Saturday 25 June 2011

Malachius bipustulatus

Red-tipped flower beetle, Malachius bipustulatus, and a Tachinid fly on an ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) in High Elms Country Park, 4 May 2011.  EOS 450D, Canon 100mm macro lens.
Red-tipped flower beetle, Malachius bipustulatus, on an ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare.
4 May 2011.
I've mentioned this beetle before, when it has appeared on plant photographs, but not featured it. So here it is. It has been very common in this area and is easily recognised. It has two common names: red-tipped flower beetle, or malachite beetle.

In this adult form it eats pollen. Here it is on an ox-eye daisy. Below, there are three beetles on another ox-eye daisy, and you can see that a fourth is making its way up the stem to join them. The bottom photo is a close-up on a goat's-beard, Tragopogon pratensis.
 
Red-tipped flower beetle, Malachius bipustulatus, on ox-eye daisy,  Leucanthemum vulgare.  Three beetles present. Hayes Common, 21 May 2011. EOS 450D, Canon 100mm macro lens.
Red-tipped flower beetle, Malachius bipustulatus, on ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare.
Hayes Common, 21 May 2011.

Malachius bipustulatus on flower of goat's-beard, Tragopogon pratensis, on Hayes Common, 27 May 2011.  EOS 450D, Canon 100mm macro lens.
Malachius bipustulatus on flower of goat's-beard, Tragopogon pratensis, on Hayes Common, 27 May 2011.



1 comment:

  1. That middle image, with the beetles in side views and with the stamens (the things bearing pollen) shown standing up is just wonderful. Makes one see even the common daisy as new.

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