Poorly-studied-life-history
Guides
Trigonopeltastes delta
delta flower scarab, D beetle
Trigonopeltastes delta is a diurnal scarab beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae, commonly known as the delta flower scarab or D beetle. Adults measure 8–10 mm in length and are distinguished by a prominent yellow triangle on the pronotum that resembles the Greek letter delta, giving the species its name. This marking has been theorized to function in Batesian mimicry of wasp defensive coloration. The beetle is native to the southeastern United States with range extending north to New Jersey, and is frequently observed on flowers from late spring through summer.