Typhaeus typhoeus male

Typhaeus typhoeus female x2

Typhaeus typhoeus x3 this morning in Bengeo garden. Males are very distinctive with their 3 prongs.

Species is able to exploit winter availability of dung by digging much deeper burrows in sandy soil. These remain warm even in coldest months of January & February. #MinotaurBeetle #attractedtolight

Rhopalus parumpunctatus

Warm nights lead to dispersal of scarce invertebrates.

Rhopalus parumpunctatus on Friday night in Bengeo garden, rhopalid bug associated with dry sandy soils. Curiously zone immediately north of Hertford already supports small range of Breckland species. @britishbugs.bsky.social #attractedtolight

Nicrophorus interruptus

Nicrophorus interruptus today in Bengeo garden. Scarce species, its broken orange bands resemble "scottie dogs".

Five species of carrion beetle used to be regular here until summer drought of 2020. Since then, local populations appear to have crashed. @ashwhiffin.bsky.social #attractedtolight

Aulonium trisulcus

Hot nights lead to dispersal of rare saproxylic beetles.

Aulonium trisulcus last night in Bengeo garden, distinctive species that occurs in galleries of elm bark beetles. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social #Zopheridae #attractedtolight

Drepanepteryx phalaenoides

Light-trapping for moths attracts many other insects. This 'bycatch' can include spectacular species in June & July.

Drepanepteryx phalaenoides from last week in Bengeo garden, largest brown lacewing & finest invertebrate leaf mimic in Britain. #Hemerobiidae #HookWingedLacewing #attractedtolight

Ectobius vittiventris

Ectobius vittiventris

Ectobius vittiventris yesterday in Bengeo garden. Native cockroaches are natural part of ecosystem & pose no threat unlike introduced indoor species. E.vittiventris has been expanding its range in Europe & 1st appeared in Herts in 2017. #Blattellidae #attractedtolight @vannabartlett.bsky.social

Prionus coriarius male

There are beetles, there are large beetles & then there are giants.

Prionus coriarius ♂ last night on back of house in Bengeo. Britain's largest longhorn beetle, this male was 35mm. Females can reach 45mm. #Cerambycidae #TannerBeetle #saproxylic #attractedtolight @kitenet.bsky.social 1/2

Sphragisticus nebulosus

Hot nights lead to long range invertebrate dispersal. Sometimes unusual species appear.

Sphragisticus nebulosus found on Saturday night in Bengeo garden. This groundbug is normally associated with Breckland in East Anglia & likely to be new for Herts. @britishbugs.bsky.social #attractedtolight

Silvanoprus fagi

Silvanoprus fagi from Sunday night in Bengeo garden, Herts. Very rare (RDB1) with few records outside New Forest. Flattened species that feeds under bark of Beech & Pine deadwood. @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social #Silvanidae #saproxylic #attractedtolight

Melolontha melolontha

Melolontha melolontha today in Bengeo garden, always wonderful when these magnificent beetles appear. #Cockchafer #attractedtolight

Typhaeus typhoeus male

50th record today of Typhaeus typhoeus in Bengeo garden since light trapping started in 2017. Prior to that, unaware that species was present locally. #MinotaurBeetle #attractedtolight

Typhaeus typhoeus ♂ x2

Typhaeus typhoeus ♂ x2 yesterday in Bengeo garden. #MinotaurBeetle #Geotrupidae #attractedtolight