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae). Not in the garden, but in small a dune lake about 4 miles from our house. I do not know the species. Dytiscus marginalis is common, but there are more Dytiscus species in the Netherlands. Namely: Dytiscus circumflexus, Dytiscus dimidiatus. Rare: Dytiscus circumcinctus, Dytiscus lapponicus. Very rare: Dytiscus latissimus, Dytiscus semisulcatus. In Europe, Asia, North Africa and North and Central America are 26 species in this genus The differences you can see on the underside. It has a yellow border. The elytra of the females usually have grooves, the elytra of the males are smooth. The larvae and beetle are predators. The length of this beetle I guess about 3 cm. A large beetle. Photos: 11-9-2012.

..   Rhantus suturalis. Family predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae). It looks dark brown, but as can be seen on this photo, the elytra are golden yellow with a dense black punctuation. A pale yellow coloured edge and a diamond-shaped spot on the neck shield. The underside is black. Length 10.5-12.5 mm. Photos: 25-6-2019.

Helophoridae - Hydrophilidae.
From 2 to 9 mm. Many similar species. Holarctisch.

.. . . .   Helophorus Helophorus grandis or Helophorus aequalis Family Helophoridae.  Helophorus ís the only genus in the beetle family Helophoridae (traditionally included within Hydrophilidae as the subfamily Helophorinae).This beetle (6 mm) I saw in the pond on a leaf. I recognized it as Helophorus. But I had to askspecies.  Ton van Haaren.: Helophorus grandis or Helophorus aequalis. They are very similar. Thanks Ton.   It lives in water, it is therefore not as well adapted in terms of body shape such as the Dytiscidae. The body is elongated, but is interrupted between pronotum and elytra. The pronotum has irregular, longitudinal grooves.  You'll find them near the water plants. They can fly. After the photo left, this beetle flew away.  Photos: 9-11-2011.

Hydraenidae. 
 A family of small aquatic beetles with clubbed antennae. They do not swim well and are generally found in marginal vegetation.

.. . .   Cercyon spec. Subfamily Sphaeridiinae. Family Hydraenidae.  Maybe Cercyon analysts, but that is not certain. I found it on the compost heap. Less than 3 mm. In Europe there are known 23 species. They are all very small. They live in manure, compost and  in marginal vegetation. Photos: 14-4-2013.

Not in the water:

Darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae).
In some websites, books you see, that the Tenebrionidae family is subdivided into subfamilies as Lagriinae (for example Lagria) and Alleculinae (for example Cteniopus sulphureus). Others create separate families: Lagriidae and Alleculidae. It's very confusing.

.. .   Lagria hirta or Lagria atripes. Two very similar species. Subfamily Lagriinae. Family Darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae). At some sites you can find the family Lagriidae instead of Tenebrionidae. Y on this site .  They have a soft body and are rather sluggish. But they can fly. The brown wing cases are very hairy. The head and torax is black. They eat among other things nectar and pollen. The larva feed on decaying matter in leaf-litter and turf. Length: 7-10mm. Flying time: May – August. Lagria atripes is earlier than Lagria hirta. Photos 2-7-2011 German: Wollkäfer.

.. . Nalassus laevioctostriatus. Subfamily Tenebrioninae. Family Darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae). .Not in the garden, but in small a dune lake about 4 miles from our house.   It is a shiny brown to black-brown beetle, which resembles a ground beetle. The beetle can be found under the loose bark of oak, but also of other trees. This beetle I had, for instance was found in a pine tree. The larvae are found in the ground with rotting wood. The beetle feeds on green algae.  Length Europe. Photos: 4-5-2015.

..   Melanimon tibiale, Melanimon tibialis. Subfamily Tenebrioninae. Family Darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae). .Not in the garden, but in small a dune lake about 4 miles from our house. The beetles are dull black with two raised lines on the elytra. It is mostly on sandy soil for.  Length: 3-4 mm. Photos: 21-4-2013.

..   Sulphur Beetle (Cteniopus sulphureus). Subfamily Alleculinae. About 1 km from our house.  The elytra are pale yellow. Thorax, head and legs are orange-yellow.  In sandy areas. Netherlands they come along the coast. Often on flowers. Here on the ordinary hogweed. The larvae feed on decaying wood, decaying plants.  Length: 7-8 mm.  Europe. Photos: 11-7-2014.

Soldier beetles (Cantharidae) 
In the Netherlands are 50 species of the soldier beetle. Another name is leatherwing. They are soft-bodied, straight sided beetles. Named soldier because the colour of these beetles is similar to a 19^th century army uniform.
They hunt  for small insects, eat nectar and pollen on the top of flowers.

..   Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva). Family Soldier beetles (Cantharidae). In July I  find the common red soldier beetles (rhagonycha fulva) everywhere in the garden. Especially on the flowers of the parsley and celery. This beetle is very common in Europe. The body is red yellowish. The last bit of the elytra is black. 7-11 mm. Large photo: 11-7-2011.

.. .   Cantharis decipiens. Family Soldier beetles (Cantharidae) This is a small leatherwing / soldierbeetle. 7-9 mm.   Especially on umbellifers, in the early summer. The larvae developing among grass and low herbage. Photos 16-5-2011.

.. . .   Soldier beetle (Cantharis). Maybe Cantharis livida. Family Soldier beetles (Cantharidae). There are some very similar soldier beetles. Small photos 22-5-2011. German: Weichkäfer.

.. .   Cantharis obscura or Cantharis paradoxa Family Soldier beetles (Cantharidae). Photo 16-5-2011.

..   Cantharis nigricans. Family Soldier beetles (Cantharidae). There are again some species, which are very much similar. The pronotum is variable in color. The black spot may be small or even absent. The elytra are gray. The thighs of the hind legs have a black band (to about 1/4-1/3 of the thigh). Arp Kruithof thanks for the help! Photos 27-5-2013.

.. Malthinus spec  Family Soldier beetles (Cantharidae).  Photos 2-7-2016.

Carrion or burying beetles (Silphidae).  

.. .   Common Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides). Subfamily Nicrophorinae. Family Carrion or burying beetles (Silphidae). A black beetle with on the elytra two broad orange bands with wavy edges. It looks like the Nicrophorus vespillo, but the tip of the antennae of this beetle is orange instead of black.  The eggs are laid in bait.  Size 12-18 mm.  Europe, Asia. On burying beetles and scarabs you often see mites. They lift on the beetles to other places. Sometimes the beetles are completely covered with mites. Photos 21-4-2014.  Photo on the leaf is taken in the dunes 18-6-2013.  German: Schwarzhörnige- Schwarzfühlerige Totengräber.

..   Oiceoptoma thoracicum. Subfamily Nicrophorinae. Family Carrion or burying beetles (Silphidae). Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 miles from our house. A broad flat beetle with an upturned edge all the way around. It has a striking orange head and neck shield. The elytra are dark gray. Oiceoptoma thoracica lives mainly on dung, carrion and rotting vegetation.  The larvae develop in there too. Length 11-16 mm. Palearctic. Photos 31-3-2014. German: Rothalsige Silphe.

Phosphuga atrata. Subfamily Silphinae. Family Carrion or burying beetles (Silphidae).  Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 miles from our house. A flat oval black or brown brown beetle.  Both larvae and adult beetles are predators and feed on snails. Length 10-15  mm. Europe. Asia. Photo 31-3

Xylodrepa quadrimaculata. Subfamily Silphinae. Family Carrion or burying beetles (Silphidae). Not in the garden, but in the dunes about 4 miles from our house. A flat oval yellow brown beetle. On the elytra two black spots in the middle and black spots on the pronotum. Scutellum head and the center of the pronotum is black.  It is a predator and hunting caterpillars, larvae of sawflies and aphids.  The larvae live in the soil and lfeed on insect larvae and carrion. April-June. Length 12-14  mm. Europe. Photo 5-5-2014. German: Vierpunktige Aaskäfer, Vierpunktige Raupenjäger.

Scarabs, scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae)

.. . .   Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticola). Family scarabs, scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). 19 May a number of this species flew in the garden. It was difficult to take photos because they were continuously in movement. This I had written some years ago. I still see them every year in May in our garden. It is a smaller relative of the Cockchafer or May Bug. It appears on sandy soils. Garden chafers have chestnut brown wing casings which are covered in tiny hairs. They have fan-like antennae, like all chafers. The wing cases are chestnut brown and are covered in tiny hairs.   After the females have deposited 70% of the eggs, they start a short feeding period on trees and shrubs and cause damage to fruit trees. The rest of the eggs are laid on another place. Eggs have a developing time of four weeks. The larvae feed on the roods of the grass and can cause much damage. They pupate in October and hibernate as a pupa in the soil. Size: Approximately 10mm long.   Flying time: May-July. German: Gartenlaubkäfer.  French: Hanneton des jardins, Hanneton horticole.

.. .   Onthophagus coenobita.  Genus dung beetles (Onthophagus) Familiy Scarabs, scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). Looks much like a Onthophagus similis. This dung beetle I found in April on the windowstill. There is nowhere dung. So I was surprised to find it..  Two days later, I found at the same place a second dung beetle. The photo is a little better. They are also on dog dung. A male because of the large horn and 2 smaller beside on the head.   Photos 23-4-2008 and 27-4-2008.

Aphodius spec. Genus Aphodius. Family Scarabs, scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). This dung beetle (family Aphodius) is a small beetle. There are a number of species, which are similar. There are small differences such as the pattern on the elytra. Photo 27-3-2011.

..   Serica brunna. Family Scarabs, scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). A brown beetle with a black head. They are are active in the evening and at night. By day they hide under stones and moss. I found this bug when I took away some weeds from the garden. The larvae (grubs) live two years before they pupate. They feed on plant roots (grasses, lilacs). In some articles is written, they are harmful to lilacs. But in my garden I notice nothing. Size 8-10 mm. Photo 27-7-2011.

..   Dune chafer (Anomala dubia). Family Scarabs, scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). In the dunes about 4 km from our house.. Very variable in colour. Head and pronotum are usually metallic green. The elytra can be brown, but also metallic green. If they have brown elytra, they resemble the garden chafer, but they are less hairy and larger.  They are common on sandy soil. The larva or grub feeds on the roots of grasses. The beetle eats mainly from the leaves of the willow.  June-July. Length 12-15 mm.  Photos 25-6-2014.

Click beetles (Elateridae)
In the Netherlands there are about 70 species. They can flip themselves 30 cm in the air, when they are in danger. Sometimes they land on their back. But that’s not a problem. They will flip again. A pointed projection suddenly snaps, when the beetle arches its body. This causes a clicking noise. Which species they are, is difficult to say. 
The beetle eats vegetable food like nectar, pollen, thumbs and flowers
The larvae are called wireworms. They feed on the roots of plants, and they often cause much damage. This site gives you an idea of the different species: click beetles German site. 
German: Schnellkäfer  French: élateridés

..   Agrypnus murina. Family Click beetles (Elateridae).  The body is gray-brown with light spots. Length 10-17 mm.  Photos 11-5-2018.

..   Ampedus spec. Family Click beetles (Elateridae).  There are a number of very similar species.  I've never seen these beetles in the garden. In April I saw some Ampedus click beetles in the dunes not far from my house. Photos 24-4-2010.

.. .   Athous haemorrhoidalis Family Click beetles (Elateridae).   Length: 10-14 mm. Photos:  23-5-2009.  End April tot begin July.

.. . .   Cidnopus aeruginosus Family Click beetles (Elateridae). Distinguished by the hairs on the pronotum, which grow forward. See detail photo. Photos 23-4-2011.

..   Dalopius marginatus. Family Click beetles (Elateridae).  Brown with a striking dark stripe in the middle of the elytra. Length 6-8 mm. Looks like a Adrastus- and a small Agriotes-species. Photos 23-4-2018.

..   Hemicrepidius cf niger. Family Click beetles (Elateridae). cf: probably. Length: 10-14,5 mm. It is very similar to Hemicrepidius Hirtus. Photo 2-7-2012 right: The brown form.

.. . Melanotus. Family Click beetles (Elateridae).  Maybe Melanotus villosus. It has claws with teeth and a length of 13-19 mm. The teeth are not visible in these photos. So I do not know. The cutter on the photo is approximately 19 mm. Here the differences between the different species are described. Photo 25-6-2019.

Larva of a click beetle. Also called wireworm. In the dunes about 4 km from our house. Probably a larva of a Agrypnus murina. Determining the wireworms isn't easy. The shape of the rear end is slightly different in shape for the larvae of the species. Wireworms live on plant roots and therefore they can be harmful. However, the larvae of the Agrypnus murina also live on other insects and larvae.

Jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae).  
Most of the family jewel beetles have a beautiful metallic colour. There are more than 15,000 species in the world. The shape is very recognizable. (oblong, narrower rear end) Most jewel beetles live in the tropics.
The larvae look a bit like a tadpole and they live under the bark. They can cause much damage.

.. . .   Agrilus, probably agrilus cyanescens.  Family jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae).   This is an Agrilus. There are more identical species. In the book "De Nederlandse prachtkevers - The Dutch jewel beetles" by Oscar Frost is written, that in out area only live Agrilus angustulus [dark brown] and Agrilus cyanescens [blue]. Then this jewel beetle must be Agrilus cyanescens. The larva of this species lives in honeysuckle. (thanks for the Information Toon) Length 4 to 7 mm. Photo 9-4-2009.   A couple Photo 30-6-2010.  German: Prachtkäfer  French: Agriles.

.. .   Hawthorn jewel beetle (Agrilus sinuatus). Family jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae).    A copper-coloured beetle. The larvae make holes under the bark of pear trees. The holes are recognized by the zigzag pattern. They hinder sap flow under the bark. and branches or the tree may die. Other host plants are hawthorn and rowan. So they can be very harmful. Too bad because it's such a beautiful beetle. The beetles aren't seen much. Probably because they live short.  Length about 9 mm. Photos 14-6-2014. 1-3-2015. A hole in the pear tree which probably is of  a Hawthorn jewel beetle (Agrilus sinuatus).

Pill beetles (Byrrhidae). 
If these beetles retract their head and legs, they resemble a pill. (or a seed). See the small picture. They feed on mosses. Small to medium 1 - 10 mm.

..   Cytilus sericeus synonym Cytilus auricomus. Family Pill beetles (Byrrhidae).  In the dunes about 4 miles from our house.A round oval beetle. On the elytra you see brown, metallic green and bronze-like colors. The beetle in the picture is quite dark.  In humid areas with moss. Length 4,5-5,5 mm. Photos 19-5-2014.

Checkered beetles (Cleridae).

.. . .   Ant beetle, European Red-bellied Clerid (Thanasimus formicarius). Family Checkered beetles (Cleridae). I see them in the dunes, but this ant beetle was in the kitchen near the window. After a few photos I released it. Elytra black with white bands. The front part of the elytra and the pronotum is red. The head, antennae and legs are black. It looks a lot like a big ant. Both larvae and beetles are predators. They prey on bark beetles and other insects living on the bark of trees. They live in coniferous forests. Length 7-10 mm. Europe, Asia, North Africa. Photos 8-4-2015. German: Ameisenbuntkäfer, Ameisenbuntkäfer.

..   Tillus elongatus. Family Checkered beetles (Cleridae).  It was trapped in the greenhouse and fled unfortunately before I had made a good photograph. You do not see them often because they live hidden (often dead wood). It is a slender cylindrical beetle. Males are totally black. The females have a red pronotum and blue black elytera. Both larvae and beetles are predators. They feed on larvae of insects like woodworms (Anobiidae) that live on / in the bark of trees. They live in deciduous and mixed forests. Length 7-10 mm. Europe. Photos 4-7-2015. German: Buchen-Buntkäfer, Holzbuntkäfer, Laubholz-Buntkäfer.

Fire-coloured beetles (Pyrochroidae).

.. .   Cardinal beetle ( Pyrochroa serraticornis). Family Fire-coloured beetles (Pyrochroidae). The head and shield of the bright red beetle is red. The abdomen, legs and antennae are black. It looks like the Pyrochroa coccinea, but this beetle has a black head.  The larvae live under the bark of deciduous trees and feed on larvae of other insects. The adult beetle is also a predator. Length 10-14 mm. May-Juli. Europae. Photos 24-4-2014. German: Rotköpfige Feuerkäfe. French: Cardinal rouge.

Wedge-shaped beetles (Rhipiphoridae).

Wasp nest beetle  (Metoecus paradoxus). Family Wedge-shaped beetles (Rhipiphoridae). Looks like a gnat or wasp. With narrow pointed elytra that do not completely cover the wings and orange abdomen. It has feathered antennae. The female lays her eggs on rotting wood. When a wasp uses that wood for its nest, the beetle larva lifts to the nest, where it parasitizes. Length about 10 mm. July-October. Europe. Photos 7-18-2020.

I want to thank everyone, who has helped me (waarneming.nl) to identify. In particular, Jan Cuppen, Theodoor Heijerman and Toon Keukelaar.

 Nederlands / Dutch                                             

Subpage beetles:    Ground beetles (Carabidae)      Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)      Snout beetles, weevils      Longhorn beetles, similar to longhorn beetles      Ladybirds, Ladybugs, Coccinellidae      Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)      Small  beetles             

Subpage France:    Insects France