Friday Beetle Blogging: the Fiery Searcher

Calosoma scrutator, the fiery searcher
Savoy, Illinois

It’s a good thing Myrmecos isn’t a scratch-and-sniff blog. This beetle is a real stinker.

Calosoma scrutator, the fiery searcher, measures about 3cm long and is among our largest native ground beetles. The spectacular metallic coloration serves to warn predators- and, apparently, photographers- of the noxious chemicals it can release when threatened. I had to wash my hands after handling this insect.

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photo details: Canon EOS 7D camera
Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens
(top)ISO 200, f/11, 1/125 sec
(bottom) ISO100, f/13, 1/160 sec
indirect strobe in white box

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Friday Beetle Blogging: Scarites Ground Beetle

Scarites sp. Ground Beetle (Carabidae)
Urbana, Illinois

As the summer bug season freezes to a close here in Illinois, our attention turns increasingly to the cryptic habitats where insects settle in to overwinter.  The flowers have faded, but insects can still be found under tree bark, in rotting wood, and in leaf litter.  This ground beetle had burrowed under a stone, aided by its shovel-like fossorial forelegs.

Photo details: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon EOS 50D
ISO 100, f/11, 1/200 sec, flash diffused through tracing paper

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Friday Beetle Blogging: Opisthius richardsoni

Opisthius richardsoni, Montana.

Opisthius richardsoni is a broad, flat ground beetle common along river banks in the colder regions of western North America.

photo details: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon EOS 20D
ISO 100, 1/250 sec, f13, flash diffused through tracing paper

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Friday Beetle Blogging: Long-necked Ground Beetle

Colliuris pensylvanica, long-necked ground beetle. Arizona.

photo details: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon EOS 20D
ISO 100, 1/250 sec, f/13, flash diffused through tracing paper

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Friday Beetle Blogging: Pasimachus ground beetle

Pasimachus sp. ground beetle, Arizona

My apologies for the lack of blogging the past few days.  I’ve been taking some time away from posting for the holidays, but I’ll be back next week.  In the meantime, here’s a Pasimachus ground beetle…

photo details: Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens on a Canon EOS 20D
ISO 100, f/18, 1/250 sec, indirect strobe in a white box

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Friday Beetle Blogging: Scaphinotus Snail-Eating Beetle

Scaphinotus petersi – Snail-Eating Ground Beetle

Arizona

Ground beetles- the family Carabidae- are a spectacular evolutionary radiation of terrestrial predators. The elegant, flightless beetles of the genus Scaphinotus prefer snails and slugs.

photo details. TOP PHOTO. Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens on a Canon 20D

f/18, 1/250 sec, ISO 100

inside a white box studio, illuminated with indirect flash

BOTTOM PHOTO. Canon MPE-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon 20D

f/13, 1/250 sec, ISO 100

Twin Flash diffused through tracing paper.

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