A Solitary Scarab Beetle Visits My Moth Trap (Cheiroplatys latipes) (Four Macro Photos)
This morning I went out, eager to see what moths may have come to the light. I was a little disappointing to find only one interesting moth and about 60 of the extremely common 'Southern Armyworm' moth, Persectania ewingii. However, a solitary beetle made things a little more interesting.
The beetle (seen below) is one of the many Scarab beetles (Family Scarabaeidae). I'm fairly confident I have identified it correctly as Cheiroplatys latipes. You have probably seen the larvae of this, or similar, beetles in your lawn which are known as Curl grubs.
The photos below were taken with with a Canon 7D and Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens.
Cheiroplatys latipes being released back into my lawn.
Ventral view of Cheiroplatys latipes
Cheiroplatys latipes - Detail of head
Typical Curl Grub. This one appears to be Adoryphorus couloni
The Laughing Kookaburra 
Terrestrial Flatworms (Very Strange Creatures) 
The Helena Gum Moth 
White-bellied Sea-eagle |
They are often dreaded, crushed or simply ignored. Indonesian photographer Yudy Sauw specializes in photographing insects of all kinds in his studio in Tangerang, in the province of Branten. Specialist in macrophotography, he immortalizes all the colors of flies, cockroaches and other flying or crawling insects that pass before his objective for a striking rendering. Here is his latest series that evokes both the classics of science fiction and the floral beauties.
Amazing beetle in kitin armor, like a warrior.