WHAT IS A FIRE-COLORED BEETLE?
Like all beetles, Fire-Colored Beetles (family Pyrochroidae) have chewing mouthparts and hardened front wings (elytra) that meet in a straight line down the back of the abdomen when closed. Commonly encountered Kentucky fire-colored beetles are a little less than 1″ long. Some species are much smaller. Most have dark elytra (wing covers) and many are marked with orange or red on the head, legs, or thorax. Some species are orange all over their bodies. Fire-colored beetles have long, straight antennae, and many individuals (especially males of certain species) have distinct “pectinate” (comb-like) antennae.
