UK Beetle Recording

Bruchus ervi

Size

3-4mm

Basic colour

Dorsally blackish

Pattern colour

Dense pale pubescence and several white markings. Variable and gaps in the pubescence may give the appearance of dark marks/spots.

Leg colour

Hind pair blackish, front/mid pairs orange.

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Bruchus atomarius

Size

2.5-3.6mm

Basic colour

Black or brownish.

Pattern colour

Dense pale patch at rear of pronotum and centrally on suture of elytra. Several other smaller pale patches.

Leg colour

As basic colour except front femur & tibia orange.

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Bruchidius villosus

Size

2.4-3.2mm

Basic colour

Brownish to blackish; dorsal pubescence short, fine, silvery-white.

Pattern colour

None

Leg colour

As basic colour

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Taxonomy

Polyphaga
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomelidae
Bruchus
Bruchus atomarius

Description

Size: 2.5-3.6mm
Basic colour: Black or brownish.
Pattern colour: Dense pale patch at rear of pronotum and centrally on suture of elytra. Several other smaller pale patches.
Number of spots: variable
Pronotum: See pattern colour
Leg colour: As basic colour except front femur & tibia orange.

Biology

Status: Scarce (Notable B)
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Various Fabaceae, especially vetches Vicia spp., also on oaks, pears and wild parsnip.
Overwintering: Unknown
Food: Pollen (adults) and seeds (larvae)
Other notes: Various hymenopteran parasites.

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Bruchidius villosus

Taxonomy

Polyphaga
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomelidae
Bruchidius
Bruchidius villosus

Description

Size: 2.4-3.2mm
Basic colour: Brownish to blackish; dorsal pubescence short, fine, silvery-white.
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour

Biology

Status: Widespread in England, Wales & N. Ireland. Rare in Republic of Ireland.
Habitat: Various
Host plant: Usually on broom Cytisus scoparius.
Overwintering: Adults in tussocks of cock's-foot dactylis glomerata.
Food: Adults feed on pollen, larvae on seeds.
Other notes: Eggs predated by the mite Anystis agilis. For a detailed account of parasitoids, see: Parnell, J.R. (1964). The parasite complex of the two seed beetles Bruchidius ater (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and Apion fuscirostre Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 116: 73-88. Parnell, J.R. (1966). Observations on the population fluctuations and life histories of the beetles Bruchidius ater (Bruchidae) and Apion fuscirostre (Curculionidae) on broom (Sarothamnus scoparius). Journal of Animal Ecology 35: 157-188.

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Bruchus pisorum

Taxonomy

Polyphaga
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomelidae
Bruchus
Bruchus pisorum

Common name

Pea Beetle or Spanish Bean Beetle

Description

Size: 3.4-4.5mm
Basic colour: Blackish or brownish
Pattern colour: White T-shaped pubescent patch and a pair of black spots on the pygidium. Other pale pubescent patches dorsally.
Number of spots: variable
Pronotoum: As basic colour; with pubescent patterning.
Leg colour: As basic colour

On average, the largest bruchid found in Britain, though large specimens of B. rufimanus may reach 5.3mm. Cosmopolitan, though probably originated in the eastern Mediterranean.

Biology

Status: Scattered - in (or escaped from) stored peas.
Habitat: In stored peas (e.g. mills, granaries, imports), or if escaped on various wild peas.
Host plant: Various peas
Overwintering: In Britain, indoor pea storage/processing facilities.
Food: Larvae in pea seeds; adults probably pollen-feeders.
Other notes: Many hymenopteran parasitoids around the world. House sparrows and staphylinid beetles recorded as predators.

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Bruchus loti

Taxonomy

Polyphaga
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomelidae
Bruchus
Bruchus loti

Description

Size: 1.7-2.9
Basic colour: Black with uniform dorsal pubescence (no dense pale patches)
Pattern colour: None
Number of spots: None
Pronotoum: As basic colour
Leg colour: As basic colour

Biology

Status: Widespread in England & Wales
Habitat: Various, natural and man-made.
Host plant: Various leguminous species
Overwintering: Adults under tree bark.
Food: Larvae in leguminous seeds.
Other notes: Parasitised by the braconid wasp Triaspis thoracica in France, and the pteromalid wasp Pteromalus semotus in England.

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Bruchus ervi

Taxonomy

Polyphaga
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomelidae
Bruchus
Bruchus ervi

Description

Size: 3-4mm
Basic colour: Dorsally blackish
Pattern colour: Dense pale pubescence and several white markings. Variable and gaps in the pubescence may give the appearance of dark marks/spots.
Number of spots: As pattern colour.
Pronotoum: As basic & pattern colour.
Leg colour: Hind pair blackish, front/mid pairs orange.

Found breeding in imported lentils in a shop in East Sussex in 1985.

Biology

Status: Very rare introduction.
Habitat: In stored pulses and similar produce.
Host plant: Pulses
Overwintering: In Britain only indoors.
Food: Pulse seeds

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Bruchus rufimanus

Taxonomy

Polyphaga
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomelidae
Bruchus
Bruchus rufimanus

Common name

Bean seed beetle

Description

Size: 3.1-5.3mm
Basic colour: Blackish or brownish
Pattern colour: Various pale patches of pubescence
Number of spots: See pattern colour above
Pronotoum: As basic and pattern colours
Leg colour: As basic colour except front tibiae/femora (orange)

Pest of various stored beans.

Biology

Status: Widespread but local in England & Wales. 19th century records only from Scotland and Ireland.
Habitat: Various; natural and man-made.
Host plant: Various beans and peas.
Overwintering: Adults in/under deciduous bark; possibly also in beans.
Food: Larvae on beans, adults on pollen.
Other notes: Globally widespread though Palaearctic in origin. Many hymenopteran parasitoids worldwide.