Bug ID Please

[manded]

Whilst getting rid of those foreign ladybirds that keep appearing in my windows I found a couple of these little insects - any idea what they are please?

[Dogghound]

I would suggest Megatoma undata although the photo isnt ideal. These beetles require fine details looking at. Can you get a sharper image?

[Dogghound]

Having taken a closer look im now confident this is Megatoma spp. However the fact that it is has brown on it wipes out M.undata. These are not ladybirds, have you got anything thats been imported lately such as plants or wood? How many have you got?

[Jason Green]

Evening Mended, and welcome to WAB!

I think that's a good ID Dan. Yes, I see what you mean about the brown - but if you look at the image furthest down ths page, http://www.thewcg.org.uk/Dermestidae/0541.htm, you'll see a brown hint too. It may be just the exposure brnging it out so clearly in my opinion.

I'll await any findings of your with interest.

Tae care,

Jason

[manded]

I will try and get a better picture but these bugs are only about 3 to 4 mm long. But I can clarify the colour. It is definitely not brown anywhere, that is probably the exposure. It is a dull black and the stripes are white. After looking at a few pictures of Megatoma undata it looks very similar - anything to worry about?

[Dogghound]

No nothing to worry about with these. If is black no need to get another photo as no other Megatoma is black with these markings. Since it is a native species makes perfect sense to call this Megatoma undata .

[Jason Green]

RE the foreign ladybirds... just as a note of caution we do get Two-spot and Ten-spot variants - both native, in fact the former not having done as well last year - that look very much like the Harlequin, though the 2sp is visibly smaller in comparison. I'm sure you're just transfering these elsewhere, but it's worth bearing in mind!