Eurasian bee beetle (Trichius fasciatus)

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Here is a detailed overview of the Eurasian Bee Beetle (Trichius fasciatus), a fuzzy, bumblebee-mimicking beetle often seen visiting flowers in summer:

🐞 **Eurasian Bee Beetle (Trichius fasciatus)**

🔹 Taxonomy

Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Cetoniinae (Flower chafers)
Genus: Trichius
Species: fasciatus
Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

🔹 Identification

Size: 8–14 mm in length
Appearance:
- Body: Robust, hairy, bumblebee-like
- Elytra (wing cases): Yellowish or creamy with 3 irregular black transverse bands
- Thorax and head: Densely covered in yellowish or orange hairs
- Legs and underside: Black and hairy
- Antennae: Short with clubbed ends (typical of scarabs)

📸 Mimics bumblebees in both color and texture, likely as a form of Batesian mimicry to deter predators.

🔹 Distribution

Widespread across Europe, including:
- Central and Northern Europe (e.g., Germany, Scandinavia, UK, Estonia)
- Mountainous and subalpine regions (e.g., the Alps, Carpathians)
Extends eastward into parts of Russia and western Asia

🔹 Habitat

Prefers flower-rich environments, such as:
- Sunny forest edges
- Meadows
- Alpine pastures
- Clearings
- Roadsides
Frequently associated with old deciduous trees and deadwood (important for larval development)

🔹 Seasonal Activity

Adults appear from May to August, peaking in June–July
Most often seen during sunny, warm days feeding on flowers

🔹 Behavior and Ecology

🌼 Feeding (Adults)

Feed primarily on pollen and nectar
Commonly seen on:
- Thistles
- Ox-eye daisy
- Meadowsweet
- Umbellifers (Apiaceae)
Important pollinators, though less efficient than bees

🐛 Larvae

Develop in decaying wood of broadleaved trees, especially:
- Beech
- Oak
- Willow
Require several years to develop in moist, rotting trunks or stumps

🔹 Mimicry and Defense

Bumblebee mimic:
- The beetle’s coloration and fuzzy body resemble stinging bees, deterring bird predators
Unlike bees, it is harmless — cannot sting or bite
When disturbed, may feign death (thanatosis)

🔹 Similar Species

Species	Key Difference
Trichius gallicus	Found more in southern Europe; slightly different elytral markings
Trichius zonatus	More southern range; subtle variation in elytral band shapes
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)	More compact head and flight behavior; true stingers

🔹 Conservation

Not globally threatened, but:
- Vulnerable to loss of deadwood habitats
- Affected by intensive forestry and dead tree removal
In some countries, considered a species of local conservation concern

🔹 Ecological Role

Pollinators of wildflowers
Larvae contribute to decomposition of dead wood
Serve as prey for birds, wasps, and small mammals

🔹 Fun Facts

Often photographed for its eye-catching bumblebee disguise
The hairs covering its body often become dusty with pollen, helping spread it between flowers
Sometimes called “Bee beetle” or “Bee-mimic chafer”

📸 Observation Tips

Look for them on flowering plants in open meadows near forests in early summer
They are slow-moving and relatively easy to photograph
Can be found at altitudes up to 2000 meters in the Alps