Two colourful beetles

Bruce Williams · #1 (**permalink**) 21-09-2008, 10:06 PM

Well colourful compared to a black beetle that is

.

I took this first beetle pic at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve, Bucks. It was on a fence near a large pond. Quite small ~6-7mm.

This beetle was on a fence near the car park of Stockgrove Country Park, Beds. Size smallish at ~8-9mm.

Size estimates may be a bit out

.

Help with identification appreciated.

Bruce

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 04:38 AM

Bottom photo looks like an Oulema sp.

oxycera · #3 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 06:31 AM

First one could be a Cryptocephalus

Bruce Williams · #4 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 10:15 AM

Thanks for your help Aeshna5 and John.

Oulema sp. looks to me to be just about spot on. It would appear that this is one of those times when precise species identification can only be achieved with dissection.

Cryptocephalus pygmaeus is visually the closest I have been able to find by Googling and the web-pics I've found so far are indeed very similar to a dorsal view pic that I took of this same beetle.

My size estimates were (as I half suspected in my original post) far too generous - Oulema sp. would size closer to 5mm and C. pygmaeus 3mm.

Bruce