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Astylus atromaculatus (Order Coleoptera, Famíly Melyridae)
In the place I went to photograph today there where literally hundreds of these beetles. They where everywhere, but mostly feeding on a species of grass, as seen on the third picture.
One slight correction, the species is correct, but the Family is Melyridae (soft-winged flower beetles) not Chrysomelidae. Alex Wild took these pics:http://myrmecos.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/friday-beetle-blogging-spotted-maize-beetle/
He's an excellent insect taxonomist, and I trust his judgment on the Family ID.
The flickr link calls this a chrysomelidae beetle and the attraction to grains seems to be common to both yours and his spotting.
Spotted on Feb 29, 2012
Submitted on Mar 1, 2012
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