Psilothrix viridicoerulea is a soft-winged flower beetle in the subfamily Dasytinae, family Melyridae. It is recognizable by its brilliant metallic bluish-green coloration and black erect hairs covering its elongated body. Common across Mediterranean Europe and the Iberian Peninsula, these beetles are most active in spring.
Key Facts
Size and Color: They are small, typically ranging between 4.8 and 7.0 mm in length. Their striking metallic, shiny blue-green exoskeleton gives them excellent camouflage on vegetation.
Diet: While the larval stages are xylwood-feeders (living in or on wood), the adults are active flower visitors. They are important spring pollinators that feed on the pollen of various blooming plants, particularly Asteraceae (daisies).
Habitat: They are easily found in meadows, gardens, and along roadsides, heavily favoring regions with abundant springtime floral blooms.
Behavior: They are diurnal and are among the earliest beetles to appear on flowers at the beginning of spring, peaking around April before gradually declining toward the end of the season.
Morphology: They have a distinctly punctuated upper surface covered in stiff, black hairs. The male pygidium (last segment of the abdomen) features a distinct small, V-shaped notch that helps differentiate them from similar species.
