Fasciated

This smart red and black beetle is Anthocomus fasciatus, a very local Flower Beetle of southern and central England and Wales north to the Humber which is always good to see in the garden. It is generally absent from western areas and seems to have decreased in abundance over recent decades. It occurs in a range of mostly dry situations such as parkland, grassland, gardens and woodland and hedgerow margins, appearing from early May and persisting into July or August. Adults are polyphagous; they generally occur in small numbers, often only as individual specimens, and  may be found on a range of flowers, especially umbels and, Hawthorn blossom, where they feed on pollen and predate small insects and mites etc.

This picture was taken in the garden in a warm and sunny interlude after a Teams meeting. The Garlic Mustard and Alexanders were attracting many, many insects. IIndeed, there was so much moving around that I contacted Chris to arrange a return visit to Normangate Meadows. However, I'd scarcely finished writing my text when the clouds began to gather, and within ten minutes or so it was pouring with rain! So we sensibly gave up the idea of evening fieldwork....