Can't remember their name but to the best of my knowledge they are harmless.

OK MG, that's a relief! In past years, I have shaken the pear tree and hoards of them fallen to the floor in surprise before flying off. I've never had any pears so was anxious that they were the cause of the fruitlessness! Thanks!

The lack of fruit would be because your pear tree flowers were not pollinated. Still trying to remember name of bug!

So do I need to get another pear then do you think? I only have one....

looks like the cardinal beetle to me, but not sure..

thanks steve, had a look at cardinal beetle on google...don't think it's that as that has orange all the way down it. Thanks though!

Were you thinking 'Soldier Beetle' MG?

Yes Steve! Karen there are cardinal beetles with dark bodies!

Are they good or bad in the garden?

OK, will go back and have another look at Cardinal Beetle...thanks :)

Defo Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

Another bug I'm thankful not to have!

Why Tugb. they are harmless to plants in fact they are a great biological control for lots of pest insects like springtails and caterpillars.

Thanks MG wish I had some!

Both Cardinal beetles and Soldier beetles are great garden allies. Pity is that the Red (well orange really) Cardinal beetle is being squashed out of existence as people think it is the dread Lily beetle.

But they don't look anything like each other!

You know that and I know that, but to Johnny Public, if it is red/orange then it is a lily beetle.

Arg!

Ah! So, like rove beetles and assasin bugs are here. We occasionally have trouble with longhorn beetles here, which superficially resemble the soldier beetle, but eat plants. Sorry, I had better remember to do my homework, next time!

i recently got some jargon from DEFRA about the citrus longhorn beetle that seems to be arriving here in pallets and dutch plant stock, they are trying to eradicate it as it appears, seems it can do a lot of damage.

Now they seem to be a real baddie Steve... is there any way of checking to see if you have them? I am asking because one of our Acer palmatum's suddenly looks as if it is dying and the info I just read implies that they like the acer family.

not sure MG, thing is just keep the eyes peeled for the beetle itself, i will read some more about.

Thanks Steve