The rough-haired darkling beetle (Lagria hirta) is a common sight across Europe and the UK. Unlike many of their darkling cousins, the adults are highly active during the day, spending their time buzzing around flowers to feed on pollen and nectar. The larvae, on the other hand, live tucked away in leaf litter, turf, and dead wood, where they help decompose decaying plant matter. Interestingly, these larvae sport three specialized pouches on their backs dedicated entirely to housing Burkholderia bacteria—a helpful microbe passed down through generations. The symbiotic bacteria inside these pouches produce an antifungal compound called lagriamide, protecting the larvae from pathogenic fungi, especially during the vulnerable molting process when their new shells are still soft. I met this handsome individual during a walk in a Swedish forest right near my home.