# Oedemera lurida

The Oedemera lurida is a shiny green beetle that loves to be around flowers. It has long legs and a unique shape that makes it easy to spot in gardens and fields.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Oedemera lurida](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oedemeridae_-_Oedemera_cf._lurida.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oedemeridae_-_Oedemera_cf._lurida.JPG)

## Appearance

The Oedemera lurida is a slender beetle, typically shimmering metallic green, though it can also appear bronze or blue. Males have noticeably swollen hind femurs, making them look strong-legged. Its long, dark antennae contrast with its vibrant body.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Oedemeridae
- **Genus:** Oedemera

## Interesting facts

- Boy beetles have big, muscular back legs to show off to the girls!
- Their babies grow up hidden inside dead wood or plant stems!
- They love to sip sweet nectar and eat tasty pollen from flowers.
- You can find these shiny green beetles sunbathing on bright flowers.

## Special abilities

- **Muscle Legs:** Male Oedemera lurida have super strong-looking hind legs because of swollen femurs that help them impress females.
- **Flower Helper:** Oedemera lurida can carry pollen from flower to flower because of its fuzzy body, which helps plants make seeds.
- **Color Shifter:** This beetle sometimes has a dazzling bronze or blue color because of light reflecting off its shell, helping it blend in.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 10-15 mm
- **Size:** 7-10 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-60 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

This beetle loves to snack on sweet nectar and pollen from various flowers.

- **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Pollen, Daisy Nectar, Carrot Flower Pollen, Thistle Pollen
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Cornflower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cornflower) (*Centaurea cyanus*) — They visit cornflowers for nectar and pollen, helping them reproduce.
- **Pollinates:** Ox-eye Daisy (*Leucanthemum vulgare*) — Frequently found feeding on and pollinating ox-eye daisies.
- **Pollinates:** Wild Carrot (*Daucus carota*) — Often seen on umbellifer flowers like wild carrot, aiding pollination.
- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Small insectivorous birds like great tits may prey on these beetles.
- **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders such as the garden cross spider can catch Oedemera lurida.

## Traits

- [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
- [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.
- [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

Be gentle and watch where you step, as insects can be tiny and easily missed.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Oedemera lurida?

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 lurida's wingspan?

10-15 mm

### How big is Oedemera lurida?

7-10 mm

### How long does Oedemera lurida live?

30-60 days

### What does Oedemera lurida eat?

This beetle loves to snack on sweet nectar and pollen from various flowers.

### Where is Oedemera lurida usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Oedemera lurida hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Oedemera lurida have?

6

## 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: [Oedemera lurida: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oedemera-lurida)