Four spotted leaf beetle

Four spotted leaf beetle is an elongated beetle that resembles a ladybird. Its wings are yellowish-red and they have black spots. Its chuck is black and tentacles stick out like two small hairy antennas. Species grow to 7 - 11 mm in length.

Four spotted leaf beetles are found in coppice and deciduous forests in sunny places. Prevalence area covers the western Palearctic region from northern Spain to Mongolia.

Four spotted leaf beetle has usually two black spot on each elytron. Its distinctive name derives from this. The species has a special relationship with ants. It lays on the antler and its larvae feed on ant larvae.

The species is the basic species of our forests and it feeds on various deciduous trees and plants such as Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), Willows (Salix), Birches (Betula) and Common oak (Quercus robur).