Goldsmith beetles love to be near water. This one was recently seen in Greensboro in a bucket of shallow water. Goldsmiths are a scarab beetle, known for their metallic sheen. They feed on the leaves of woodland trees. Earlier in the summer, we shared this beetles of North Carolina website. The Goldsmith beetle is #60 on this chart of 154 beetles. There are 350,000 species of beetles, making them the largest group of animals on earth.
You may think they are pests, but many species actually they play an important role. In forests, they are decomposers. Also, they help reduce the population of problem insects, such as caterpillars. Magnolia trees are pollinated by beetles, and magnolias are very popular in the forests and lawns of Greensboro. Of course, if there is an infestation of beetles, they can do great damage. We all remember the cotton boll weevil. At any rate, it is fun to keep track beetles and other wildlife seen around Greensboro. The above beetle was sent on his merry way after posing for this photo. If you want to learn a little more about beetles, the Smithsonian Institution is a great place to start (see here)
Happy Monday!
Rather photogenic.
Posted by: William Kendall | Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 12:23 PM