very small beetles (1 Viewer)

[Surreybirder]

I took photos of two beetles, partly because I'm still hoping eventually to find one of the inconspicuous ladybirds. But I don't think that either of these are ladybirds. They were both roughly 2mms long. Can anyone help me at all with IDs? Even to genus would be a lot better than I can do.
I was using a very cheap microscope attachment on my PC so the photos aren't the greatest. The problem with trying to take shots of living insects is that they aren't that cooperative.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I think the first one is indeed a Ladybird sp?

 

[Surreybirder]

I wouldn't argue but I thought that ladybirds had clubbed antennae.

 

[THE_FERN]

Second is a weevil

 

[Surreybirder]

Second is a weevil

Thanks, the Fern.

 

[Surreybirder]

I think the first one is indeed a Ladybird sp?

It turns out you are right - sorry for doubting you. It has been confirmed as Epaulet ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides)

 

[Surreybirder]

I think I may have found another ladybird sp. This looks like Scymnus interruptus (red-flanked ladybird) to me.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Can you describe what plants you found them in and how? I've been getting into ladybirds this year, and haven't had much luck with finding the smaller ones (though it's all been visual search, and Bristol is out of range of most of them according to the field guide).

 

[Surreybirder]

Can you describe what plants you found them in and how? I've been getting into ladybirds this year, and haven't had much luck with finding the smaller ones (though it's all been visual search, and Bristol is out of range of most of them according to the field guide).

Nothing very scientific.... We have a hedge that has grown rather wild. It has privet, Leylandii, Pyracantha, Hawthorn, Ivy and a few other bits and pieces. I use my late mother's walking stick to bash the hedge, holding a net underneath (I think that some people use an inverted umbrella but I find it hard to get decent photos from an umbrella. I try to remove the vegetable matter and let flies and spiders escape - and just keep an eye out for anything that looks interesting. I often don't know what I've got until I pot them up and then either photograph them or look at them through my very cheap (under £20) microscope. Of course, the larger specimens can be photographed in the net. I find that they often sit still for a while before they run off. But, like you, I've only recently got interested so I'm ignorant on many aspects of ID. Just in case it's of interest, I'll attach a few of the ladybirds I've found in the last while. (Some have just been obtained by sweeping the 'meadow' in our garden - i.e. unmown grass. I've not had all the IDs confirmed, so they should be regarded as tentative. Hope that helps. Several of the species I've put onto iRecord have said 'outside known coordinates' so I wouldn't take it for granted that Bristol is a ladybird no-go area!

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Wow, Heather Ladybird's one I really want to see. I was lucky enough to find a Kidney-spot pupa this summer, and get to see the adult just after it emerged (still on its tree).

 

[aeshna5]

All the IDs on your photos look correct to me.

 

[Surreybirder]

All the IDs on your photos look correct to me.

Thanks, Aeshna - that's reassuring.

 

[Surreybirder]

Wow, Heather Ladybird's one I really want to see. I was lucky enough to find a Kidney-spot pupa this summer, and get to see the adult just after it emerged (still on its tree).

Wow, Heather Ladybird's one I really want to see. I was lucky enough to find a Kidney-spot pupa this summer, and get to see the adult just after it emerged (still on its tree).

It's clearly not restricted to heather as we don't have any in our garden. I think it may have been on our hawthorn tree but it's hard to be sure as I was both sweeping and beating. Still waiting for confirmation from iRecord but hopefully it will make it onto the map. I find it interesting to have a look at the progress to date: Ladybird Targeting Revisits

 

[Surreybirder]

I found another species today, which I think might be Nephus quadrimaculatus. It was a mover and I didn't get as good photos as I would have liked. But I'd be interested to see if anyone agrees with my ID. (Assuming it's a ladybird at all!!) It was beaten from our garden hedge where I particularly focused on the ivy. It was all of 2 mms long!