Other Common Names
"D Beetle", Flower Scarab
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Trigonopeltastes delta (
Forster 1771)
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 Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.
Season
Summer. May-August (North and South Carolina). May-October (Texas).
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. Larvae are found in decaying wood, e.g., stumps, and have also been found in bromeliads.
See Also
Trichiotinus, but pattern of this species 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)
Internet References
Texas Entomology--discusses life cycle, range
Contributed by
Cotinis on 20 March, 2004 - 12:53am
Last updated 24 June, 2009 - 3:38pm
