Beetles

A metallic-green beetle, antennae covered in pollen, is getting personal with this purple garden flower. The beetle is an edemera nobilis, of the family Oedemeridae. Its common name is the thick-legged flower beetle.

The male – as seen here – has the characteristic thickened hind femora. This was photographed in East Anglia - the species is common in the south - but is more often found in northern coastal areas. The larvae feed and develop within plant stems.