Cercyon melanocephalus
A distinctive 'Dung Beetle' with a reddish elytra and black triangular colouration over the scutellar area.
Though a member of the water beetle family, this species lives in dung, effectively 'swimming' through it.
It can be found from March to October.
Like some other beetles in this family, it spins a silk cocoon in which to protect its eggs.
Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.
Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 61 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.
David Nicholls
Wirlybones Wood, Ratby
24 May 2008
David Nicholls
Ratby field
20 October 2011
Graham Calow
Sapcote
10 April 2013
specimen examined
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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
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Species profile
- Species group:
- Beetles
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Coleoptera
- Family:
- Hydrophilidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 7
- First record:
- 24/05/2008 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 22/06/2022 (Sexton, Timothy)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
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Latest images
Latest records
David Nicholls
Ratby field
20 October 2011
Graham Calow
Sapcote
10 April 2013
specimen examined
Graham Calow
Sapcote
10 April 2013
specimen examined
