Malachius aeneus
This tiny beetle that I found in the Jordanelle dam wetlands was doing its best to keep me
from taking photos but I finally got this shot as it raced to the top of the grass to position
itself for flight. © Carol Davis, 6-6-2010
This is the first one of these I found and there were a gazillion of them at Garr Ranch on Antelope
Island. The adults are seen mostly in May and June, according to Bugguide.net. These beetles
are considered beneficial as they not only spread pollen and eat other insects as adults, but as
larvae they prey on other insects. They seem to have a strong survival instinct because they are
always running from the camera. © Carol Davis, 5-18-2009
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