trout-lily-blister-beetles
False blister beetles eating pollen and mating on a trout lily

While bushwacking up above the Camel’s Hump Nordic trails today, I came across several trout lilies in full bloom. Kneeling down to get a good shot, I noticed this congregation of false blister beetles feeding on the pollen and mating. According to Mary Holland’s excellent “Naturally Curious Day By Day”, these beetles are commonly found on trout lilies (the lilies being one of the early spring ephemerals) where they eat and do their business pretty much at the same time.

Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro, ISO 800, f/11, 1/160″ exposure.