Red /Orange-red Beetle for ID please.

[smokeyjofencing]

Hi,

I have a red beetle in my garden on my dock leaves.

Can anyone tell me what it is?

I knw it isn't a lily beetle as I aslo have one of these and it looks completely different.

Jo,

[Johnny81]

Looks like a weevil too me, maybe Apion frumentarium (book reference, I am no expert on these)

[smokeyjofencing]

hi John,

I have had a look on the web for this name and it certainly looks like them.

Thank you for such a quick response, I have found another thread on these and will add mine to it.

Is it a pest do you know? As it certainly likes my dock leaves nothing else.

Joanne

[Johnny81]

I don't think it is a pest, but I am not knowledgeable in such things. One of our beetle experts maybe able to help more later.

[PaulKP]

Hi, definitely looks like the beetle John mentioned, (Apion frumentarium), http://www.thewcg.org.uk/apionidae/0033G.htm
Don't know much about it other than be thankful it isn't the red lily beetle. They wiped out my lilies last year.

[smokeyjofencing]

I do have a lilly beetle but it is not interested in my lillies, the caterpillars have eaten them, the lilly beetle seems happy munching on my gladioli leaves. Although haven't seen it in a week.

I plant all my flowers specially to attract the wildlife, and the birds are having a field day on them all. Also some amazing flowering shrubs that the hoverflies and bees and wasps love.

Any insects in the garden have to take their chances running the gauntlet of the many Tits, Sparrows and Starlings, not to mention the Blackbirds, which are eating anything that moves.

The Swallows and Swifts have also arrived now.

I am loving just sitting on my patio watching Nature.
Jo

[Klaas Reißmann]

Hi everybody,

it is right. This is Apion frumentarium, but remember that there is a bunch of very similar species and I don't know which of them occure in the UK (Apion haematodes, A. cruentatum, A. rubiginosum, A. rubens).

They aren't a pest. The beetles live on Rumex acetosa and are feeding on the leafs, the larvae is feeding on the roots. The colour is a camouflage, because of the many red marks in the leafes of Rumes acetosa.

Regards
Klaas

[smokeyjofencing]

Wow Klaas,

You certainly know your stuff.

Hello, I am Joanne from England, it is very nice to meet you.

I have always been interested in wildlife nut now since I have gone to a three day week, (not by choice) I have more time to study the wildlife right here in my own garden.

Thak you everyone for your input I appreciate it.




Jo

[Klaas Reißmann]

Hi Joanne,

thanks for your kind commend, but believe me, if you would do this much in beetles as I did the last 15 years very intense you would know the stuff, too, or even better.

Well, you know my name and I'm from Germany and am interrested in wildlife very much, most of all in beetles, less in other invertebrates, since the age of 10 and I'm 43 now. age does not make you wise (means I'm slowly getting older, but not wiser *g*), age just lets you know a few more things than you knew, when you were young. That's just all.

So if you have a question, I like to help, if I can.

Regards
Klaas