a macro photo of the front of the beetle. black, heavy crescent shaped mandibles lead upwards to a flat head, black, marked with a darkly rainbow iridescent sheen, large globular eyes are on each side of the head. Behind the head, the flat pronotum, similarly colored, has raised edges on the sides, the beetle's legs fill the sides of the frame.
A photo of the beetle's dorsal surface as it rests on some light colored wood siding showing the red bordered brilliant metallic green markings of the elytra, the hardened forewings that cover the beetle's body
A photo of the side of the beetle's forebody showing the brilliant iridescence of the head and pronotum,.
This Spring I was introduced to one of the coolest #Beetles ever, the Fiery #Searcher, #Calosama scrutator, a living jewel of a beetle who kindly let me get some photos without demonstrating it's other legendary trait, horribly smelly defensive fluids 😂
#BestOfLux2024
#insects
#Macrophotography