fruit chafer beetle ( pachnoda sinuata flaviventris )

24 Oct, 2010
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Caught on pink marguerite flower . Pretty markings , but very destructive. Fortunately loved by starlings of which quite a few visit our garden . Guess which end is which ?

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Whistonlass

I think his back end is on the yellow centre of the flower?
But...had you not asked the question I would have taken the two black circles at that end as his eyes. Am I right?

Glad to hear the starlings keep their numbers down...a pretty big beetle by the looks of it!

24 Oct, 2010

Vynjan

Hi Whistonlass spot-on !!! I think the eye markings at the back are meant to confuse their predators . They are approx. 3/4 to 1 inch long . They home in on our pyracanthas at this time of the year - this one either lost its bearings or fell on to the marguerite bush underneath .

25 Oct, 2010

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