Common soldier beetle by Wendy Carter
Wild about beetles
There are more than 4000 beetles in the UK and you can find them in almost every habitat - from diving beetles in your local pond to ladybirds in your garden border. These important predators, prey, pollinators and recyclers come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
What makes a beetle a beetle? They have hardened wing cases, called elytra, which are really a front pair of wings and serve to protect their second pair of wings. If you're lucky enough to spot a beetle about to take off or just land, watch how they carefully unfurl or fold that second pair of wings - it's like watching automated origami!
Many of our beetles are struggling and numbers are declining. You can help! By creating and connecting habitats for them, you can help them adapt to climate change and allow them to thrive in our gardens, villages, towns and cities.
Why not download your free bring back our beetles booklet? It's packed full of facts about beetles and loads of advice about how you can help them where you live.
You can discover more about some of Worcestershire's beetles on our brilliant beetles page.
One of the most recognisable and loved beetles is the 7-spot ladybird; it can be easy to forget that these brightly coloured insects are beetles. Take a look at our short video for some hints and tips on how to make your patch perfect for these aphid-munching insects...
Not all beetles are so well marked or so easy to spot. Four Worcestershire woodlands are home to a very special beetle indeed, the aspen leaf-rolling weevil...
