SCIENTIFIC NAME
Trichodes nuttalli
DESCRIPTION
Approximately 8–11 mm long. All-over colour is dark blue, green-blue or purple. The elytra (wings) have three crossbands that can be yellow, orange or red. All checkered beetles (family Cleridae) have a wide head and a long, narrow body with a short thorax and a long abdomen. They have long hairs along their bodies and legs, which pollen can stick onto.
RANGE
Common in Eastern North America.
HABITAT
Checkered beetles can occur where there is a supply of nectar- and pollen-rich blooms. Adult beetles can be found on bowl-shaped flowers as they forage.
DIET
Adults eat pollen. Larvae are predaceous. Some adult beetles in the checkered beetle family are predaceous. They sometimes prey on adult wood-boring insects.
BEHAVIOUR
undefinedPRIMARY ECOSYSTEM ROLES
- Predator (of some insect larvae, including bees, grasshoppers, wood boring insects)
- Pollinator
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