Six-spot Spider Beetle Ptinus sexpunctatus

The Six-spot Spider Beetle is called a spider beetle because most beetles in its subfamily have roundish bodies and longish legs with long antennae. As for the six spots: there are four clear white patches on the wing cases; however the two back spots are sometimes split into two and sometimes merged into one. Probably the white face which seems almost continuous but has a thin dark central line and the white scutellum are not counted. The body close-up looks as if it has been knitted.

The body can look black or dark brown. The white face is not always visible. It is some 4-6mm long and found throughout Europe. One of nature's recyclers, it eats decaying insects and is sometimes found in bees nests.