There are a lot of bugs. Some appear brightly colored, while others are just big and black and can move by flying. There are different types of this.
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Big black bugs
In this country there are a large number of black large flying beetles. Most of them can be found in nature, in the forest, in parks or gardens. Only a few are regarded as descendants of the culture of humans and conquer houses and apartments. They are not dangerous to humans, but can be annoying if they occur in large numbers. Even though the beetles have wings and can fly, some find it difficult to do so. Below is a small overview of more or less well-known large black flying beetles.
Bark Schroeder (Dorcus parallelipipedus)
This beetle species is active both day and night. You can usually see them flying around in the early evening hours. They prefer to stay in orchards and deciduous forests with old trees. Here they live in rotten wood and feed on tree sap.
- 16 to 32mm long
- wide head
- dotted pronotum and elytra
- powerful sharp jaws and pincers
Dung beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius)
Big horse beetle
They prefer to live on loamy, stony soil, on pastures, in forests and on the edges of forests and paths, in the months of April to October. The beetles feed on the dung of larger mammals. During the mating season, they dig an underground tube with side passages underneath and lay their eggs there and stock up on manure.
- 16 to 25mm long
- blue-black metallic shiny body
- antennae short, terminally pinnate
- Deck wings fluttered along
- slightly hairy
- smooth pronotum
- makes chirping noises
Large death beetle (Blaps mortisaga)
Totenansager
He is one of the descendants of humans and lives mainly in human settlements, in dark places such as cellars, stables and barns. The death beetle is nocturnal and then goes in search of food. It is omnivorous and lives on organic waste, old wood, excrement and carrion. The animals can live for several years. Even if they have wings, they are rarely seen flying.
- 20 to 31 mm long
- black, dull shiny
- wide head
- irregularly dotted elytra
- flat, finely edged pronotum
- long cord-like antennae
- long strong legs
Hausbock (Hylotrupes bajulus)
beam beetle, large woodworm
He prefers to stay in dead coniferous wood, also in buildings. There the longhorn nests in the roof truss. Adult animals do not take any food, only some water when it is dry. They are diurnal from May to September. Full development takes five to six years. Adult animals then only live for two to three weeks.
- 7 to 26 mm long
- black, fine gray hairs
- flat body, narrow head
- Pronotum rounded at the sides
- white spots on elytra
- long feelers
- extend to the middle of the elytra
Deer beetle (Lucanus cervus)
It is the largest beetle in Europe and a flying one at that. It prefers to live in oak and mixed forests in the months of June to July, where it feeds on the sap of old oak trees. The development from larva to beetle takes five years. He himself lives only a few weeks.
- 35 to 80 mm long
- black-brown basic colour
- brown-red elytra
- yellow spots on front of fore thighs
- consist of hairs
- Upper jaw (mandibles) enlarged in males
- can make up a quarter of the body length
- brown-red in colour, also known as “antlers”.
- Females narrow heads and normal upper jaws
Lesser longhorned beetle (Cerambyx scopolii)
Another flying beetle. It can be found in gardens and on sunny forest edges on flowering shrubs and fruit trees from July to July. Roses, hawthorn, dogwood or elder are preferred. Imagines feed on pollen.
- 17 to 28 mm long
- solid black body
- fine gray hairs
- grained elytra and pronotum
- antennae longer than body in males
Mehlkäfer (Tenebrio molitor)
The flour beetle is also a flying beetle, but rarely uses it. It is one of the most common culture followers of humans. The animals live in rotted wood, in bird nests and also in dark, warm places in the house. This beetle species is nocturnal. In addition to grain, their diet also includes flour and baked goods.
- 10 to 18 mm long
- elongated black body
- flat head
- longitudinally grooved and arched elytra
- Legs and antennae reddish brown
Sägebock (Prionus coriarius)
Gerberbock
The sawhorse is a nocturnal loner. During darkness he flies to the light. Adult animals no longer eat. They prefer to live in old trees in deciduous forests. These large black beetles are capable of making chirping sounds when their hind legs and elytra are rubbed together.
- 18 to 45mm long
- black-brown shiny chitin shell
- Elytra each with three longitudinal grooves
- long strong and serrate antennae
- Pronotum with three lateral teeth
Black Gravedigger (Nicrophorus humator)
It feeds on carrion, carcasses and also mushrooms. The gravedigger is attracted by the smell of carrion from small animals such as mice, moles and birds. They then gouge the earth under it and pull it down to 7 cm into the ground. This is also where the eggs are laid. The adult black beetle overwinters and emerges from its winter quarters in May.
- 18 to 25mm long
- Elytra shorter than abdomen
- red-orange antennae
Forest Buck (Spondylis buprestoides)
roller chipper
The longhorn can be found in pine forests from June to September. He is flying in the evening and during the night. During the day, the insect hides under tree bark or under fallen trees. Imagines do not eat, but feed on their fat reserves.
- 12 to 24 mm long
- stocky, cylindrical body
- broad, long pronotum
- yellow fringes of hair in front and behind
- roughly dotted elytra, each with three longitudinal ribs
- strong upper jaw
- small feelers
