This is how you recognize the animals
the Fire beetle or cardinals represent a family that includes about 140 species. Three family representatives are native to Germany, whereby Pyrochroa coccinea can be observed frequently. This beetle is characterized by an elongated and flat body. It reaches a length of approx. two inches and glows in scarlet hues. The head is completely black in color. The antennae, which are sawed in females and combed in males, are noticeable.
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Possible confusion
- Lily Chicken: has no fanned antennas
- Red-headed fire beetle: shows a distinct red color on the head
- Fire bug: with clearly 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 hatch 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 distribution area extends in the north to central Sweden, central Finland and southern Norway. Because of the food they eat, they prefer wooded areas with a proportion of dead wood. Their main flight time is between May and June. The animals are less common in gardens if the property is near the forest.
Useful beetles
While adult specimens feed on sweet liquids such as honeydew and tree sap, their larvae prove to be real beneficial insects. They live in dead wood and under tree bark. There, the predators not only eat fungus, 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 to potential predators that they are inedible or poisonous. Pyrochroa coccinea also tries to protect itself with its red color by misleading predators. It is completely harmless to humans. The beetle is unable to pierce the skin with its mouthparts. There is also no evidence of toxic effects on human health.
Are control measures necessary?
The adult cardinals do no harm to useful or ornamental plants. They stay where aphids live and plant saps leak from open wounds on the tree. In order to get to their food, they do not destroy any plant tissue. Combating them does not therefore make sense. The larvae do not cause any damage either, as they do not decompose the wood. Because of their predilection for insect larvae, they can be considered beneficial insects.
