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Trichodes creticus
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Trichodes Creticus (Brodsky, 1982)
Coleoptera: Cleridae
Trichodes creticus is an endemic species of Soldier or Checkered beetle belonging to the family Cleridae very common in Crete. It is a very hairy beetle with black head and scutellum. The elongated elytra show a bright red colour with black bands. This species can easily be distinguished from Trichodes apiarius by the black stripe down the middle of the back (along the inner edge of the elytra) and the red apex, not reached by the black terminal stain. It can be confused with T. alvearius. The difference is in the first black markings wich are dent like in T. alvearius and the longer pronotum. It does not fly readily, relying instead on its warning coloration to protect itself from predators.
At the larval stage they are parasites of several species of bees and wasps, as the adults lay the eggs close hymenopteran nests or hives (hence the name “alvearius”, the Bee-Hive Beetle), eating various stages of their victims.
The adults can be encountered from April through August on the flowers, mainly Apiaceae, Asteraceae and Crataegus species, feeding on pollen. Here it feeds on pollen of Oreganum flowers. However, they integrate their diet with small insects that they actively hunt, especially Oedemera, Psilothrix, Stenopterus and Clytus species. I posted a picture in which it feeds on a small insect (Rhagonycha sp) on Oreganum flower |
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- lousat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(65489) - [2016-04-26 4:35]
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Hi Nikos,very good macro of this beetle red and black,excellent sharpness especially on the black and red body and perfect exposure of white of flowers,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
hallo Nikos
very nice picture of this specie who are differend who i knowe
thanks to show this specie
gr lou
Great shot Nikos. I might have cropped the flower on the right which distracts the eye a little, but anyway excellent.
Yours,
Geoff
Hello Nikos,
Credit goes to you to use flash perfectly. Excellent color and quite well details of the Beetle. Composition is well too. Good work...
Thanks and have a nice WE,
Regards,
Srikumar
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