Giant Christmas Beetle by ralph49
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This Giant Christmas Beetle & his smaller friend landed on the screen door last night & were really well behaved models. This ones body length is about 40mm (1.5 inchs).
Really worth the Zoooommmm as there are many other bugs living on this beetle.
Christmas Beetles
(Anoplognathus pallidicollis)
There are 35 species of Christmas beetles right across Australia, but most prefer the moister east and south easterly areas, especially near the coast. Eight species occur in Sydney.
If you suddenly feel something spiky crawl down your shirt or buzz loudly into your hair, chances are it's a Christmas beetle. Christmas beetles (Anoplognathus) range from 15 - 40 mm in size and belong to the Scarab family (over 3000 species in Australia), which also includes flower and cock chafers, and fiddle beetles.
Thanx dropping by & for your comments & favs on my latest images.
Not many sleeps now before Santa comes to visit you all.

Comments (23)
Very cool!!
Fantastic capture! We have them in South Africa too and this exact one met me in my bath the other morning!!! Needless to say, I was not impressed! I don't mind them too much and even pick them up in my hand and throw them out... They do, however, play havoc with my roses...
i remember the christmas beetle that had colours on its back is this it? it does look great i wonder if it is counting down the days to christmas like we are.
wonderful big beetle! Great photo!
Big Boy.
Big Bug! Bug Big! Great shot of big bug!
The thought of one in my hair or down my shirt gives me the shivers...great capture, though!
Wonderfully!
Wonderful!
that is some beetle! i guess you won't be needing a turkey now ?
Truly and awesome macro. Fabulous detail and LARGER than life!
Eeeeewwwww---I so would completely freak out if one of these went down my shirt!! Great macro, though!!
the detailed focus is exceptional.their larvae stage does lots of damage to flowers and veggies
You just can't leave any windows or doors open, around this time of the year, at night with the lights on...they commit Kamikaze, all that's left to do in the morning is, to collect them on their back with legs up in the air. BTW ours are a lightbrown colour or metallic blue/green. Great macro, Ralph,
Absolutely great shot !!! Excellent macro work too !!!
Wow, great macro and background info!
I have nothing against the nice beetle, bur I dont like the "flees" or "TICKS" it has LOL ! Splendid capture :) And ZOOM is really worth it.
wow he is big ! excellent shot
Heavily armored bugger isn't he... They must be good for something. I wonder what it is? Maybe as cruchy snacks for other critters. Bill
That's one big beetle. Dana P
Fantastic shot.
Super shot, and I appreciate your narrative because I otherwise would've thought those other bugs were just specks of dirt. Outstanding!! ...and Merry Christmas, Ralph!
Excellent shot fine detail!!