Amblycheila cylindriformis, New Mexico
The Giant Tiger Beetle Amblycheila cylindriformis is a tank of an insect, at 35mm in length the largest tiger beetle in North America. Unlike the more familiar day-active Cicindela tiger beetles, the flightless Amblycheila lumbers about at night, catching hapless insects in its massive jaws.
Photographing Amblycheila was difficult on account of the insect’s shiny integument, so I used a white-lined cardboard box as a miniature studio. A strobe fired into the box produced a diffuse white light.
On display at the Audubon Insectarium.
photo details (top photo): Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens on a Canon EOS 20D
ISO 100, 1/250 sec, f/16, indirect strobe in a white box
Friday Ark #227…
We’ll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and….? Visit all the …
I love your beetle photos. So much. He’s beautiful.
Oh, I’m so jealous. I haven’t even had the pleasure of seeing these things, much less photographing them. It’s part of the plan this summer, for sure.
Very nice photos.
beautiful photo, what do you think about Manticora?
I am a thirteen year old girl who wants to be an Entomologist when she grows up. I went to my neighbors pool the other day, and found a Huge beetle. I was wondering if you might be able to help me identify it.
Feel free to email me questions.