Bloody-nosed beetle
When threatened it releases droplets of bright red, foul-tasting fluid from its mouth, which gives the beetle its name.
| Where | Grassland, heathland, hedgerows |
|---|---|
| Size | 15 to 20 mm long |
| When | March to September |
A large, rounded, shiny blue-black beetle with long legs and a domed back. Its wing cases are fused together, so it cannot fly and only ever walks.
The larvae feed on bedstraws, and adults stay close to these plants, often moving about at night and after rain.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Black, Blue
Active
Night
To people
Harmless; the red fluid is only a defence and does not harm people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Smaller at about 8 to 13 mm, with a pronotum that narrows less sharply towards the wing cases.
Questions
Is the Bloody-nosed beetle dangerous to people?
Harmless; the red fluid is only a defence and does not harm people.
When can you see the Bloody-nosed beetle?
The Bloody-nosed beetle can be seen from March to September, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Francisco Welter-Schultes, CC0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.