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What is this black and orange bug?

Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
in Wildlife gardening
Hello
Found this in a stack of pots in the greenhouse I use as a store, so no plants in there
Do I snuggle it back down or is it the latest baddie from the continent that will destroy everything in its path?
Thanks

No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    edited October 2020
    One of the Sexton beetles.  :)
    Harmless as far as I know, but @wild edges will advise. 
    They bury insects etc .
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 18,138
    "a baddie from the continent that will destroy everything in its path?"

    😆
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    I watched one once set about burying a dead mouse. (There was nothing on telly). The next day, when I looked again, the mouse was well and truly buried.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    edited October 2020
    The name is from sextons and graveyards too @pansyface, hence the name being so appropriate.
    Fascinating things.
    That's some effort burying a mouse  :D

    I first noticed one on a hill, and wild edges IDd it for me.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    I'm on the continent (just), and we get them. Never seen them bury anything. Next time there's nothing on telly I will keep a look out. 


  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    Fire said:
    "a baddie from the continent that will destroy everything in its path?"

    😆
    It does sound slightly buggy xenophobic, but by all accounts you can't trust these Spanish slugs, Italian wasps and Dutch elms, so who knows what a multicolored beetle could do! Sounds generally harmless so far - hope so as I let it loose in the garden. Mind you, it could now freeze to death as it was probably quietly looking forward to a nice winter sleep when I turned it out of the greenhouse!  
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    That spider disappeared pretty quickly, though I didn't note whether the beetle dispatched it or if it took one look and scarpered! 
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • FireFire Posts: 18,138
    All those blasted foreigners.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    Literally a case of reds under the beds. 😊
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    @Stephanie newish gardener - there's a good chance the spider had something tasty for the beetle to eat. They don't eat 'live'  material  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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