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In honor of International Beetle Day (yes, I made that up), we have some photos of beetles by Tony Eales from Australia. His captions are indented.
Still getting through the Borneo insects, order by order. This time some of the Coleoptera.
We were thrilled to find a large Three-horned Rhinoceros Beetle (Chalcosoma moellenkampi) that came in to the lights at the field centre. It’s always surprising how strong these beetles are as anyone who has held one can attest.
It often seems like most beetles are leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. There are estimates that there is some 50,000 species of which about 37,000 are known. Two I photographed were from the sub-family Galerucinae. The blue one shone like a jewel in the forest.
On one night walk we found this incredible Firefly larvae family Lampyridae. One of the most alien looking things I’ve ever seen.
We were also shown a site where Violin Beetles are regularly found. These large unusual beetles were one of the highlights of the trip.
There were also scarab beetles family Scarabaeidae and many tiny beetles that came to the lights at the kitchen which I have no idea even the family.
Scarabs:
Unknown:
*Sigh* Most satisfying! Thank you for sharing these.
The ‘unknown’ has the look of a ground beetle, which is another enormous family.
Thanks Mark. I did ask one of the scientists and they gave me the name of a family which I dutifully did not make a note of and promptly forgot 🙁 I’m such a bad nerd.
All very lovely and yeah, the firefly larvae looks alien, or really it looks like something a Hollywood props person dreamt up for a sci-fi film to look alien. Very cool.
And while probably not as cuddly or charming as cats, thanks to the internet I am now aware that there is a niche pet community surrounding big beautiful beetles like this three-horned rhino beetle. YouTube videos, care books, specialist equipment…so many things to nerd out on!
Gorgeous. I am inordinately fond of beetles. Proof that I am made in God’s image 😉
The firefly larva doesn’t look all that different from a ladybug larva IMO, except for the very weird head.
Yes, that was one of the best quips ever…
The firefly larvae reminds me of a tiny pangolin.
How many pangolins have you seen in action?
It’s hard to imagine 50,000 species of which about 37,000 are known. No wonder religious belivers can’t get past the need for a creator with excellent close vision and tiny hands.
Lovely beetles, thanks.
Whoa, these are fantastic. The violin beetle’s ?wings? look like glass- esp. where it’s “broken”. The larvae looks modular…bizarro.