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Insect identification, please #842487

Asked July 25, 2023, 10:29 AM EDT

Hello, Not a gardening question, but the general inn extension office email directed me to send my question here. Do you know the name of this creature in the photos below? I’m having trouble identifying it, beyond guessing it is some kind of beetle. It was seen in Cook County, on a sunny open area along the Oberg Mountain trail today. The body areas that appear black in these photos appeared more of a dark iridescent green in person. I never saw it fly, would think it would have flown if it could, since my camera came quite close to it. Any help you can give is much appreciated! best regards, Denise Tennessen

Cook County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for your question.

We believe that this is a Red Blue Checkered Beetle, more specifically Trichodes nutalli. It is relatively common in NE Minnesota but not so in southern Minnesota regions. This is consistent with your observing it in Cook County. Also consistent with your experience, it generally inhabits open meadows. I would guess that there were some wild flowers near to where you saw it. See the following for more information:

http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/red-blue_checkered_beetle.html

https://bugguide.net/node/view/2262683/bgimage

https://bugguide.net/node/view/473862

https://uwm.edu/field-station/red-blue-checkered-beetle/

Pretty little critter. Good find for you. Thanks for using our forum.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 25, 2023, 11:21 AM EDT
Thank you!

On Jul 25, 2023, at 10:21 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied July 25, 2023, 12:36 PM EDT

Glad to have been of assistance.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 25, 2023, 12:52 PM EDT

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