Lycidae
3 genera, 4 spp. 5-9mm. Tarsi 5-5-5 with segments 3 and 4 bilobed. Antennae filiform, longer in the male. Pronotum with a pattern of raised ridges. Elytra with distinctly raised longitudinal lines, some Oedemeridae may be mistaken for these so it is important to count the tarsal segments.    Identification of th british species is straightforward, in general shape all species are similar.    In Pyropterus nigroruber (De G.) (6-8mm) the four raised elytral lines are directly connected by weaker transverse lines, the pronotum is black and antennal segments 2 and 3 are strongly transverse. A very local insect of the east midlands with many records around the Humber region, another population exists in north east Scotland (Alexander). A summer species associated with wood. Joy gives "associated with bracken in July".    In our remaining species there are weaker longitudinal lines between the stronger ones on the elytra and these are connected to the many weak transverse lines. In all cases antennal segment 3 is elongate.    Platycis is featured. Joy's handbook does not include P.cosnardi.    Dictyopterus aurora (Hbst.)(6-9mm) has a red pronotum. Associated with Scots pine forest in northwest Scotland (Alexander) where its distribution coincides with Pyropterus.     Adults are short lived and seasonal, most easily found on umbels but sometimes large aggregations on dead timber. All species are distinctive. Larvae in rotten wood or under bark.
Platycis minutus	Platycis minutus	Platycis minutus