Thick-legged Flower Beetle
Oedemera nobilis · Beetles
Thick-legged Flower Beetle
Great Dixter, 8 June 2025
A female Thick-legged Flower Beetle on an oxeye daisy at Great Dixter in June, a beetle of flowery grassland across southern Britain and Europe that spends its adult life on open flowers, eating pollen.
The name belongs to the male, whose hind thighs swell into great metallic clubs. This one has slim legs, so she is female, and the wing cases that gape apart towards the tail are normal for the species, not damage. They are useful pollinators almost by accident, carrying grains between flowers on a body built for eating them.
Thick-legged Flower Beetle, on chamomile
Great Dixter, 8 June 2025
A Thick-legged Flower Beetle working a chamomile flower at Great Dixter, iridescent green in the sun. A beetle of flowery grassland and gardens across southern Britain and Europe, and the adults live entirely on pollen, on open, flat flowers like this one where it is easy to reach.
Only the male carries the swollen hind thighs that name the species, and this one has them - a trait with no settled explanation, though the best guess is grip during mating.
Thick-legged Flower Beetle on a fleabane
Goodnestone, 1 June 2024
A Thick-legged Flower Beetle on a fleabane daisy in a Kent garden in June, the metallic green catching the light. It is a beetle of flowery grassland and gardens across southern Britain and Europe, and it spends its adult life on open, flat flowers where the pollen is easy to reach.
Only males have the swollen thighs that give the species its name, a trait with no settled explanation, though the leading guess is that it helps them grip a female during mating rather than serving any function in display.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Every photograph comes with notes on what it is.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant.
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Narrow it by period, place or species; the three work together.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.