Beetles, bugs and weevils
There are over 4000 different species of beetles including over 500 species of weevil (Coleoptera) and 2000 species of bug (Hemiptera) in the wild across the UK in a huge range of habitats. The beetles often carry a vital role in the ecosystem ranging from small flower beetles regularly pollinating flowers to the large numbers of dung beetles that clearing up after larger animals and birds to the ladybirds that predate on smaller insects like aphids. Their size also ranges from the tiny pollen beetles to the giant stag beetle with almost every size colour and shape between the two. The weevils although also a type of beetle are often thought of separately by gardeners as a pest of many plants. Although when thinking of bugs many people think of the classic and colourful shield bug this group also includes predatory bugs such as assassin and damsel bugs, a variety of water and plant bugs, leafhoppers and froghoppers and psyllids.
In this gallery
On this page you can see a variety of macro and close up images taken of wild beetles, bugs and weevils that have been taken across the United Kingdom. You will see images of bugs sitting on plants as the sun goes down, or beetles like the common red soldier beetle mating. Shield bugs and ladybirds walking around looking for food, or the larger violet oil beetles, bloody nosed beetles or dung beetles running across the ground.
All of these are been found in their natural habitat but a ladybird flew into a studio setting where it ended up being humanely photographed prior to release back outside. Where possible I have tried to identify all the beetles, bugs and weevils in this gallery to their species which can be found in the descriptions, however some are harder to identify so may only be to the group level where known.
More information
It's amazing learning more about these incredible insects and you can start by looking at the website of the UK beetle recording group for beetles and weevils or the British Bugs site to learn more about the large number of colourful bugs