Triplax russica

5 to 6.5 mm. Elongate-oval, forebody and legs orange, elytra, scutellum and antennae black, underside extensively orange.

Please provide photograph to support records.

Typical habitats are deciduous woodland and parkland with plenty of mature trees in various stages of decay, they occur on a wide range of trees but more often on Ash, Birch, Beech and Oak.

Adults are present year-round, peaking in abundance from May until August.

They overwinter among decaying wood and fungi or under bark and become active early in the year.

It has a rather strange distribution in Britain. It is locally common across south and central England but rare in the west; it is generally absent from the north but is widespread though local in the northern Scottish Highlands.

Infrequently recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland with only 5 or 6 records up to 2022.