bee-mimic beetle

(Trichiotinus assimilis)

Conservation Status
bee-mimic beetle
Photo by Luciearl
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

not listed

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Bee-mimic beetle is a hairy, stout-bodied, oval, ¼ to ½ long, flower chafer beetle.

The body is more or less flattened above. The upper plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is brown to black and densely covered with long, tan hairs. The hardened outer wings (elytra) are black with brown and pale markings. Two brown or whitish longitudinal stripes near the inner margin of each elytra join in an irregular brown patch near the forward margin. Two pale brown or whitish horizontal stripes extend from the outermost longitudinal stripe to the outer margin of each elytra. The horizontal stripes are unusual and help to identify this as belonging to the tribe Trichiini. The abdomen is densely covered with long hairs that poke out from under the elytra.

Each antenna has 3 or 4 long projections on one side that can be brought together and closed tightly.

The first segment of the front leg (coxa) is conical. The pair of claws at the end of each hind foot (tarsus) is simple, not doubled or toothed, and are of equal length.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

¼ to ½

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Open areas near woodlands

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

April to August

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The female lays her eggs in rotting wood of decaying hardwood trees.

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

Rotting wood

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Slower pollen and/or nectar. May also feed on foliage and stems.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  7/12/2022      
         
 

Only two species of Trichiotinus occur in Minnesota. The range of Trichiotinus piger barely extends into the southeastern corner of the state. Trichiotinus assimilis is found in the northern half of the state. The ranges do not overlap.

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)  
 

Infraorder

Scarabaeiformia  
 

Superfamily

Scarabaeoidea (scarabs, stag beetles, and allies)  
 

Family

Scarabaeidae (scarabs)  
 

Subfamily

Cetoniinae (fruit and flower chafers)  
 

Tribe

Trichiini (bee beetles and flower scarabs)  
 

Subtribe

Trichiina  
 

Genus

Trichiotinus (bee-like flower scarabs)  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Trichius bistriga

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

bee-mimic beetle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

Tarsus

On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this insect.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Luciearl

 
    bee-mimic beetle      
 

Bill Reynolds

 
  While hunting on Prairie Rose
this White Crab Spider turned up it's nose,
so to speak,
and walked away from the Carrion Beetle.
I guess it pays to stink a little.
  bee-mimic beetle  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this insect.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Scarabée des marguerites/Flower Beetle (Trichiotinus assimilis)
Dominique Lalonde Films Nature
 
   
 
About

Oct 28, 2021

Découvrez les insectes du Québec.

Discover the insects of Quebec.

Abonnez-vous pour ne rien manquer !/Subscribe to miss nothing !

https://www.youtube.com/user/Explorationnature

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Luciearl
7/3/2022

Location: Fairview Twp, Cass County

bee-mimic beetle  
  Bill Reynolds
8/30/2015

Location: Pennington County, MN

While hunting on Prairie Rose
this White Crab Spider turned up it's nose,
so to speak,
and walked away from the Carrion Beetle.
I guess it pays to stink a little.

bee-mimic beetle  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 9/6/2015

Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.