There are many species of Flower Beetles, most of them very beautiful. This one is the Thick Legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), found throughout Europe. It is about ½” long, and is a shimmering iridescent metallic green. It is easy to determine the sex of the beetle: the male has grotesquely thickened “thighs.”

The larvae live in and feed on the hollow stems of plants; the adults feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers. It likes open areas such as grasslands and gardens, and clearings in the woods. It is most often seen in the summer, on warm sunny days.

The lifespan of this beetle is about a year.