the essentials in brief
- Domestic beetles in red-black (mostly red) are: Fire bug (patterned), strip bug and bee beetle (red-black-striped), lily-chick (red-black pest) and seven-point ladybug (spotted).
- Red and black beetles in the garden (mostly black) are: Grain beetles (red pronotum), Vierfleck jugglers (spotted), harlequin ladybirds (red dotted), warthog beetles and kahn beetles (red spotted).
Recognize red and black beetles - 5 species predominantly red.
Domestic beetles make it easy for the hobby gardener to determine if the red color dominates the appearance. The following table names 5 common red and black beetles that are widespread in Germany:
also read
- Green beetle - How to determine the type of beetle
- Identifying small black beetles - tips for indoors and outdoors
- Identifying Red Beetles - Are They Harmful, Annoying, or Useful?
| Mostly red | Fire bug | Strip bug | Lily Chicken | Seven-point ladybug | Bee beetle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| size | 6-12 mm | 8-12 mm | 6-9 mm | 5-8 mm | 9-16 mm |
| hue | bright red-orange | deep red | sealing wax red | light to deep red | bright red |
| body shape | flat-oval | rounded, flat | oblong-slender | spherically arched | elongated |
| Color legs | black | black | black | black | black |
| Special feature | black patterned | striped | long black antennae | black dots | blue-black horizontal stripes |
| Botanical name | Pyrrhocoris apterus | Graphosoma lineatum | Lilioceris lilii | Coccinella septempunctata | Trichodes apiarius |
| Middle name | Fire beetle | none | Lily beetle | Seven point | Queen beetle |
| family | Fire bugs | Stink bugs | Leaf beetle | Ladybug | Colored beetles |
The following short portraits provide more detailed explanations for a well-founded beetle identification.
Fire bug (pyrrhocoris apterus)
Fire bugs are harmless and hardly cause any damage
The fire bug would actually rather be a beetle. Six black legs carry the flat, oval body with an unmistakable red and black pattern. The trapezoid pronotum is bright red with a rectangular, black spot in the middle. Fiery red elytra, decorated with round and square spots, are striking. On the abdomen, a leaf-shaped, curved, red side edge can be seen, which is colored black in the middle. The underside, head and antennae are black.
- When to find: April to August / September
- Where to find: under a tree, preferably linden, on mallow plants such as hibiscus
Strip bugs (Graphosoma lineatum)
If a beetle has red and black stripes, it is actually a bug with a peaceful disposition. The strip bug (Graphosoma lineatum) wants to scare off its enemies, who hunt down the harmless plant suckers in Germany and Austria with its distinctive striped robe. Strip bugs prefer to suckle on ripening seeds and not touch other parts of the plant. Anyone who can take a look at the underside of the beetle-like bug can admire black dots on a red background at this point.
- When to find: April to October
- Where to find: in the garden, preferably on umbelliferous plants, such as Männertreu, Angelica, Ground elder, dill or fennel
Lilies (Lilioceris lilii)
The lily chicken is a serious pest, and not only Lilies clogs
The pronotum and the red, rounded wings of a lily-of-a-kind chickens sparkle like freshly painted. Pitch black legs, antennae, head and underside contrast impressively. The strikingly long, black antennas are made up of eleven segments.
- When to find: Late March / early April to September
- Where to find: on lily, Imperial Crown, Checkerboard flower, lily of the valley, Chives
Seven-spotted ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
Representing the colorful variety of native ladybird species is the German's favorite red and black beetle, the seven-point. The flying luck symbol can be recognized by a spherical, strongly curved body. There are three black dots on each of the bright red wings. The seventh point is flanked by two white triangular marks. The black pronotum adorns two white corners in front. Two white dots flash on the inside of its black compound eyes.
- When to find: April to October
- Where to find: in the garden always around aphids
The following video invites you to take a stroll through the life of the most popular red and black beetle in Germany, the wonderful seven-point ladybug.
Youtube
Bee beetle (Trichodes apiarius)
From the beetle family, the bee beetle has opted for a red and black look, spiced up with blue-green, shiny metallic applications. Blue-black transverse bands glisten on the bright red elytra. Pronotum, head and legs sparkle blue or green metallic.
- When to find: May to July
- Where to find it: in the garden, on the sunny edge of the forest, on light hedge borders, in meadows
Digression
Which red and black beetle eats flowers?
Identify red-black beetles - 5 species predominantly black.
Various domestic beetles prefer a more subtle appearance and in addition their predominantly black color with red dots, spots and other decorations. The following 5 species are common in Germany:
| Mostly black | Red-necked corn beetle | Vierfleck juggler | Harlequin ladybug | Wart beetle | Boat beetle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| size | 4-5 mm | 8-11 mm | 4-8 mm | 3-4 mm | 4.5-6 mm |
| hue | metallic-black-red | matt black, dark red | glossy-black-red | green-black-red | metallic-black-red |
| body shape | cylindrical | oval | spherical-arched | oblong-slender | boat-shaped |
| Color legs | Red orange | black | black | yellow-brown | black |
| Special feature | red-orange pronotum | red crescent spots | red dotted | spotted red | red cross stains |
| Botanical name | Oulema melanopus | Hister quadrimaculatus | Harmonia axyridis | Anthocomus equestris | Scaphidium quadrimaculatum |
| Middle name | Grass chicken | Juggler | Asian ladybug | Two-spotted warthog beetle | Four-spotted boat beetle |
| family | Leaf beetle | Beetle | Ladybug | Ear beetle | Short winged |
Did you get the properties mentioned on the right track to identify the red and black beetle? Then read on, because the following short portraits provide further details:
Red-necked beetle (Oulema melanopus)
The red-necked corn beetle is a corn pest
The red necked corn beetle is given its name by a red pronotum and black and blue wings. In keeping with this, the domestic insect walks through the beetle's life on red-orange legs. The pronotum is finely dotted, the wings have a coarser dot pattern.
- When to find: March to October
- Where to find: in meadows, forests, grain fields, in the garden on sweet grasses
Vierfleck juggler (Hister quadrimaculatus)
The name is program. A four-spot juggler can be easily identified by a pair of red spots on each of the black elytronics. The red blemishes have the shape of a crescent moon and are connected to each other. Delicate stripes of dots extend over the patterned wing covers.
- When to find: April to August
- Where to find: in warm garden corners, often near pastures with horses, cows and sheep
Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
The harlequin ladybug is native to Asia
In the early 2000s, the Asian ladybird was imported to Germany to control aphids. Since then, the new resident has settled in so well that it is considered a native species of beetle. Its shiny black, high arched wings are mostly red or orange dotted. However, the ladybug loves variety, which is what its name Harlequin refers to.
- When to find: April to October
- Where to find: wherever there are aphids
Wart beetle (Anthocomus equestris)
The two-spotted warthog demonstrates with flying colors how to put yourself in the limelight as a warthog. The slim, black body is adorned with red elytra with a black spot in the center and a black transverse band on the rear half. The rest of the abdomen is again red.
- When to find: April to June
- Where to find: in the garden, in the compost, in Potting soil, sometimes in the house
Barn beetle (Scaphidium quadrimaculatum)
The barn beetle has a matt, shiny black and red shell
If you meet a red-black beetle with a boat-shaped body, you have a boat beetle in front of your eyes. Four red spots on the shiny black armor clear away any last doubts about the identity.
- When to find: all year round
- Where to find: on the tree, more often in the forest, less often in the garden
Tips
The red and black soft beetle (Cantharis pellucida), which is indigenous and widespread in Germany, celebrates haute couture in beetle style. The forehead and pronotum are red, the forelegs and thighs are reddish-yellow, as is the first antennae. The wing covers, the back of the head, the tarsi of the middle legs and the hind legs are matt black. The beetle distributes this picturesque play of red and black colors over a tiny 10 to 13 mm body length.
frequently asked Questions
Can fire bugs fly?
No, fire bugs cannot fly. The vast majority of at least 95 percent of the population in Germany only has greatly shortened wings, which do not allow the insect to soar into the air. The wings of around 5 percent of domestic fire bugs are normal. Nevertheless, the red and black natural beauties do not think about flying through the garden.
Is the red and black striped bug a pest?
No, the red and black strip bug (Graphosoma lineatum) is not a pest. The native species of bugs in the striped dress feeds primarily on the juice of ripe seeds. Leaves, flowers or buds are not on the menu of the peaceful plant teat or only in exceptional cases.
Red and black spotted bugs fly around the house and sit on the window pane? What kind is it?
According to her description, it could be the head beetle (Anthocomus equestris). The 4 mm small beetles are red with black spots on the wing covers. The beetles probably got into the house as stowaways in potting soil. Please release the harmless insects into the wild by opening the windows for a short time.
Tips
The red and black insect looks like a hairy ant, but it is a beetle. Foresters have taken the spotted beetle (Thanasimus formicarius) in their hearts because it hunts voracious ones Bark beetle. The body and pronotum are red. The black wing-coverts are decorated with two white, elegantly wavy transverse bands. The picturesque appearance is rounded off by black legs, red shoulders and reddish tarsi.
