Other Common Names
"D Beetle", Flower Scarab
Explanation of Names
Species name "delta" refers to the triangular pattern on the pronotum, which resembles the Greek letter, Delta, i.e., Δ.
Identification
Distinctive medium-sized beetle with yellow-orange elytra and striking triangular pattern on pronotum. Diurnal, visits flowers. Perhaps the Delta pattern on the pronotum, combined with the orange coloration of the elytra is mimicry of wasps, such as...
Paper Wasp, Polistes fuscatus/Southern Yellowjacket, Vespula squamosa
Range
Southeastern United States: New Jersey south to Florida, west to Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.
Season
Summer. May-August (North and South Carolina)
Food
Adults take pollen and/or nectar. (Possibly eat vegetative parts as well?) Food plants include Goldenrod (Solidago), Feverfew (Parthenium), Coneflower (Echinacea), and Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccafolium).
Life Cycle
Mating occurs on flowers. Life cycle unknown? (At least it is not reported in popular works.) Larvae of related genus Trichiotinus live in decaying wood.
See Also
Trichiotinus, but delta pattern of Trigonopltastes delta is distinctive.
Print References
White,
Field Guide to the Beetles, plate 8
(1)
Arnett and Jacques,
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects, number 114
(2)
Deyrup and Kenney,
Florida's Fabulous Insects, page 95
(3)
Harpootlian, p. 122, fig. 241
(4)
Contributed by
Cotinis on 20 March, 2004 - 12:53am
Last updated 27 November, 2005 - 7:37am
