Agelastica alni

Authority: 

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name: 

Alder Leaf Beetle
Size: 6-7mm
Basic colour: Deep metallic blue with a violet reflection.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: Deep metallic blue with a violet reflection.
Leg colour: Deep metallic blue with a violet reflection.

Acanthoscelides obtectus

Authority: 

(Say, 1831)

Common name: 

Dried Bean Beetle
Size: 2.5-3mm
Basic colour: Brown
Pattern colour: Darker spots scattered, sometimes paler longitudinal streaks.
Number of spots: Numerous small dark spots formed by scale-like elytral pubescence.
Pronotoum: Brownish, unpatterned.
Leg colour: Brown

Introduced from tropical Americas, now found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Japan. Recorded since the 1920s in Britain, mainly in south-east England.

A Guide to the Ladybirds of the British Isles

A new colour fold-out field chart with superb illustrations of all 26 British ladybird species (including the harlequin) and lots of ladybird ecology information. It costs £2.50 from some book sellers or direct from the Field Studies Council (tel. 0845 3454072)

Author: 

Michael Majerus, Helen Roy, Peter Brown and Remy Ware, with illustrations by Chris Shields

Publisher: 

Field Studies Council

Year: 

2006

A year in the lives of British ladybirds

Written by three hugely experienced 'ladybirders', the book provides instructions of how, when and where to find different species of ladybird, how to identify the adults, and facilitates involvement in current research projects on ladybirds. Available to order online from the Amateur Entomologists' Society

Cover of book.

Author: 

Michael Majerus, Remy Ware and Christina Majerus

Publisher: 

Royal Entomological Society for the Amateur Entomologists' Society Bug Club

Gastrophysa viridula

Authority: 

(De Geer, 1775)

Common name: 

Green Dock Beetle
Size: 4-6mm
Basic colour: Metallic green
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Spot fusions: None
Other colour forms: Sometimes
Pronotoum: Metallic green
Leg colour: Metallic green

Ladybirds

An excellent guide to the ecology and identification of British ladybirds with superb colour drawings of the main species. It costs £9.95 and if not found with book sellers is available direct from Richmond Publishing (tel. 01753 643104)

Author: 

Michael Majerus & Peter Kearns

Publisher: 

Richmond

Year: 

1989

Pages

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