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Thistle Fan - _TNY_4016

There are many insects which are attracted to the thistles in summer, but one of the greater fans is the bee beetle (Trichius fasciatus) like this one.

 

If you want to find one, scanning those purple flowers is probably your best bet.

 

These belong to the chafers like those large metallic green beetles and just like them they have the ability to deploy their wings without opening the elytra (the hard shell over the abdomen) like most other beetles. The wings just pop out through slits at the base of the elytra and then they take off. Looks quite cool actually.

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Uploaded on October 7, 2021
Taken on July 24, 2021