Another day, another recent new insect find, this time one of the Cantharidae, otherwise known as soldier beetles.

There are a couple of similar species but, if you check a series of particular features carefully, then you can be fairly confident of getting your identification of Cantharis decipiens correct. The Naturespot website has a very helpful checklist, which includes the beetle’s length (I often take a photo with my thumb or a finger in the image to help me figure that out later), the various colours of its body parts, and, what they charmingly call ‘the butternut squash black mark’ on the pronotum. If you’re not familiar with the shape of a butternut squash, you could be in trouble!

My second photo, the close up on its face, conveys exactly how I’m feeling today as, tomorrow, I’m finally FINALLY moving house!