Harmless yet stinky, the Hermit Flower Beetle is quiet, minds its own business and doesn't hurt anything, like some people in a way.
Hermit Flower Beetle larvae are large and white grubs that reside inside dead or rotting wood and logs. They don't harm trees; they just take advantage of the space created by dead/dying ones. The species helps break down dead tree tissue, returning nutrients back into the ecosystem. Adults have the ability to emit a noxious odor when frightened. The smell is difficult to describe, but definitely pungent and obvious. Those familiar with tree bark tannery practices have likened it to a type of leather. Adult Hermit Flower Beetles are attracted to lights at night.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Coleoptera
Family:Scarabidae
Genus:Osmoderma
Species:eremicola
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Osmoderma eremicola
Category:
Beetle
Size (Adult; Length): 25mm to 30mm (0.98in to 1.17in)
Colors: black, brown
Descriptors: flying, smelly, stinky, odor, large, dark
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Beetle Anatomy
1
Antennae: Beetles have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.
2
Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and mandibles (jaws).
3
Thorax: Holds the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.
4
Elytron: One of two wing cases on a Beetle that protects its wings (plural: elytra).
5
Wings: Appendages used for flying and kept under the elytra until needed.
6
Abdomen: Houses organs related to circulation, reproduction, and excretion.
7
Legs: Beetles have three pairs of legs located at the thorax, numbering six legs in all.
Colors: black, brown
