Are you attracted to shiny things? I am! Especially in nature. Furthermore, I can not resisted bending down to look closer.
This shiny dead beetle caught my eye! In fact, I decided it was worth bringing home for a closer look.
It was certainly worth the closer look! This is the underside. After counting the segments of the abdomen, I concluded it is probably in the Metallic Wood-boring Beetles (Buprestidae) family (if I interpreted the ventral view correctly).Buprestidae have five ventrites (segment thingies) with first two fused together. The body was punctate or marked with minute depressions.
The top was not only punctate but had ridges as well. It was a very sparkly beetle., especially in the sunshine.
Looking even closer, it surprised me to find the minute hairs on the underside!
Even the legs were hairy!
Under the elytra (hard outer wings) were iridescent!
What a beautiful beetle up close. Too bad it had lost it head.
Oooh. I want to see a live beetle like that dead one. Certainly different.
Yep 🙂
Ooh what a magnificent buprestid!
Thanks for the confirmation!
Thank you for the close looks. So very fascinating. How could anyone ever be bored with nature.
Agreed, always something special to see!