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Scientific Name
Trigonopeltastes delta
Family
Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles)
Description
The delta flower scarab got its name from the bright yellow triangle on its pronotum (“delta” is the Greek letter that’s a triangle). The yellow marks resemble the patterning on several types of bees or wasps (which can sting), so it might help protect this beetle from predation.
Learn more about this and other scarab beetles on their group page.
Other Common Names
D Beetle
Where To Find
Statewide.
Food
Delta flower scarab adults eat pollen, nectar, and/or other parts plants in the carrot, daisy, and mint families, including goldenrod, coneflower, rattlesnake master, and Queen Anne’s lace. The larvae live in rotting wood.
Title
Media Gallery
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Caption
The delta flower scarab (Trigonopeltastes delta) got its name from the bright yellow triangle on its pronotum (“delta” is the Greek letter that’s a triangle). The yellow pattern might help protect it, since the beetle resembles a stinging wasp.
Credit
Donna Brunet
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
Image

Caption
Delta flower scarabs are usually seen visiting flowers in prairies and other open areas. They usually mate while visiting flowers.
Right to Use
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.
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