# Red Net-winged Beetle (*Dictyoptera simplicipes*) The Red Net-winged Beetle is a bright red insect with beautiful black net-like wings. They are often found resting on leaves and flowers, making them a lovely sight in nature. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red Net-winged Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Netwing_Beetle_%28Dictyopterous_simplicipes%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Netwing_Beetle_%28Dictyopterous_simplicipes%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Red Net-winged Beetle has a distinct, flattened body with bright orange-red wing covers that feature a raised, net-like pattern. Its head, antennae, and legs are typically black, creating a striking contrast that warns predators. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Lycidae - **Genus:** Dictyoptera ## Interesting facts - Adult beetles can sometimes be found visiting sap flows on trees, not just flowers. - Some species of Net-winged Beetles can glow in the dark as larvae, like tiny forest lanterns! - The bright red color you see on their wings actually comes from special pigment chemicals, not just simple dye. - Their 'net-wings' are not just pretty; they help make their wing covers strong and rigid for flight. ## Special abilities - **Toxic Taste:** Red Net-winged Beetles have special bitter chemicals in their body that make them taste bad, helping them avoid being eaten by predators. - **Warning Colors:** The Red Net-winged Beetle has bright red wing covers that act as a visual warning, helping them stay safe from hungry birds. - **Nectar Nippers:** Red Net-winged Beetles can easily sip nectar from flowers with their specialized mouthparts, which helps them gain energy. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 18-30 mm - **Size:** 8-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 40-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 7 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults enjoy nectar and pollen, while their larvae are tiny hunters, eating small insects. - **Age differences:** Larvae are predatory, feeding on small insects and other larvae found under tree bark. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — These spiders ambush adult beetles on flowers. - **Pollinates:** Black-eyed Susan (*Rudbeckia hirta*) — Adult beetles visit these flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds might try to eat them but usually regret it! ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to observe beetles from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Net-winged Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Red Net-winged Beetle's wingspan? 18-30 mm ### How big is Red Net-winged Beetle? 8-15 mm ### How long does Red Net-winged Beetle live? 40-90 days ### How fast can Red Net-winged Beetle fly? 7 km/h ### What does Red Net-winged Beetle eat? Adults enjoy nectar and pollen, while their larvae are tiny hunters, eating small insects. ### Where is Red Net-winged Beetle usually found? Forests ### How does Red Net-winged Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Porpoise Bay Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/porpoise-bay-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Red Net-winged Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-net-winged-beetle)