The 6 most common types in Germany

the essentials in brief

• Common red beetles in Germany are: lily chickens, fire beetles, ladybirds, red topped beetles, Fire bug and nasturtiums.
• Red mini beetles in the garden are not pests, but mostly beneficial insects or, in the worst case, pests.
• The only exceptions are bright red lily chickens, which eat flowers and leaves. Natural remedies are shaking off, showering off, soapy water, Algae lime or Rock flour.(€ 12.33 at Amazon *)

Recognize red beetles - appearance, characteristics, location.

In the near-natural garden, prudence reigns when many small red beetles appear on the scene. In consideration of the great dying of insects, responsible hobby gardeners find out which species of beetle pays the plants a visit. Gone are the days of widespread plagues that destroyed crops and devastated entire regions. Even the formerly feared Cockchafer and Colorado beetles have lost their horror. In the meantime, pests that trigger comprehensive control measures are few and far between. In fact, the vast majority of German beetles are on the move as beneficial, in the worst case as a nuisance. Unfortunately, the Red List of Endangered Insects is getting longer every year.

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

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

Lily Chicken (Lilioceris lilii)

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

Lacquer red wings, black legs and antennae reveal the presence of Lily Chicken in the bed. Informed hobby gardeners do not fall for the decorative deception maneuver. Indeed, with their fatal food preferences, the little red beetles can wreak havoc in the garden. In particular, the nasty larvae in the brown poop are voracious pests. In the garden, on the balcony and terrace, lily beetles have these plants in their sights:

• Lilies all kinds
• Imperial crowns
• lily of the valley
• Daffodils
• Checkerboard flowers
• chives

Fire beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea)

The wing covers and pronotum are fiery red. Pitch black wings, antennae, head and legs create remarkable contrasts. The long feelers are striking eyewhich are sawn in females and combed in males. To spot a red beetle with these attributes, look out for:

• On blossoms
• On plants with aphid colonies
• On deciduous trees
• In flower hedges and mixed hedges

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

Seven-spotted ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

The seven-point ladybird is native to us, but is gradually being displaced 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 adorned with three black dots. The eponymous seventh point is located in the middle on the front edge and extends over both wings. Two white corners can be admired on the black pronotum. From April to October the flying charm can be found here:

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

In contrast to the native seven point, the immigrated Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) likes to brag about glossy black wings that adorn several red points. The beneficial insect lives up to its second name, the harlequin ladybird, with a variety of colors, such as pale yellow wings with black dots, dark red wings with black spots or monochrome wings Without Pattern.

Red-topped beetle (Platycis minutus)

The little red beetle looks slightly similar to the lily chicken, but is much smaller and less luminous

Representing seven picturesque species of red-capped beetle in Germany, the small red-capped beetle should be mentioned at this point. The mini beetle shines with bright red, grooved wing covers and has a black pronotum. In relation to its height, the tiny man shows off epic long, black antennae. The best chances of encountering the natural gem exist 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 dead wood with fungus

The red-cap beetle owes its status as a beneficial insect to the insatiable larvae that feed on 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 a curved bottom characterize the oval body contour. There are short antennae on the thick, black head. The favorite food is the juices of plant seeds that have fallen to the ground. Fire bugs like to hang out at the feet of these plants:

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

Fire bugs have a sociable lifestyle. The pretty insects like to gather in droves to enjoy an extensive sunbath on stones. Concerned hobby gardeners fear that a pest will hit the garden. In fact, the fire bug is completely harmless. Why the fire bug is wrongly demonized as a pest in the garden is illustrated by the following video with impressive pictures:

Nasturtium beetle (bostrichus capucinus)

The nasturtium owes its name to brick-red wing covers and a black, rasped pronotum that covers the black head like a hood. Adult beetles and larvae feed on dead wood, the cellulose of which they turn into valuable humus transform. Typical locations for the beneficial insects are:

• light forests
• Vineyards
• Orchards

Shrinking habitats and pesticides have put the beautiful nasturtium beetle in distress, so that the Red List classifies its status in Germany as endangered.

Digression

Red beetles in the house - what to do?

Red beetles eat lilies - what to do?

Lily chickens eat holes in lilies and other plants

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

• Shake off: Spread out the foil, shake off cold-stiff lily chickens in the early morning
• Shower off: spray infected plants from above and below with a powerful jet of water
• Soapy solution: Dissolve 15 ml curd soap, 15 ml alcohol in water, spray on every 3-4 days (top and bottom of the leaves)
• Powder: Algae lime or Rock flour Apply to leaves and shoots with the tip of a powder

The stubborn, orange-brown egg packets of busy female lily beetles sometimes resist biological control agents. Please examine the underside of the leaves regularly. Eggs that have been laid can be wiped off with kitchen paper. Alternatively, tear off the affected leaves with a brave jerk.

frequently asked Questions

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

Pitting corrosion is a typical pattern of damage in lily broiler infestations. In the early stages, you can effectively control the pests with repeated water showers. Spray off the infected plants vigorously. Hold that Water hose so that you can reach the underside of the leaves as well. Then treat the plants with a mixture of 1 tablespoon each of liquid curd soap and alcohol, dissolved in 1 liter of water.

Small red beetles with black patterns sit on hibiscus and mallow. Are these pests?

According to their description, they are fire bugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), also known as fire beetles. The bright red insects with the striking, black pattern have the seeds of hibiscus, Hollyhocks and other mallow plants to eat. With their tiny proboscis, fire bugs drill 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, it is not a question of pests that need to be combated.

Tips

Gardeners who are close to nature warmly welcome tiny beetles in red velvet robes to the garden. The velvet mite (Trombidium holosericeum) has arrived. The 2-4 mm small, velvety red insect hurries around on 8 legs, always on the hunt for tasty eggs and juicy larvae. Unfortunately, the velvet mite gets their resemblance to the Red spider fatal, which is fought vehemently as a pest on apple trees, strawberries and other fruit plants.