flower beetle

noun

1. any of numerous, usually brightly colored beetles, as of the families Malachiidae and Dasytidae, that live on flowers and are predaceous on other insects.
2. any of certain scarabaeid beetles of the subfamily Cetoniinae that feed on pollen.

Word History and Origins

Origin of flower beetle¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

In the sand at our feet an iridescent flower beetle crawled, its metallic green and blue wings burning like a spark.

From Project Gutenberg