Malachius bipustulatus

Red-tipped flower beetle, Malachius bipustulatus, on an ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare.
4 May 2011.

I've mentioned this beetle before, when it has appeared on plant photographs, but not featured it. So here it is. It has been very common in this area and is easily recognised. It has two common names: red-tipped flower beetle, or malachite beetle.

In this adult form it eats pollen. Here it is on an ox-eye daisy. Below, there are three beetles on another ox-eye daisy, and you can see that a fourth is making its way up the stem to join them. The bottom photo is a close-up on a goat's-beard, Tragopogon pratensis.
 

Red-tipped flower beetle, Malachius bipustulatus, on ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare.
Hayes Common, 21 May 2011.

Malachius bipustulatus on flower of goat's-beard, Tragopogon pratensis, on Hayes Common, 27 May 2011.