I found the coolest insect at Hasty last weekend. I'd seen another of these a few weeks ago and looked it up in my Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. It looked like a relative of the Spotted Sawyer, a longhorn beetle I'd seen up there several times before. With some help from blogging/Facebook friend Cindy Mead I eventually identified this beetle as a Balsam Fir Sawyer, Monochamus marmorator. Check out the horny protrusions around its neck. I would guess they would make it difficult to swallow this big fellow. Doesn't it kind of remind you of a studded collar?
I mentioned to Hap in New Hope that I had seen this cool insect and he told me that he'd once gotten a nasty bite from a longhorn beetle. When I zoomed in on its face I could see how that might happen. Look at the size of those pinchy mouth parts! It's probably a good thing I didn't know they could bite as I had held it for quite a long time. Thankfully, no bites.
We looked at each other for a long time. Click to big-ify this photo. The eyes are really amazing. Kindly disregard the fact that I really needed a manicure and some lotion.
Check out the camouflage colors. The colors looked metallic in the sun.
I took loads of photos of this accommodating beetle and felt we were forming a bond but when it pooped on me I knew it was time to say good-bye.
am-scra eetle-ba!
30 comments:
Two cards full of bird pictures and we get a bug...lol. Nice to see you do a post.
I was gonna say eeewww, but then I saw his face. He's kinda cute.
Very neat-looking bug. Would make a good meal for a little bird. Those are really good close-up photos! It looks like he has some fur.
Linda from Erie
wonderful close-up shots - neat bug.
dan
Cute Lynne!!! But...green poop means he's eating my plants!!! I would have to take him for a long walk down the bumpy road for sure!!
Hi, I have seen them here. But never got quite so close to them. Stands to reason, we have balsam nearby.
How is the house in the woods? I have missed seeing updates.
Welcome back Lynne. Great close up shots. I do believe I've seen him before though. It was in a Japanese sci-fi flick where he and his big brother totally demolished Tokyo. :)
Great shots of a neat bug—green poop and all. Guess he felt pretty relaxed there on the end of your finger. :-)
Cool lookin' bug and awesome close-ups!
Terrific close-ups! He actually looks furry. What a piece of art by the Creator!
Outstanding Macro workmanship.
John.
Super close-up shots! He's really pretty interesting. Such long antennae, and rather fierce looking.
Great shots,but I almost shudder just to look at them.This guy looks too much like a grasshopper.You see grasshoppers and I do not get along.
Blessings,Ruth
Glad you and the bug were one and that he did not feel threatened enough to use those pinchers!
The colors on this guy are beautiful. Perfect camo! Although he may look intimidating, this is a very pretty friend.
After reading the post, I "googled" the Balsam Fir Sawyer. With a name like that I was fearful it might cause damage to the trees. Imagine my surprise when I saw your photographs and questions! I yelled out, "That's Lynne! I know her!"
What an interesting insect. I listened to an audio of the noise they make. Pretty impressive.
As soon as I saw this 'bug' I got a chill going down my spine. It is kind of cute and really interesting in color and design, but I was glad you were holding it and not me! Glad it didn't bite you. Yikes.
What an awesome insect. I really like the face on photo!
What a beautiful creature! It almost looks like he has fur in some photos... the close up face shot is so cool!
Glad it didn't show you it could bite... ;-)
Woweee..Excellent close up and personal photos!
I love these pictures. It is very interesting to see something so close up that I would not normally take the time to look at. Thanks!
That is a really neat looking insect and it face seems to show lots of character. Maybe in the sawyer beetle world pooping on you means he likes you.
Okay, call me a squeamish little baby, but AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!
although the photos are amazing. Still.
AAGGAAAAAAGGGGHGHHHHHHH!
superb; bravo
Love the camoflage costume! They do bite, you know! Glad he looked sort of friendly. ~karen
I think he's sort of cute too. Sort of.
Great shots! I can't get over the coloration.
Great photos as always, Lynne. I love that you bonded with him. He obviously was completely relaxed in your presence.
Your photography is great!
Come check out World Bird Wednesday, a place for bird photographers to share their blogs. It going on at http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
Your Invited!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Lynne! ~karen
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