Emerald Euphoria (Euphoria fulgida) and ants
Euphoria fulgida (Fabricius, 1775). Found at Wazee Lake Recreation Area in west central Wisconsin. Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found in pine barrens habitat.
This beetle was found on a large Formica sp. dirt and thatch mound/nest. The beetle was being mobbed/attacked by ants, but was remaining motionless for the most part. This beetle was present on this ant nest, along with up to 7 individuals of Euphoria inda, for at least 40 minutes. It looked to be being attacked by the ants, but did not seem harmed at all. In the end, it crawled frantically away from the ants and flew off.
This was a very active nest for beetle visitors this day. At one point when I stopped to observe it, there were at least 7 Euphoria inda individuals and 1 Euphoria fulgida individual present simultaneously.
Various species of Euphoria are known to develop in ant nests. Maybe this visitor was 'getting acquainted' with the ants in order to gain access to the nest as an oviposition site?
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Emerald Euphoria (Euphoria fulgida) and ants
Euphoria fulgida (Fabricius, 1775). Found at Wazee Lake Recreation Area in west central Wisconsin. Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA.
Found in pine barrens habitat.
This beetle was found on a large Formica sp. dirt and thatch mound/nest. The beetle was being mobbed/attacked by ants, but was remaining motionless for the most part. This beetle was present on this ant nest, along with up to 7 individuals of Euphoria inda, for at least 40 minutes. It looked to be being attacked by the ants, but did not seem harmed at all. In the end, it crawled frantically away from the ants and flew off.
This was a very active nest for beetle visitors this day. At one point when I stopped to observe it, there were at least 7 Euphoria inda individuals and 1 Euphoria fulgida individual present simultaneously.
Various species of Euphoria are known to develop in ant nests. Maybe this visitor was 'getting acquainted' with the ants in order to gain access to the nest as an oviposition site?
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.