Small brown beetles

IanP · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2011, 09:28 PM

If this is a duplicate post - sorry. The below photo was submitted for plant ID purposes and it was suggested that I also post here, in view of the visitors on the flower head.

In case it matters, the flower has been identified as Creeping Buttercup and the location was the lake margin undergrowth, Clumber.

Matt Smith · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2011, 10:39 PM

Look like the Rasberry Beetle Byturus tormentosus.

IanP · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 07:44 AM

Hi, thanks. That's the one, and t appears it's a bit of a pest:

Raspberry beetle | Grow & eat | Gardening Blog | Talk | BBC Gardeners' World

Klaas Reißmann · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 03:12 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Byturus tormentosus

but only if there is no Byturus ochraceus in the UK. I think they both occur in the UK and by this they can't be sepparated at this photo.

Regards
Klaas

IanP · #5 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 07:42 PM

Are you sure, Klaas?

I've looked at photos of both, besides the one I took. The one you introduced appears to have a more pointed abdomen than the one suggested first, but they do seem to be a bit more shiny, like the one you think it could be (but that's definitely a non-expert opinion).

Klaas Reißmann · #6 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 08:33 PM

Hi Ian,

in my mind the photo is by far to blurred to see anything you need to see. And I'm always going for the eyes, because this attribute can be seen best on photos.

This one over here gives no chance to seperate the one species from the other. As I told. We can only say Byturus spec.

Regards
Klaas

IanP · #7 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 07:54 AM

Thank you; I bow to your expertise. If I ever see anything like this again, I'll try to get a more comprehensive picture of what I'm looking at (bearing in mind on this occasion I was "snapping" the plant, not the insects). In the meantime, I'll read up on the macro facility on my camera!

Klaas Reißmann · #8 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 12:37 PM

Hi Ian,

Quote:

I bow to your expertise.

there is no need to do it. If you would spend most of your sparetime in beetles since the last 20 years and if you would have spend most of your time in insects from your 12th birthday you would have the same expertise if not more.

I have a few young men/boys I take with me when ever I can. and those young men/boys show me that I could have learned much faster.

But thank you for those flowers (I don't know how to say it and just tranlated it from German into English).

Regards
Klaas

JRsbugs · #9 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 01:34 PM

I took pics of a similar beetle on Wood Avens, Geum urbanum. Mine has a dark band behind the eyes so that probably makes it Byturus ochraceus?

I took mine on 9th May, do the two species appear at different times? I also have a few raspberries which are in flower now. I have Boysenberry too which the Raspberry beetle attacks.

Janet

Klaas Reißmann · #10 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 03:49 PM

Hi Janet,

both species are very similar and a bit variable in coloure, so this band would not help to identify. Always take a good look at the eyes. The eyes of B. tomentosus are small and the distance between them is big. The eyes of B. ochraceus are huge according to those of B. tomentosus and the distance between them is smaller.

Have a look at the kerbtier pages Käfer (Coleoptera) der deutschen Käferfauna - kerbtier.de and use the ikon "Search" and within this icon use the icon "compare photos". In this you can open the picture of both species and compare those with another and can see the difference in the eyes very well.

Regards
Klaas