Ornate Checkered Beetles on Oregon Checker Mallow

What could get better than finding not one but TWO beautiful Ornate Checkered Beetles on this gorgeous Oregon Checker Mallow?! This pair was so busy eating pollen that they paid no attention to me and I was able to take as many pictures as I wanted!

I've always been happy that these beautiful beetles are so common here, because I see them all the time. Their scientific name, "Trichodes" means "fuzzy" and I couldn't agree more with that name! They appear smooth if you don't get a close look, but through a macro lens, it's amazing how hairy they are--you can see the pollen sticking to all the fuzzy hairs on their bodies! These beetles are native to North America, and more common in the western half of the U.S.