Bee Beetle

The Bee Beetle is a noticeable scarab beetle measuring 10 to 15 millimetres. It is easily recognised by its bright yellow and black stripes, which look like those of bumblebees. Its wing covers are covered in thick golden hairs and often look slightly see-through, showing darker marks underneath. Unlike real bees, it has long antennae with club-shaped ends and moves with the slow, heavy walk typical of beetles. The beetle can be found across much of southern and central England but becomes less common further north. Adults are most active from June to August and often visit flowers on sunny days. They especially like thistles, brambles, and plants with umbrella-shaped flower clusters, which grow in meadows, at the edges of woods, and in hedgerows. There is quite a bit of difference between individual beetles in the amount and pattern of black markings. Some look mostly golden, while others have larger dark patches across their wing covers.