BeetleMania
I saw this beetle apparently a Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) for the first ever time at High Wood nr Bradbury Rings on the first May bank holiday weekend. I initially thought it was a Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus). An understandable mistake, especially as the difference is only minor, down to the shape of the thorax. I was fortunate enough to be told this by a Beetle Expert ( you know who you are – thanks! ).
This beetle is the biggest, apart from Stag Beetles that I’ve seen in the UK. It is also fairly fast moving between food sources, and can travel a fair distance when you watch it go.
These were the best shots, I got of it as it roamed about.
Meloe violaceus (Violet Oil Beetle). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash, with Vellum Diffuser.
Meloe violaceus(2) (Violet Oil Beetle) Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash, with Vellum Diffuser.
Meloe violaceus(3) (Violet Oil Beetle). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash, with Vellum Diffuser.
Meloe violaceus(4) (Violet Oil Beetle). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash, with Vellum Diffuser.
Another unusual beetle taken over that weekend, was this Pale Tortoise Beetle, which I originally thought was a strange sheildbug, but no this tank like thing is a beetle too.
Pale Tortoise Beetle (Cassida flaveola). 2 Shots stacked in Photoshop CC. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon MPE-65mm Lens. ISO 200 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash, with Vellum Diffuser.
Not to mention these fairly common leaf beetles, taken at about 2x lifesize.
Mating Doc Leaf Beetles. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon MPE-65mm lens. ISO 400 F11 1/200. Flash from Canon MT-24ex Twin Macro Flash, with Vellum Diffuser.
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