Lycid wing beetle (or Net-winged beetle)

Natural Habitat

Deciduous forests and wooded areas, often found on flowers or under the bark of decaying logs in North America.

Diet & Feeding

Adults primarily feed on nectar and pollen; larvae are predatory or feed on juices of decaying wood and slime molds.

Behavior Patterns

Diurnal beetles that are frequently seen on flowering plants. They use aposematism (bright warning colors) to signal toxicity to predators. They are relatively slow-moving and often form mating aggregations.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem as pollinators and by aiding in the decomposition of rotting wood. They pose no risk to humans, although they contain toxic compounds (like lycidic acid) that make them distasteful to birds and other predators.

Identified on: 4/2/2026