# Oedemera femorata The Oedemera femorata is a shiny green beetle that loves to munch on flowers. It has long legs and can often be seen hopping around in gardens and meadows. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Gardens and meadows - **Also known as:** Long-legged Flower Beetle ![Oedemera femorata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oedemera_femorata_Podkomorsk%C3%A9_lesy.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dendrofil, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oedemera_femorata_Podkomorsk%C3%A9_lesy.jpg) ## Appearance The Oedemera femorata is a slender beetle, typically metallic green, bronze, or coppery in colour. Males are distinguished by their greatly swollen hind femurs, giving them a muscular appearance. Its long antennae are almost as long as its body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Oedemeridae - **Genus:** Oedemera ## Interesting facts - Its larvae live hidden inside dead wood, munching away at fungi! - They often choose yellow or white flowers, making them easy to spot against petals! - This beetle belongs to a family called 'false blister beetles' due to a slight resemblance! - You can tell a male from a female by checking its super-thick back legs! ## Special abilities - **Pollen Power:** Oedemera femorata has feathery mouthparts that help them gather and transport pollen, essential for plant reproduction. - **Muscle Legs:** Male Oedemera femorata have incredibly swollen hind legs that help them compete for mates and display strength. - **Quick Escape:** Oedemera femorata can quickly fly away from danger because of strong wing muscles and lightweight bodies. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 18-32 mm - **Size:** 8-16 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 7 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar and munch on pollen from flowers, while larvae enjoy decaying wood. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on decaying wood and fungi, while adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** pollen, nectar, Cirsium arvense, Achillea millefolium, Daucus carota - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — helps thistles reproduce by carrying their pollen. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — can be caught in spider webs while visiting flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — becomes a meal for hungry birds in gardens. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [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 These beetles are harmless, but it's best to observe them without touching. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oedemera femorata? 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 Oedemera femorata's wingspan? 18-32 mm ### How big is Oedemera femorata? 8-16 mm ### How long does Oedemera femorata live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Oedemera femorata fly? 7 km/h ### What does Oedemera femorata eat? Adults sip nectar and munch on pollen from flowers, while larvae enjoy decaying wood. ### Where is Oedemera femorata usually found? Gardens and meadows ### How does Oedemera femorata hunt? Foraging ## 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*) --- Source: [Oedemera femorata: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oedemera-femorata)