What is "cardinal beetle"

n. A bright red colored beetle.

The name cardinal beetle typically refers to three different species of beetles. The red-headed or 'common' cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) is a red to orange beetle with, as the name suggests, a red head. It is about 20 mm long, and is found throughout Britain. The rarer black-headed cardinal beetle (P. coccinea), similarly found at sites across Britain, is larger and a deeper blood red. The scarce cardinal beetle (Schizotus pectinicornis) also has a black head, but is smaller at around 9 mm long. The scarce cardinal is only found at a few sites in Scotland and Wales. Cardinal beetles prey on other insects, while their bright red colour prevents them being the target of other predators which believe them to be toxic.