| Trichodes alvearius (Fabricius, 1792) |
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Scientific name: Trichodes alvearius (Fabricius, 1792) Common name: French name: Clairon des ruches, Trichode des ruches Order: Coleoptera Family: Cleridae Wingspan : 9.5 to 17 mm. Biotope: Flower meadows, road sides. Geographic area: Southern part of western Europe, north to Germany and Belgium and east to former Yugoslavia. North Africa. Observation period : May to August. |
Trichodes alvearius is a small hairy coleoptera with a black head and a black scutellum. The lengthy elytra are bright red with black bands. You can tell the common and similar species, Trichodes apiarius, apart with the last black band reaching the apex of the elytra. Trichodes alvearius shows a red area at the rear of the last black band. Trichodes alvearius also shows a thin black line between the two elytra. This black line is missing on Trichodes apiarius. Trichodes umbellatarum, limited to south of France, shows a red area at the apex of the elytra but no black line on the back part of the elytra junction. The larvae of Trichodes alvearius grow in the nest of solitary bees. They feed on larvae and nymphs. Adult Trichodes alvearius are mainly seen on flowers, especially umbelliferae flowers. They feed on pollen and sometimes on small insects. |
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This pictures shows the main criteria used to tell Trichodes alvearius apart. You can see the thin black line between the elytra and the red area at the apex. |
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This pictures shows the dense black hairs. |
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And the last one, … my preferred, … feeding on pollen. |
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Same region, same period of the year, same species of Cleridae! |
André Bon March 2013