Surrounded by Giant Fennel

We are out in the nature reserve which occupies the opposite side of the gorge on which the ancient city of Matera in southern Italy stands: Parco della Murgia Materana:

It’s an incredibly beautiful place.

It’s hot under blue skies as we look across the gorge to the rebuilding of the old city of Matera in preparation for the 2019 European Capital of Culture:

We are surrounded by Giant Fennel Ferula communis:

As we walk across the reserve the bobbing heads of the yellow flowers and bright green seed-heads are at head height:

On the seed-heads are these beetles:

I wonder what they are?