Anaspis maculata

This is one of the many 'Tumbling Flower Beetles' (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) and is a small, elongate beetle which is usually yellowish-brown with variable black markings. Tumbling Flower Beetles have hind legs that are flattened and have an enlarged femur which they use to kick when they are on a hard surface.

Adults occur in very large numbers on open structured flowers such as Hawthorn or Elder blossom, Hogweed and Daisy flowers

Late spring and early summer.

When disturbed they drop from the trees en masse and then skip around on the ground to confuse predators.

Fairly common and widespread in England and Wales, fewer records from Scotland.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 148 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.