Bumble Flower Beetle (Euphoria inda) and ants
Euphoria inda (Linnaeus, 1758). Found at Wazee Lake Recreation Area in west central Wisconsin. Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found in pine barrens habitat.
I was observing a Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr, 1866) ant nest, when this Bumble Flower Beetle flew in and landed on the horizontal portion of a forked twig lying about 12-15 inches away from the nest. I immediately moved over and started taking shots as the ants took notice of the visitor and it looked as if they were going to mob it. After a minute or so the beetle reversed direction on the twig and made its way to a forked part of the twig that was pointing straight up. It slowly climbed to the tip of that upward forking part of the twig and sat there for about a minute before flying off. I was kind of surprised the beetle did not stay long enough to get completely mobbed.
Eighth shot in series.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Bumble Flower Beetle (Euphoria inda) and ants
Euphoria inda (Linnaeus, 1758). Found at Wazee Lake Recreation Area in west central Wisconsin. Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found in pine barrens habitat.
I was observing a Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr, 1866) ant nest, when this Bumble Flower Beetle flew in and landed on the horizontal portion of a forked twig lying about 12-15 inches away from the nest. I immediately moved over and started taking shots as the ants took notice of the visitor and it looked as if they were going to mob it. After a minute or so the beetle reversed direction on the twig and made its way to a forked part of the twig that was pointing straight up. It slowly climbed to the tip of that upward forking part of the twig and sat there for about a minute before flying off. I was kind of surprised the beetle did not stay long enough to get completely mobbed.
Eighth shot in series.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.