Lycidae

The four British species of Lycidae are attractive beetles, relatively large (5-9mm) and bright red, with a distinctive network of longitudinal and transverse lines.  All are scarce as they are found in association with ancient woodland areas, where the larvae can be found in white-rot areas of decay in dead wood.  Platycis minutus (Fabricius) is relatively widespread, flying in August and September, Dictyoptera aurora (Herbst) is found in Scottish conifers in May and June, Pyropterus nigroruber (De Geer) in Scottish broadleaves in July, and the rarest, Platycis cosnardi (Chevrolat) flies in May but has only very rarely been found in Britain.