The Hogweed Bonking Beetle

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 The topic of today's blog is the gloriously named Hogweed bonking Beetle (no I have no idea how it got this name!). It does have other names such as the 'Common Red Soldier Beetle ' (British soldiers used to wear red uniforms) and the "Bloodsucking Beetle" (it doesn't but it is blood coloured ; but frankly why use any other title if you can be a "Hogweed Bonking Beetle"?




I caught this image on this morning's dog walk. The adults are about in July and August and eat aphids and also pollen and nectar. The larvae live at the bottom of leaf stalks and eat invertebrates such as slugs and snails.
                                                                                        Diary
Red squirrels, a family of rooks, a hedgehog and a rat on my overnight cameras. My radio keeps telling me what a nice sunny day it is but a usual this applies in the South and it is a dull and grey start to the day here.


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