Beetles and Weevils

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Green Tiger beetle from Ukraine  or Cicindela campestris
f6.3 1.5X ISO100 .8sec 193u at 59 steps

Small green scaled beetle or
Hoplia chlorophana beetle 

f5.6, 2X, ISO100, 1/8sec, 155µ, at 44 steps

Likely Apatides fortis from the Bostrichidae family

 3.5x, f5.6, 63 steps, 89 micron
0.5 sec, ISO 160

Likely Apatides fortis from the Bostrichidae family

 5x, f5.6, 110 steps, 58 micron step,
0.5 sec, ISO 100

Jewel Beetle or Polybothris sumptuosa sumptuosa 

Native to Madagascar

Ground Beetle or Diodes cruralis

Native to Ukraine

1.5X 100 mm lens, 1/60 sec., f5.6, 320 ISO, 21 steps, 271µm step length

Ground Beetle or
Carabus vietinghoffii

Native to Europe and Asia.

100mm, 0.75X, f.6.3, 1/15 sec, 125 ISO, 13 steps at 0.782mm

Ten-lined June beetle

Polyphylla decemlineata


Showing Flabellate antennae -  from the Latin flabellum, meaning fan. In The terminal segments extend laterally, with long, parallel lobes that lie flat against each other forming a plate-like structure. Looks like a folding paper fan when open. 


The ten-lined June beetle, also known as the watermelon beetle, is a scarab beetle found in the western United States and Canada. The adults are attracted to light and feed on foliage. They can make a hissing sound when touched or otherwise disturbed, which can resemble the hissing of a bat. This sound is made by their wings pushing down, forcing the air out between their wings and back.

Laowa 100mm lens, f/3.2,  1/40 sec,  2X, ISO 100, 54 stacked images, 103 µm step length, 5 fix LED, with diffusion tube to get the curved eye spot.

Pleasing Fungus Beetle 
or Cypherotylus Californicus  

Purple is one of the least common colors in nature. This beetles color is likely due to the complexity and rarity of molecules that create the color purple/blue color, as well as the fact that the pigments that form purple/blue are found more in high saline-alkaline environments. These alkaline environments are difficult for most organisms to thrive in, so there are fewer numbers of animals that actually can be purple/blue. Pleasing fungus beetles lose their bright hue shortly after death, so apparently pigments are what produce their purple/blue hue. https://www.rainforestexpeditions.com/purple-pleasing-fungus-beetle/


The name Pleasing Fungus Beetle came from the food they eat and are generally found where various fungi are present. “The pleasing fungus beetle is found locally in stands of Ponderosa pine,  (the largest Ponderosa pine stand is in northern Arizona) and aspen, especially near bracket fungi that grow on rotting logs. Adult beetles lay their eggs and once hatched, the larvae feast on the bracket fungi. Adult beetles are shiny black with blue or purple elytra (hardened wing covers) with black dots. This shiny cuticle or exoskeleton is waterproof thanks to the components of this natural composite...” (Genius of Place Report, City of Boulder OSMP) 


Pleasing Fungus Beetle 
or Cypherotylus Californicus   

Purple is one of the least common colors in nature. This beetles color is likely due to the complexity and rarity of molecules that create the color purple/blue color, as well as the fact that the pigments that form purple/blue are found more in high saline-alkaline environments. These alkaline environments are difficult for most organisms to thrive in, so there are fewer numbers of animals that actually can be purple/blue. Pleasing fungus beetles lose their bright hue shortly after death, so apparently pigments are what produce their purple/blue hue. https://www.rainforestexpeditions.com/purple-pleasing-fungus-beetle/


The name Pleasing Fungus Beetle came from the food they eat and are generally found where various fungi are present. “The pleasing fungus beetle is found locally in stands of Ponderosa pine,  (the largest Ponderosa pine stand is in northern Arizona) and aspen, especially near bracket fungi that grow on rotting logs. Adult beetles lay their eggs and once hatched, the larvae feast on the bracket fungi. Adult beetles are shiny black with blue or purple elytra (hardened wing covers) with black dots. This shiny cuticle or exoskeleton is waterproof thanks to the components of this natural composite...” (Genius of Place Report, City of Boulder OSMP) 


May beetle or Phyllophaga crinita

They are not very smooth fliers but rather clumsy because they barely reach eight kilometers per hour. They are strongly attracted to lights, causing them to bump and buzz against window screens, cover walkways and porches as they roll on their backs with their legs in the air. The most common grasses it feeds upon are Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and tall fescue, all of which are plentiful in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Has little human benefit unless you like to fish because they make a great fish bait. Bass particularly find them tasty even in place of traditional worms. 

Ponderosa Pine Bark Borer Beetle or
Acanthocinus princeps 

Head to tail 2cm
Antennae 4.5 cm

f5.6, 1/30 sec, 5X, ISO 125, 101 Shots, Step size 0.029 mm, 11 slabs 5 fix LED, with diffusion box.

clown beetle or hololepta plana 

60 shots

Very flat beetle about 5mm long.

This was from an acquired collection which originated either from Ukraine and or Madagascar.

clown beetle or

hololepta plana 

5mm long

This was from an acquired collection which originated either from Ukraine and or Madagascar.

Clytus arietis or Wasp beetle

104 shots

This was from an acquired collection which originated either from Ukraine and or Madagascar.

Clytus arietis or Wasp beetle

61 shots

This was from an acquired collection which originated either from Ukraine and or Madagascar.

Darkling  Beetle from family Tenebrinidae possibly subfamily Epitragini 

From an acquired collection either from Madagascar or Ukraine. Numerical Aperture 0.17, Effective Aperture f11.7, 4x, ISO 100,
1/8 sec, 291 steps at 18µm/step

Eupatorus gracillicoris
5 Horn Rhinoserous beetle

74 shots

Altica torquata
Chrysomelidae family
Steele-blue
grapevine flea beetle
BEFORE 

39 shots- This specimen was over 10 years old

Altica torquata
Chrysomelidae family
Steele-blue
grapevine flea beetle
after 

39 shots- This specimen was over 10 years old

Derobrachus germinatus or Palo Verde Root Borring beetle

41 shots

The Palo Verde Root Borer gets its name because of the roots it eats. As grubs they like the roots of trees and bushes particularly the Palo Verde roots, hence their name. They also eat citrus, mulberry, and elm trees. They can survive for long periods of time without much food at all.

These black and brown beetles reach about 6-9 cm. They have long antennae. with hard shell exoskeletons.

In the early evening they fly looking for a mate. They then lay their eggs in the soil around a plant. Once these eggs hatch into grubs, they live in the ground for as long as 3 years before ever coming to the surface living off the juices of the plant root.

Motorcycle riders beware. Getting hit in the face by one of these (they are attracted to lights) at 50 miles per hour can cause some damage.

Found this one under my front porch light. 


Dynastes granti or 

Grants' Rhinocerous Beetle

Pulled up to the gas pump in Pine, Arizona. Reached for the pump handle and there it was waiting for me. Grant's is the largest of the USA rhinoceros beetles with a record of 3.25 inches! 

Calosoma peregrinator

Carabid ground beetle-86 shots

Is a carniferous predator of caterpillars and other small insects and hunt usually at night

Calosoma peregrinator

Carabid ground beetle

Is a carniferous predator of caterpillars and other small insects and hunt usually at night

Entomoscelis adonidis beetle from Madagascar or Ukraine

Note the fake eye spots.

14 shots at 5x

Entomoscelis adonidis beetle from Madagascar or Ukraine

43 shots at 2.5x

Brown fleck beetle
Valgus hemipterus  

49 shots 2.5x

From Ukraine

Brown fleck beetle
Valgus hemipterus 

63 shots 3x

From Ukraine

Giraffe Weevil or Trachelophorus giraffa

Giraffe Weevil or Trachelophorus giraffa

Madagascar 72 shots

Unknown beetle arizona

64 shots 4X f4

Unknown beetle arizona

68 shots 4X f4

Unknown beetle arizona

34 shots 4X f4

Darkling beetle, also called stink Bug or
Eleodes obscurus sulcipennis 

83 images slabbed

Often called Darkling or Clown beetles. Called clown or stink beetle because when threatened, they lower their head and point their rear up in the air. This allows them to squirt a foul smelling chemical towards predators. Predator's such as rodents can bypass the beetle defense by eating the head first. This beetle eats dead plants, seeds and carrion.

Darkling beetle, also called stink Bug or
Eleodes obscurus sulcipennis 

39 stacked images

Often called Darkling or Clown beetles. Called clown or stink beetle because when threatened, they lower their head and point their rear up in the air. This allows them to squirt a foul smelling chemical towards predators. Predator's such as rodents can bypass the beetle defense by eating the head first. This beetle eats dead plants, seeds and carrion.

Darkling beetle, also called stink Bug or
Eleodes obscurus sulcipennis 

f/5.6 9 stacked images

Often called Darkling or stink beetle because when threatened, they lower their head and point their rear up in the air. This allows them to squirt a foul smelling chemical towards predators. Predator's such as rodents can bypass the beetle defense by eating the head first. This beetle eats dead plants, seeds and carrion.

Black green sheen beetle

10mm from Ukraine or Madagascar

Possibly Amara aenea or ground beetled called common sun beetle

107 shots stacks of beetle acquired from Ukraine or Madagascar

Possibly Amara aenea or ground beetled called common sun beetle

32 shots stacks of beetle acquired from Ukraine or Madagascar

Flower beetle or Pygora sanguineomarginata Native to Madagascar

Ponderosa Pine Bark Borer Beetle or
Acanthocinus princeps 

Head to tail 2cm, Antennae 4.5 cm

f5.6, 1/30 sec, 0.7X, ISO 125, 19 Shots, Step size 0.845 mm, 5 fix LED, with diffusion box.

Green Scarab or
Protaetia cuprea
f8 ISO160 1/8s 2x 76mic 68 steps

Acquired from a Ukraine collection

Green Scarab or
Protaetia cuprea
f8 ISO160 1/8s 2x 76mic 68 steps

Acquired from a Ukraine collection

Green Scarab or
Protaetia cuprea
f5.6 ISO160 1/20s 1x 487 mic 16 steps

Acquired from a Ukraine collection

Green Scarab or
Protaetia cuprea
f5.6 ISO160 1/20s 1x 495 mic 16 steps

Acquired from a Ukraine collection

Green scarab or Protaetia cuprea 

f5.6, ISO160, 1/20s, 4X Amscope lens, 84 Steps, 76µ's/step 

Blue Death Feigning or IronClad beetle or
Asbolus verrucosus


Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f5.6, 1/20s, ISO100, 1.3X, 64 images at 223 microns each step

This is from a clique of about 18 beetles I maintain. Their life expectancy can be up to 8 years long and this one appears to be a male.


The blue death feigning beetle grows to around 18 to 21 millimeters from head to abdomen. The species name “verrucosus” meaning warty, refers to the bumps on the beatles elytra. The powdery blue color of the beetle is due to a wax coating on their bodies that prevents loss of moisture. High humidity darkens the color of the beatles


Males are slightly smaller than females and have bristly red hairs on their antenna. The beatles are crepuscular, meaning being most active at dawn and dusk.

When threatened, the beatles are able to feign death for sustained periods of time. I once had one play dead for so long I thought it WAS dead and started to pin it out. Found out it was not so dead. It's alive and well today. 

Bumblebee Scarab beetle or Eulasia pareyssei
f2.8, 4.5X ISO200, 1 sec 20um 78 steps

Black beetle or Hemiphileurus illatus

1X, f8, .1/4 sec, ISO 100, 450u at 45 steps
A gift from Stephanie

Ten-lined June beetle

Polyphylla decemlineata

The ten-lined June beetle, also known as the watermelon beetle, is a scarab beetle found in the western United States and Canada. The adults are attracted to light and feed on foliage. They can make a hissing sound when touched or otherwise disturbed, which can resemble the hissing of a bat. This sound is made by their wings pushing down, forcing the air out between their wings and back. 

Hister beetle or possibly Hister quadrimaculatus

A collection from Ukraine or Madagascar
f3.5, 1/6 sec, 100 ISO, 1.75X, 40 steps at 66 microns