Ynghylch

The swollen-thighed beetle is also known as the thick-legged flower beetle, and it just takes one look at a male to see why — they have huge green bulges on the femora of their hind legs. They were once only found in a few parts of southern England, but have expanded and are now much more widespread, including throughout Wales.

Adult beetles emerge in spring and are most likely to be seen on warm, sunny days. They feed on pollen and visit a range of open-faced flowers, making them excellent pollinators. You will often find them on umbellifers, brambles and oxeye daisies. As a result, swollen-thighed beetles can be seen in just about any habitat that offers plenty of suitable flowers. The larvae of this beetle are rarely seen as they live inside the stems of thistles and other plants.