When disturbed, Paropsisterna eucalyptus leaf beetle larvae evert abdominal glands that release poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Beetles

are older than the dinosaurs and contain more described species than any other order of insects.

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Omoglymmius wrinkled bark beetle.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

A dense mating aggregation of plague soldier beetles, Chauliognathus lugubris, in the Australian alps.

Mt. Hotham, Victoria, Australia

A mating aggregation of plague soldier beetles, Chauliognathus lugubris, in the Australian alps.

Mt. Hotham, Victoria, Australia

Chauliognathus lugubris (Cantharidae) - a plague soldier beetle.

Mt. Hotham, Victoria, Australia

Prosopocoilus sp. (Lucanidae)

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

Male brentid weevils are often considerably larger, with a disproportionately longer snout, than females. This is a mating pair.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

A male straight-snouted weevil (Brentidae) silhouetted against a leaf in an Australian rain forest.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia

A gregarious cluster of Paropsisterna eucalyptus leaf beetles. These insects are chemically defended and are apparently more successful in advertising that fact in numbers.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

When disturbed, Paropsisterna eucalyptus leaf beetle larvae evert abdominal glands that release poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia

Canon EOS 7D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 4441x2920 |

Current: 800x526 |

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Keywords: larva coleoptera chrysomelidae chemical ecology eucalyptus leaf beetle defensive chemistry

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Beetles

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