I saw a beetle in the garden yesterday that I haven't seen before, and I was wondering if anyone could identify it for me. Unfortunately I don't have a picture, but it is small, about 6mm long, has a orange/brown head with a much darker body. The body was dark apart from a narrow strip of what looke dlike purple running down the centre. It was found between some paving slabs in the garden.

I appreciate it will be difficult to ID without a picture but I thought I would give it a try anyway. Also, is there any websites or books that are reliable for identifying insects?

This is one of my favourite websites for bugs:

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/

I can spend hours here.

See if you can spot it on here...

Kingfisher