Common Malachite Beetle - Malachius bipustulatus

Length: 5.5-6 mm. Emerald green (can be bronze) elytra with twin red spots. The pronotum is transverse and usually has red margins on the anterior corners. The front of the head between the eyes curves back.

Cordylepherus viridis is very similar but with a blue tint to the metallic elytra. It has a more quadrate pronotum that never has red margins. The front of the head between the antennae projects forward.

• Elytra bright green without a bluish tint
• Anterior angles of pronotum thinly red
• Pronotum is transverse
• Anterior margin of head between antennae curved backwards.

The adult beetle is a predator and is found mainly on vegetation, where it hunts on flowers and amongst grasses.

From April to July/August.

Later in its season, it is also found on trees where it lays its eggs in cracks in the bark. The larvae are predacious on smaller insects living under the loose bark of trees.

Widespread and common in England and Wales.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 111 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.