Can anyone identify this bug for me?

11 January 2011 - 4:15pm — suzanne88

Help! Can anyone identify this critter for me? I thought perhaps a cardinal beetle, but I have no idea. I need to caption it for my website and don't want it to be wrong!

http://suzannesmithphotos.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Wildlife/G00001...

thanks!

Suzanne

Groups:

Invertebrates

Soldier Beetle

11 January 2011 - 5:20pm — RHoman RHoman's reputation in Invertebrates

It looks like Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) - there are a number of iSpot observations with which to make comparisons.

Robert Homan

Soldier Beetle

12 January 2011 - 9:54am — RogerR (not verified)

RHoman is right, I think.
One common name is the "Hogweed Bonking Beetle", which aptly describes the most common sighting of them.
Rather too many years ago, in a maybe more innocent age; as kids we knew them as "bloodsuckers".

oh right! brilliant, thanks

14 January 2011 - 2:01am — suzanne88

oh right! brilliant, thanks guys, this helps lots