Grey sailor beetle
A broad black band circles the tip of each hind thigh on this soldier beetle, a feature that separates it from several very similar grey and orange relatives.
| Where | Hedgerows and flowering grassland margins |
|---|---|
| Size | 9 to 11 mm body length |
| When | May to June |
The Grey sailor beetle is a soft-bodied beetle around 9 to 11 mm long, with grey elytra dulled by fine flattened hairs and an orange pronotum that often carries a darker central mark. A broad black band crosses the tip of each hind femur.
Adults visit hedgerow and meadow flowers such as hogweed in late spring, feeding on nectar, pollen and small insects before the short flight season ends.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Grey, Orange
Active
Day
To people
Feeds on nectar, pollen and small insects on flowers; harmless to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Similar size at about 9 to 12 mm, but has only a narrow black band at the femur tip and dark, almost black elytra, compared with the broader band and duller grey elytra of the Grey sailor beetle.
Questions
Is the Grey sailor beetle dangerous to people?
Feeds on nectar, pollen and small insects on flowers; harmless to people.
When can you see the Grey sailor beetle?
The Grey sailor beetle can be seen from May to June, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Francisco Welter-Schultes, CC0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Beetles›Soldier beetles›Cantharis
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.