Raspberry Beetle - Byturus tomentosus

Length: 3.2 to 4 mm. This small beetle has a chestnut-red or golden appearance, with legs and antennae all of similar colour.

Byturus tomentosus and B. ochraceus are very similar but can be distinguished by careful viewing.

B. tomentosus is slightly smaller (up to 4mm), has smaller eyes and has elytra that taper outwards slightly towards the base. It is also lighter brown. B. ochraceus is a little larger (up to 5mm), a shade darker, with larger eyes and elytra that are generally parallel-sided. The elytral margins are also different: tomentosus has a narrow margin visible along most of the base whereas the margin in ochraceus is obscured by the humeral bulge of the elytra.

• the largest diameter of the eye is less than half the width of the frons (space between the eyes)

Explain how you identified the species and note the size.

Though the beetle larvae are pests for Raspberry growers, adults can be found feeding on pollen on a variety of wildflowers. The small adults often congregate within flowers, particularly composites such as Dandelion.

May to July.

It lays its eggs on the flowers of Raspberries, Blackberries and Loganberries. When the larvae hatch they eat the developing fruit.

Common in England and Wales, less so further north.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.