Bee-eating beetle, Bee-hive beetle

Description:

Trichodes alvearius is a species of Soldier or Checkered beetle belonging to the family Cleridae, subfamily Clerinae. Trichodes alvearius is a very hairy beetle with black head and scutellum. The elongated elytra show a bright red colour with black bands. This species can easily be distinguished from Trichodes apiarius by the black stripe down the middle of the back (along the inner edge of the elytra) and the red apex, not reached by the black terminal stain. It does not fly readily, relying instead on its warning coloration to protect itself from predators. At the larval stage they are parasites of several species of bees and wasps, as the adults lay the eggs close hymenopteran nests or hives (hence the name “alvearius”, the Bee-Hive Beetle), eating various stages of their victims. The vernacular name of 'Bee-eating' Beetle is possibly a bit misleading as this behaviour is limited exclusively to the larval stage of development. The handsome and colourful adult insects feed mainly on the pollen of the inflorescences of umbelliferous plants.

Habitat:

These beetles are widely distributed across southern Europe in Albania, Italy, Greece, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the western half of the Balkans, and in North Africa.

Notes:

A very hairy fellow for a bug...!