Stats

Lifespan

1-2 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate grassland

Range

Europe and North Africa

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Common

About

A small scarab beetle native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin, recognised by its glossy black elytra peppered with irregular white spots. Adults are daisy-and-thistle visitors, landing flower-to-flower to feed on pollen and nectar during warm spring and summer days.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Scarabaeidae

Genus

Oxythyrea

Species

Oxythyrea funesta