About Desmocerus palliatus (Forster, 1771)
Adults of Desmocerus palliatus measure 17 to 26 mm in length. They are mostly a shimmering dark blue, with the bases of their elytra coloured yellow to yellow-red. This species is likely a mimic of beetles in the family Lycidae, just like the moth Lycomorpha pholus that occurs in the same area. This species ranges from Oklahoma in central North America to parts of the southern Appalachian Mountains. It tends to be more abundant in the northern portion of its range. Adults can be found in swampy areas and near streams that host its host plant. Eggs are laid near plant stems or at the base of the plant. After hatching, larvae burrow into the stems and eat tunnels into the roots of the living plant. Adults can be seen active between April and August. Adults feed on pollen from Sambucus, and larvae also feed on Sambucus.
