Fire Colored Beetle Larvae: This is my Fire Colored Beetle larvae that I staged for a focus stacking session. The larvae are believed to be predators and likely feed on other...

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Fire Colored Beetle Larvae

Feb 2, 2021 17:51:57 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is my Fire Colored Beetle larvae that I staged for a focus stacking session. The larvae are believed to be predators and likely feed on other wood-dwelling invertebrates like worms, termites, ants, and other beetle larvae.

I found this one under some deadfall in the woods during one of my walkabouts. Their 'tail end' has a set of false pinchers which are often used to distract those that may prey upon them into thinking that it is their head and not their tail end so they may lose their tail yet live another day.

The adults are black with a red thorax and they tend to be found on flowers so it is believed that they feed on pollen and nectar which provides some pollination benefit as they wander about from plant to plant.

(Download)

Feb 2, 2021 20:01:49 #

Quixdraw Loc: x

I just have to find out if there is an on line Excellent stamp available!

Feb 2, 2021 20:08:47 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

quixdraw wrote:

I just have to find out if there is an on line Excellent stamp available!

Thanks ever so much for viewing and for the reply.

Feb 3, 2021 00:37:13 #

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Very good! Weird larva, that is for sure.

Feb 3, 2021 06:38:30 #

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Such good work to get this image quality.

Feb 3, 2021 08:03:08 #

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Excellent stack Gary. A stack of an adult might be interesting - showing off the red thorax.

Feb 3, 2021 11:39:53 #

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Excellent color, detail and light.

Feb 3, 2021 12:01:58 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

Very good! Weird larva, that is for sure.

Thanks, Mark. I find very few of them so it is exciting when I come across one.

Feb 3, 2021 12:02:41 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

EnglishBrenda wrote:

Such good work to get this image quality.

Thanks ever so much, Brenda. I truly appreciate your viewing and feedback.

Feb 3, 2021 12:07:29 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

ecobin wrote:

Excellent stack Gary. A stack of an adult might be interesting - showing off the red thorax.

Thanks, Elliott. This is an image compliments of Wikimedia Commons that shows the brilliant red thorax and orange coloration on the tip of its wing covers which attributes to their name of 'fire-colored'.