Gorse with Weevil by durleybeachbum
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
On Talbot Heath Local nature reserve, Bournemouth.
Gorse Weevil, Apion ulicis, Length 2 to 3 mm.
The adult feeds on Gorse by digging into the soft tissue of the stem and spines with its snout, creating characteristic round holes as evidence. The larva does more damage, however. It emerges from its egg inside the gorse seed pod and feeds on the seeds for six to eight weeks. The larva then pupates for about two months.
There were scores of them today on the heath, which nearly but not quite compensated for not seeing any Gorse Shieldbugs!
Another, which better shows how tiny they are, Here

Comments (12)
Awesome closeup ... I love it !
Amazing macro shot Andrea.
Both pics. are awesome, thanks for sharing them and the interesting information.
Marvelous macro, perfect details and colours, congratulations !
Wonderful capture Andrea. God bless.
interesting and fascinating macros Andrea!
Sounds like the title of another delightful British animated film, "Gorse and Weevil". You would have made a brilliant field biologist. This is an exceptionally good close up, tack sharp and terrific color.
very beautiful, especially the bug! :)
Is a beautiful image, I love contrast between yellow of the flower and green of the Weevil
ditto the other comments..super shot.
A lovely capture.
Beautiful. I love the detail in this!
lol, Mark (gorse and weevil). My grandfather, whose puns were used in place of heavy sedatives, used to say---when I saw a gorse plant---"of gorse, of gorse!" ("of course"---in case his fine pun escaped your attentions...) This close up is one orangey furry spindly honey-hued micro forest, with that tiny weevil burrowing in. A wonderful closeup, and I agree with Mark on that too---you would've made a brilliant field biologist. The hues are really arresting; and that tiny weevil is a wonderful tenant. I saw the flickr version, and yes, they're small. Eye popping capture, Andrea. Really saturated and intense.
(Can you imagine waking up and seeing a huuuuuuuuge camera lens in your window, and some massive creature---60 feet high---taking your picture? And then posting it on a website? I have no idea why I said that, except that peering into a weevil without written permission is actually pretty nervy. We do it all the time. Well that's all I have to say on that, just a so-so observation you probably wish I never made...)