This common beetle, called the spring beetle, is a very common sight in forests. I meet him from early spring to late fall in various places. As I am passionate about mushrooms, and also picking mushrooms for culinary purposes, the spring beetle is sometimes an annoying nuisance for me.
Very often, when I enjoy a large specimen of a boletus mushroom or other tasty edible mushroom, it turns out that it is with a tenant, or even with a few. It is beetles who like mushrooms, but unlike snails, they can literally massacre them. Unfortunately, this is the only drawback of this creature. Because apart from the love of mushrooms, the spring beetle is a great friend of nature.
How to recognize this species of beetle?
Contrary to appearances, it is very simple. This beetle has, above all, a characteristic, dark blue, metallic shimmering armor, resembling a knight's armor.
Importance in the ecosystem
The spring beetle is undoubtedly a very useful insect that plays an important role in nature. He is engaged in forest cleaning, he can be called a garbage man who does the dirty work.
Generally, he cleans forests of carcass remains, animal excrements, which are his food. The channels they dig in the ground become filled with droppings and thus fertilize the soil.
Animal excrement is a rarity for them
Beetles find food in forests or clearings by smell. Although they do not have a nose, this function is performed by the feelers they move. Once he has tracked down the food, he ineptly tries to reach him, and unfortunately he is not a good flyer, and he often does it with stopovers, in installments.
This species of beetle is not dangerous to humans, so I allowed myself to hold it in my fingers. I didn't hurt him, he was only detained for a short photo shoot, then he went his way.
