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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: ceres on November 21, 2008, 21:30:35

Title: Friend or Foe?
Post by: ceres on November 21, 2008, 21:30:35
Digging under the apple tree today found this.  It's a bit over an inch long.  Any ideas?

And any recommendations for a good insect ID book (for beginners!) would be welcome.

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Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: betula on November 21, 2008, 21:34:50
He is called ORRIBLE ceres :)
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: ceres on November 21, 2008, 21:36:31
Lol! 
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: star on November 21, 2008, 21:43:32
It looks predatory by those mandibles. But no idea what it is :-\
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: Flighty on November 21, 2008, 22:18:59
You might find it on here
.
http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: ceres on November 21, 2008, 22:35:54
Thanks Flighty but I don't think it's a bug.  That's a great site though for bugs, have saved it.
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: Emagggie on November 22, 2008, 08:05:58
Had a look in my 'Field Guide in Colour to Insects' book Ceres, can't find the exact match though. All I can say is it's a beetle! Maybe it needs to grow a bit before it resembles anything in the book.
Re. the book, I've had it for donkeys years and it covers most things you would need to know about most insects. Great for moths and butterflys.
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on November 22, 2008, 19:24:21
It's a beetle larva, and with those mandibles it's probably going to be a ground beetle. They're definitely friends.
Title: Re: Friend or Foe?
Post by: ceres on November 22, 2008, 19:51:52
Thanks Robert.  I did let it go unharmed!

Thanks for the book tip maggie.  I'll have a browse around and see if I can pick up a copy.