National Insect Week returns in 2022
(Oedemera nobilis)
Beetles
© Francisca Sconce
Thick legged flower beetles are metallic green with thin bodies of 6 to 11 mm long. The head may have a coppery or blue tinge and the wing cases (elytra) are pointed and gape apart showing the abdomen underneath Males have thick thighs (femora) and females do not.
These beetles are found on open-structured flowers such as daisies and cornflowers.
Adult thick legged flower beetles are around in Spring and Summer.
Adults emerge and can be seen on flowers in Spring and Summer, they mate and females lay their eggs in tree bark. Larvae hatch and feed in the dry stems of plants such as thistles, it is not known whether this beetle overwinters as a larva or a pupa.
These beetles feed on pollen and nectar.
When the beetles feed on the pollen and nectar of flowers, they can also transfer pollen between flowers, pollinating just as bees do.
Thick legged flower beetles occur in western and southern Europe.
Painted Lady butterflies fly annually from North Africa to the UK, occasionally Monarch butterflies cross from America.
Tweet this or follow @insectweek