red flat bark beetle (Cucujus clavipes) at Kenadallville WMA IA 653A8755
I was surprised to see this colorful red flat bark beetle out today since we've had temperatures well below freezing already, but I guess it found some protected place to hide then - helped out by anti-freeze produced in its body to survive the cold winter. These neat beetles are very flat when seen from the side and can squeeze into very tight cracks in a tree trunk. They live under loose bark on trees and eat small mites and spiders.
red flat bark beetle (Cucujus clavipes) at Kenadallville WMA IA 653A8755
I was surprised to see this colorful red flat bark beetle out today since we've had temperatures well below freezing already, but I guess it found some protected place to hide then - helped out by anti-freeze produced in its body to survive the cold winter. These neat beetles are very flat when seen from the side and can squeeze into very tight cracks in a tree trunk. They live under loose bark on trees and eat small mites and spiders.