Bumble Flower Beetle (Euphoria inda) being mobbed by ants
Euphoria inda (Linnaeus, 1758). Found at Black River State Forest in west central Wisconsin. Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found on sandy path just south of Oxbow Pond.
The ants are Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr, 1866) and this scene was inches away from the ant nest. Not sure if there are any literary references of an association of Euphoria inda with Dolichoderus ants. Euphoria inda does have a recorded association with Formica ants, in whose nests larvae have been found developing. The beetle was stationary and not actively trying to get away.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Bumble Flower Beetle (Euphoria inda) being mobbed by ants
Euphoria inda (Linnaeus, 1758). Found at Black River State Forest in west central Wisconsin. Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found on sandy path just south of Oxbow Pond.
The ants are Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr, 1866) and this scene was inches away from the ant nest. Not sure if there are any literary references of an association of Euphoria inda with Dolichoderus ants. Euphoria inda does have a recorded association with Formica ants, in whose nests larvae have been found developing. The beetle was stationary and not actively trying to get away.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.