musk beetle what a beauty

Could not resist blogging about this little beauty.

Its a Musk Beetle Aromia moschata, this one was found on an allotment site hence the gloves I was wearing while working. I used to find them at this time of year at Milton Country Park but this is first I have seen for a while.

They are superb creatures and the colours and the antennae are real, the young live in willow trees for a few years before the adults hatch out and go looking for a mate. This one was found on red windfall apples not the usual flowers they get nectar for food from. I did use to find them on ice lolly wrappers at Milton though.