This is one of the beetles that I found under a rotting log in the woods today. It is an 'eye to eye' view and I placed a piece of green tissue behind it for a little color. I don't know what type he is and I would appreciate knowing. Thanks in advance for viewing and all comments and critique are greatly appreciated.
Should have known. A colonial beetle. Adults and larva live together, and can communicate by stridulation. Hibernate in all stages, I believe. Has more alliases than probably any other insect. The Horn, or Bess beetle. Popilius disjunctus.
Looks like a three finger cartoon figure ,closed eyes, covering a grin.
Good detail and perspective. I'm curious how you achieved such good DoF?
That's an incredible photograph!
I used focus stacking to achieve the more inclusive depth of field so the result is from a series of shots keeping the focus the same but moving the camera forward very small increments each time and taking a shot. The series of images are then processed into one. Much like a loaf of bread is made up of individual slices. Take a shot of each slice and put them together and you have a loaf.
It is a 'bess beetle', belonging to a unique family of beetles. See
https://bugguide.net/node/view/127/bgimage. Not sure where I should put the ID on these posts, so I will leave it here. Have not seen one of these in many years!
That's it, no doubt about it. I just called it a horn beetle because of the horn like protrusion on its head. It's good to know what they really are so that I can look them up and learn more about them.
Mark mentions not having seen lately. They are not rare, but you usually destroy things to get them. Deep in rotting logs and where logs contact the earth. Bark still on, the better, but more disturbence of the area.
I have been able to put my ear to a log, bang on it, and hear them 'squeek'. Pre tinnitus and hearing loss days.
Bill.
Bill, on-target once again on how I found it. I'm learning quite a bit about where to look and for what and it has become another facet of this fascinating adventure.
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