David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Beetles 85 – Bee-eating Beetles
BEE-EATING
BEETLE Trichodes apiarius
BEE-EATING
BEETLE Trichodes apiarius
BEE-EATING
BEETLE Trichodes apiarius
BEE-EATING
BEETLE Trichodes apiarius
BEE-EATING
BEETLE Trichodes apiarius
BEE-EATING BEETLE Trichodes apiarius
·
The
Bee-eating Beetle Trichodes apiarius (family Cleridae) is one of a
genus of several similar continental European red-and-black patterned beetles known
to have an association with bees, hence their alternative name of ‘Bee-eating’,
or ‘Bee-hive Beetles’ (the latter specifically refers to T.
alverarius). This nomenclature is perhaps inappropriately
applied to the adults as these feed on pollen and smaller beetles, but it refers
to the fact that their eggs are laid near to the nests of hymenopterans so that
the beetle larvae might prey on the immature stages of the bees or wasps. Note
that the size and markings of Trichodes
beetles are variable, and that it may prove to be impossible to identify some
individuals to species, even from clear photographs. The striking warning coloration
suggests that these beetles are likely to be distasteful to predators, particularly
birds. The above photographs were taken in the Dordogne, France.
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