# Brachypnoea

Brachypnoea is a small, colorful insect that can often be found in gardens and parks. They love to flutter around flowers, collecting nectar and spreading pollen!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens, parks, and flower-filled fields
- **Also known as:** Buzz Bug, Flower Flyer, Garden Glider

![Brachypnoea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Brachypnoea_P1010807a.jpg&width=800)

Photo: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brachypnoea_P1010807a.jpg)

## Appearance

The Brachypnoea is a small, oval-shaped beetle often displaying iridescent green or metallic blue hues. It has short antennae and a compact body, distinguishing it from longer-bodied beetles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Chrysomelidae
- **Genus:** Brachypnoea

## Interesting facts

- Adult Brachypnoea can sometimes play dead to trick predators into leaving them alone!
- Its larvae live hidden underground, feeding on plant roots for months!
- Some Brachypnoea species lay tiny eggs directly onto the leaves they will eat!
- These tiny beetles can sometimes be found munching on plants in your very own garden!

## Special abilities

- **Armor Plating:** Brachypnoea has a hard exoskeleton that helps protect it from predators like birds and spiders.
- **Leafy Disguise:** Brachypnoea can be green or bronze, helping it blend perfectly with plant leaves to hide from hungry birds.
- **Winged Escape:** Brachypnoea possesses strong wings that allow it to quickly fly away from danger or find new feeding grounds.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 5-15 mm
- **Size:** 3-7 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-90 days
- **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Brachypnoea beetles are plant eaters, nibbling on leaves and roots.

- **Age differences:** Larvae feed on roots underground, while adults eat plant leaves.
- **Primary Foods:** Plant leaves, Plant roots, Plant stems
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Adults are a food source for many small birds.
- **Eaten by:** European Garden Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Caught in webs, they become a meal for spiders.
- **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Some species feed on the leaves of oak trees.
- **Hunts:** Leafhopper Assassin Bug (*Zelus renardii*) — These bugs prey on adult beetles.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Brachypnoea?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Brachypnoea's wingspan?

5-15 mm

### How big is Brachypnoea?

3-7 mm

### How long does Brachypnoea live?

30-90 days

### How fast can Brachypnoea fly?

8 km/h

### What does Brachypnoea eat?

Brachypnoea beetles are plant eaters, nibbling on leaves and roots.

### Where is Brachypnoea usually found?

Gardens, parks, and flower-filled fields

### How does Brachypnoea hunt?

Foraging

## Where to spot

- [Brock Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brock-park) — Texas, US · Park

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Brachypnoea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachypnoea)