
	Description
	Each wing cover (elytron) is metalic bluish-black or greenish-black with three bright red horizontal stripes. Each stripe extends from the lateral margin almost but not quite to the inner margin (suture). The first two stripes are broad and are joined at the lateral margin forming a C-shaped mark. The rear stripe is narrower. There is a small black spot in the shoulder (humeral) area.

	Size
	Total length: 5 ⁄16″ to ⅜″ long

	Similar Species



	Habitat
	Meadows, fields with flowers, gardens.


	Biology
	Season
	June to August

	Behavior


	Life Cycle


	Larva Hosts
	Larvae of wasps and bees.

	Adult Food
	Thrips and other small insects, pollen.


	Taxonomy
	Order	Coleoptera (beetles)
	Suborder	Polyphaga (water, rove, scarab, long-horned, leaf, and snout beetles)
	Infraorder	Cucujiformia
	Superfamily	Cleroidea (bark-gnawing, checkered, and soft-winged flower beetles)
	Family	Cleridae (checkered beetles)
	Subfamily	Clerinae
	Genus	Trichodes

	Synonyms


	Common Names
	Nuttall’s shaggy beetle red-blue checkered beetle

Glossary

Elytra

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


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	Luciearl

	Red and Blue beetle on yarrow.


	Many of these insects were found on daisies in the ditch. They seem to only prefer daisies.



	Kirk Nelson





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Luciearl 7/6/2023	Location:Cass County Red and Blue beetle on yarrow.



Luciearl 6/29/2022	Location: Fairview Twp, Cass County Many of these insects were found on daisies in the ditch. They seem to only prefer daisies.



Kirk Nelson 6/18/2016	Location: Wild River State Park



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St. Croix Savanna SNA St. Croix State Park

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red-blue checkered beetle