Ischnomera cyanea

This beetle is about 12 mm long with bright iridescent blue/green elytra (wing cases), which sometimes gape to expose the body or wings. The top sections of its back legs are quite swollen.

Adults are found on many flowers including those of Hogweed and Hawthorn, often near hedgerows or wooded areas.

Usually seen in spring and summer with late May seeming to be the peak time.

Although the adults are found on flowers, the larvae develop in relatively soft white-rotting heartwood of a great variety of broadleaves.

This species is fairly common over much of England but with fewer records from Scotland.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.