Sun Beetle

Amara aenea

Date First Recorded in the Garden: 16/04/2022

Family Carabidae: Ground Beetles

A large family of beetles with online sources stating around 40,000 species worldwide. They are mostly carnivorous and there are only around 270 species in the UK.

Sun Beetle – Amara aenea

The adults of this species feed on Rough and Smooth Meadow Grass, both of which are present in the garden, the former in large quantities. As such it is no surprise to find this common species within the garden.

In the Garden

We tend to find these guys darting across open soil where its rapid movements make it stand out. It seems to like the wetland patch we created which is where the video above was recorded.