{"id":103751,"date":"2022-07-01T05:10:30","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T11:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=103751"},"modified":"2025-10-29T07:27:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T12:27:00","slug":"ornate-checkered-beetle-in-sticky-purple-geraniums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/07\/01\/ornate-checkered-beetle-in-sticky-purple-geraniums\/","title":{"rendered":"Ornate Checkered Beetle In Sticky Purple Geraniums"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OrnateOrnate Checkered Beetle on Sticky Purple Geranium \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When my trips to the field are slow bird-wise there is always something else to focus on. Earlier this week it was an Ornate Checkered Beetle on Sticky Purple Geraniums. I stopped to photograph the Sticky Purple Geraniums<\/span><\/a> (Geranium viscosissimum<\/em>) because they were the first that I had seen flowering this year. Their pretty pink blooms drew my eyes straight to them.<\/p>\n

As I focused on one of the flowers I saw a black and yellow beetle on it that I didn’t recognize so I wanted to be sure to take images that showed the beetle clearly. I saw a few more of the beetles on the other flowers but the one in this photo showed the beetle the best.<\/p>\n

After I returned home I was able to use iNaturalist to identify this beetle as an Ornate Checkered Beetle<\/span><\/a> (Trichodes ornatus<\/em>) by exploring the beetles found in Summit County. I was tickled because this was a lifer beetle for me. Getting excited about a beetle or anything wild that is new to me is part of who I am.<\/p>\n

\"BloomingBlooming Sticky Purple Geranium \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I took more images of the Sticky Purple Geraniums than I did the beetles. I saw and photographed these wildflowers before I moved to Utah on a trip out here from Florida in July of 2008.<\/p>\n

When I am in the field I pay attention to practically everything I can see or hear because everything<\/em> in nature is connected. There are photos in my galleries that I would never have been able to create if it weren’t for the approach that I take when I am out in the field. I observe and relish what I see, hear and find. I stop frequently, I linger, and I love what I do.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my insect and spider images. Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my wildflower, shrub and tree photos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When my trips to the field are slow bird-wise there is always something else to focus on. Earlier this week it was an Ornate Checkered Beetle on Sticky Purple Geraniums.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13011,13012,1731,26,773],"tags":[11863,13021,6098,6557,7353,3940,6518,13016,13015,13017,1799,4069,4302,13020,2291,5064,13018,5070,13014,13013,2315,13019,3896,4307],"class_list":["post-103751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ornate-checkered-beetles","category-sticky-purple-geraniums","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-beetle","tag-beetles","tag-blooming","tag-blooms","tag-blossoms","tag-canyon","tag-flowering","tag-geranium","tag-geranium-viscosissimum","tag-geraniums","tag-insects","tag-mountains","tag-native","tag-ornate-checkered-beetle","tag-perennial","tag-pink-wildflowers","tag-protocarnivorous","tag-purple-wildflowers","tag-sticky-geranium","tag-sticky-purple-geranium","tag-summer-3","tag-trichodes-ornatus","tag-wildflower","tag-wildflowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sticky-purple-geranium-ornate-checkered-beetle-mia-mcpherson-2176.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-qZp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":104304,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/07\/16\/early-july-wildflowers-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":103751,"position":0},"title":"Early July Wildflowers In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I wanted to share some of the wildflowers I photographed in the first part of July that I have found in Summit and Morgan Counties high in the Wasatch Mountains.","rel":"","context":"In "Blue Elderberry"","block_context":{"text":"Blue Elderberry","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/shrubs\/blue-elderberry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Flowering Parsnipflower Buckwheat, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/parsnipflower-buckwheat-blooming-mia-mcpherson-3471.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/parsnipflower-buckwheat-blooming-mia-mcpherson-3471.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/parsnipflower-buckwheat-blooming-mia-mcpherson-3471.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/parsnipflower-buckwheat-blooming-mia-mcpherson-3471.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8361,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/05\/12\/flowers-for-mothers-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":103751,"position":1},"title":"Flowers for Mothers Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"For all the Moms out there, for the ones who are with us and those who have gone, Happy Mothers Day. We blossomed because of you.","rel":"","context":"In "Little Cottonwood Canyon"","block_context":{"text":"Little Cottonwood Canyon","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/little-cottonwood-canyon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sticky Purple Geranium in bloom, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cranesbill-Geranium-mia-mcpherson-0200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cranesbill-Geranium-mia-mcpherson-0200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cranesbill-Geranium-mia-mcpherson-0200.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cranesbill-Geranium-mia-mcpherson-0200.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109093,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/29\/wildflowers-i-photographed-in-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":103751,"position":2},"title":"Wildflowers I Photographed In 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I wanted to share some of the wildflowers I photographed in 2022. Birds are my primary subjects yet I simply can't resist focusing on wildflowers.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blooming Showy Milkweed with two ants, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48975,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/10\/15\/common-checkered-skipper-on-flowering-asters\/","url_meta":{"origin":103751,"position":3},"title":"Common Checkered-Skipper On Flowering Asters","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a Common Checkered-Skipper and can be found in most of the U.S., some southern parts of Canada and northern Mexico.","rel":"","context":"In "Common Checkered-Skippers"","block_context":{"text":"Common Checkered-Skippers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/common-checkered-skippers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Common Checkered-Skipper on aster, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/common-checkered-skipper-mia-mcpherson-6266.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/common-checkered-skipper-mia-mcpherson-6266.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/common-checkered-skipper-mia-mcpherson-6266.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/common-checkered-skipper-mia-mcpherson-6266.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":141156,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/03\/04\/checkered-white-butterfly-on-a-black-eyed-susan-in-oklahoma\/","url_meta":{"origin":103751,"position":4},"title":"Checkered White Butterfly On A Black-eyed Susan In Oklahoma","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It isn\u2019t really spring yet, but I\u2019ve already seen a bee, flies, moths, and butterflies. They reminded me of this Checkered White butterfly I photographed last year.","rel":"","context":"In "Black-eyed Susans"","block_context":{"text":"Black-eyed Susans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/black-eyed-susans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Checkered White butterfly on a Black-eyed Susan, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Johnston County, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/black-eyed-susan-checkered-white-butterfly-mia-mcpherson-3264.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/black-eyed-susan-checkered-white-butterfly-mia-mcpherson-3264.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/black-eyed-susan-checkered-white-butterfly-mia-mcpherson-3264.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/black-eyed-susan-checkered-white-butterfly-mia-mcpherson-3264.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":105518,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/06\/03\/purple-loosestrife-curlycup-gumweed-and-chicory\/","url_meta":{"origin":103751,"position":5},"title":"Purple Loosestrife, Curlycup Gumweed and Chicory","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I took these photos of Purple Loosestrife, Curlycup Gumweed, and Chicory last year while driving around Farmington Bay WMA in September.","rel":"","context":"In "Chicory"","block_context":{"text":"Chicory","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/chicory\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stand of Purple Loosestrife, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/purple-loosestrife-blooming-mia-mcpherson-6625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/purple-loosestrife-blooming-mia-mcpherson-6625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/purple-loosestrife-blooming-mia-mcpherson-6625.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/purple-loosestrife-blooming-mia-mcpherson-6625.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103751\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}