#smooth black stag beetle

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Smooth Black Stag Beetle - Lucanus placidus

I've been going through the backlogs of pictures from prior years and there are a few insect orders that need more attention. They will receive that attention after next week's posts. So before that happens, let's have another look at some of the most wonderful Beetles that make their appearance at the edge of summer. I sincerely hope you enjoy another look at these magnificent creatures and their yearly rituals following their emergence. Their smooth form really does seem to make them pleasing to behold. As they dig their way out from underground in their adult forms, they suddenly find themselves in grassy lawns, on sidewalks, at the bases of trees and within gardens. A majority of the individuals here are male as indicated by their jaw size in widely-opened posture (there's wiggle room for determination of the individual at Picture 9's top left). As such, they're quite eager to start fights with rivals in order to prove their strength and stamina.

Likely many can emerge from one area (as seen in Picture 9) and begin the jaw-fighting competitions to secure mates. They could also fly to a new location if a scent cue were to draw the attention of a hopeful male. When they battle, the Beetles' armor will protect them from any serious damage when engaged with a challenger (insectivores will have strategies around their defenses of course, making these competitions risky in the open). That armor itself is also a challenge itself, as the Stag Beetle must find a way to grip around it, and thusly lift and toss their rival in defeat. For a grounded fight this feat is already tricky, but sometimes these Beetles can take their fights to tree bases and spar while hanging off a vertical surface of bark. Being tossed means a quick trip to the ground, but insect shells are designed to withstand gravity. Defeat may sting, but a Beetle must remain steady while they walk and fly about beneath springtime's sun. Should you get the opportunity to watch Beetle emergence and the results fight, sit and watch.

Pictures were taken on June 3, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.

[hamletisintown]

Hemera, the Sun God. (ID under the cut)

Honorable Hemera grants strength and courage to anyone who would need it. In war just like in love, he offers protection and guidance.

Hemera, like all gods from the Pantheon, is everchanging in form. Some constants are his 4 arms that he uses to wield his enormous shield (not to scale on the picture) and his 2 swords, one of which (not pictured here) was a gift from his lover Eros.

___

Inpired by stag beetles (for the horns), the fiddler beetle (for the colors) and scarab beetles (for the cute heart shaped scutellum that some have, as well as their association with the sun in egyptian mythology). (Also inspired by Ravana from FFXIV, i'm so mad how cool he is and how little the game shows him, like, come on.)

[ID: A digital drawing of a fantasy character inspired by beetles. He is covered from head to toe in a smooth glossy spiky red-brown armour that looks like the chitinous exoskeleton of a beetle. He has 4 arms, outstretched to better show the design. He is wearing a helmet adorned with horns that look like stag beetle horns, and hides his eyes and nose. He has black skin, only visible on the bottom of his face. His armor is adorned with tiny dangling neon green gems that are shaped like droplets and shine slightly. A motif is drawn on his helmet, a green dot and a half-circle over it, colored neon green as well. Next to him are drawn his shield and sword. The shield in shaped like the elytras of a scarab beetle, also reddish brown and glossy like his armor, and covered in a neon green motif that is shaped like the motif on a fiddler beetle's elytras. There are also neon green droplet gems dangling from the bottom of the shield. The sword is arched and has a jagged blade, it looks like a giant mandible or perhaps part of a beetle's leg. the handle is wrapped in red leather, and there is also a neon green droplet gem dangling from the tip of the handle. /end ID]

[asknarashikari]

Break times over, now we leave Earth and head to Chikyu, where the King-Ohgers were given some bug-themed Cybertronians. The assigned ones are based on the Shugods with some extras.

The King-Ohgers' assigned Cybertronians:

Gira: Shrapnel the electrical sadist stag beetle with a verbal tic, the nigh-invulnerable and heavily armed Tripledacus comprised of DJ the cheerful and carefree cicada, Gimlet the young performer lobster, and Motorarm the cheerful and strong rhinoceros beetle, and Drill Nuts the inventor boll weevil.

Yanma: Tonbot the zany goofball dragonfly, Antagony the ruthless and loyal ant, and Retrax the desert demolition expert and coward at heart pill bug.

Himeno: Mantis the irritable loner praying mantis, BW Sandstorm the mysterious and lying tan scorpion, and Powerhug the kind and strong pill bug.

Rita: Skywasp the cruel and petty black and purple wasp, Kickback the smooth-talking and backstabbing grasshopper, and Bigmos the pacifistic mosquito.

Kaguragi: Buzz Saw the feared and respected yellow jacket bee, and Bombshell the master of the mind-warping cerebro-shells and reckless rhinoceros beetle.

Jeramie: Crystal Widow the somber and hopeless technorganic spider, Blackwidow the insane and traitorous spider and sister to her kinder sister on Earth, Blackarachnia, and Scissor Boy the careful and considerate earwig,

Racles: BW Inferno the fanatically loyal and arsonist fire ant with no regard for his life, Scarem the cold and calculating European stag beetle, and the powerful Tripredacus comprised of Ram Horn the stubborn and strong Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Sea Clamp the sadistic and stoic lobster and Cicadacon the old, cruel and clever cicada.

The 7 King-Ohgers are meeting with each other but this is interrupted by some of their assigned Cybertronians arguing on who is the best of the 7 King-Ohgers.

Shrapnel: I'm telling you, Gira is the best, (best). He's red and humble, (humble).

Tonbot: No, it's Yanma. Guy's blue and quite smart compared to the others.

Mantis: Your both wrong, it's Himeno. She's yellow, great with medicine and quite generous.

Skywasp: You're all wrong, it's Rita. They're purple and ruthless but have a soft spot for the one known as Moffun.

Buzz Saw: All you are wrong, it's Kaguragi. He's a black ranger and a gentle giant but is master of deception unlike those other goobers.

Crystal Widow: Please, it's obviously Jeramie. He's a white ranger, has a way words that I like and is a pacifist that just wants Bugnarack to coexist with mankind.

BW Inferno: No, all you wrong, best one is queen Racles. He silver, have good redemption and is best unlike the others.

The 7 continue to argue but before it gets physical, the King-Ohgers stop them and decide to settle who is right by making an event out of it. After setting up the arena and inviting all of Chikyuu to witness this event along with the commentators being Kickback and Bombshell for extra flare, they call for the fighters.

Bombshell: In the red corner and representing Gira, it's the sadistic and twisted stag beetle himself, Shrapnel!

Shrapnel: Prepare to taste the thunder, (thunder)!

Kickback: In the blue corner and representing Yanma, it's the easily excited and fast dragonfly, Tonbot!

Tonbot: Fear the swiftness of a dragonfly!

Bombshell: In the yellow corner and representing Himeno, it's easily irritated praying mantis, Mantis!

Mantis: You wouldn't like when I'm angry.

Kickback: In the purple corner and representing Rita, he's petty, he's a purple wasp, it's Skywasp!

Skywasp: You're not ready for my tricks.

Bombshell: In the black corner and representing Kaguragi, he's the mysterious and feared yellow jacket, it's Buzz Saw!

Buzz Saw: Sting like a bee.

Kickback: In white corner and representing Jeramie, she's somber but don't mess with this spider, it's Crystal Widow!

Crystal Widow: Just because I'm hopeless, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass.

Kickback and Bombshell in unison: In the silver corner and representing Racles, he's loyal and likes fire, it's everybody's favorite fire ant, Inferno!

BW Inferno: I fight for my queen, no matter what.

The fight begins and they all start to trade blows and it seems like it's an even between all seven. When the dust finally settles only one stands above the rest.

Kari-chan, out of all the seven, who do you think is the last one standing and the winner, and what are the King-Ohgers reaction to seeing which representative of theirs one while the others lost?

As the Americans say, I plead the fifth... except to say whatever the outcome is it will just cause more chaos

(Honestly though I just cannot say who would win lol)

[prima-axis]

Beetles!

My awesome sister @hughesation recently bought us some custom stag beetle plushes, from an amazing seller on Etsy, FriskWolfie Customs. They arrived today, well ahead of schedule. And just check them out for yourself!

The craftsmanship is phenomenal and they're just so squishy and cutes. (Mines the black, and Hughes's is yellow).

If you want one too, you can grab yourself one from here:

[dansnaturepictures]

The fifth of my ten wildlife and photography highlights of 2020 blogs: My wild week off in June

Arne, Thursley Common, Knepp, Durlston, Portland, Lodmoor and more 

Dartford Warbler, White Stork, Purple Emperor, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Purple Hairstreak, Spotted Flycatcher, Osprey, Stag Beetle and more

So 2020 was supposed to be like any other year ending in an even number for me, we were to continue my run of me having visited somewhere outside of England in such a year every time since 2004 as we’d return to Anglesey a place we had a great day trip to on our Snowdonia 2016 holiday and a return to our beloved Wales for the first time in three years. Indeed like any other year for me in general with a late spring holiday. Then obviously the coronavirus pandemic happened and we could not due to restrictions and nor did we want to continue with the holiday as the health of everyone had to come first. So we luckily managed to postpone the Anglesey trip until 2021. But around the beginning of April with me working from home and us in lockdown for only a week I didn’t know what would happen so with my new annual leave allowance I booked off the dates in June intended for Anglesey and the ones for the other trips away we had planned this year. I am glad I did keep the June week as obviously I was still working just at home I needed a break.

But also because restrictions lifting slightly meant at that time as long as we socially distanced and could return home the same night, we could go on outdoor day trips and walk whilst enjoying our hobby as we had done on more local daily walks. So we lined up a smorgasbord of slightly further afield day trips to do that week to surrounding counties as well as more local Hampshire trips on the weekends that flanked the week, in many cases ones or for species we could not do and see during the strictest parts of the first lockdown. It was just nice for us to have some relaxing time to ourselves that week and I was so excited for it to come.

It all started at a glistening sead Farlington Marshes on the Saturday where it was an honour to see some Common Seals in Langstone Harbour I had not expected this nor seen them here before. I was lucky enough to spot and us and some kind people we spoke to at a safe social distance saw the Common Seals again in the harbour here later in the year in September. A hatrick of terns seen back on that June day opening my week off Sandwich particularly, Common and Little not for the first time this year as well as views of many Mediterranean Gulls, many Linnets, Oystercatchers, Avocet, Curlews, Shelduck, Little Egret, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Warbler as well as Swifts against a bright blue sky in what turned into a summery afternoon also stood out. It was also nice to see Common Terns and Black-headed Gull chicks on nesting rafts on the deeps here and a great selection of butterflies and a day flying moth with the Cinnabar moth and Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell and Small Heath. A great start by the sea. I took the first picture in this photoset a view here that day. It was a day I took so many pictures and for landscapes especially enjoyed what a fabulous grassy habitat it is here which it is quite famous for and also took in other key habitats like lush summer growth and beautiful sea views in Langstone harbour on a great afternoon.

The next day a classic butterfly one this year when we went to Bentley Wood we got the quintessential summer sights of three Silver-washed Fritillaries and four Purple Hairstreaks dancing along the oak tree tops. Both my first of the year and my second earliest and earliest sighting ever respectively of them in a year two of our finest butterfly species. Getting very clear Ringlet views like the one in the second picture I took in this photoset and seeing many Large Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, hornets, bee and a lovely Common Lizard helped it be another packed and fantastic afternoon at this special spot.

On the Monday it was a brilliant trip to Arne in Dorset our first further afield one for months. I took the third picture in this photoset a beautiful view from here into Poole Harbour and the winder area including Corfe Castle. A social distancing walk on a hot and sunny day across a very beautiful blue and purple looking landscape with the heather starting to emerge was headlined by seeing our first Dartford Warbler of the year a special moment seeing this one of my favourite birds flit about on top of heather and many of one of my favourite mammals the Sika Deer for the first time this year. A heath teeming with Silver-studded Blue butterflies among others one of my favourites also stood out some of the most we have ever seen on one day which was great and seeing our first ever Smooth snake was special. A Green Woodpecker in a field also stood out I took my first pictures of this one of my favourite birds for years. A Southern Hawker we saw that day as well as Sandwich Tern in a great year we had for them, a few Red Admirals and Large Skippers, Comma, Small Heath on the heath, Peacock butterfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Common lizard, Swifts, Little Egrets, Shelducks, Buzzards, Black-tailed Godwits and a nice hornet view completed the highlights that day. On that day I was impressed with how the RSPB welcomed visitors safely back with bits of trails and hides rightly closed off it was obvious how and where we couldn’t go and there were great signs stipulating the need to socially distance too. That was what you call a great outdoor and safe day out. We ate a drive through takeaway tea at a beautiful looking Picket Post car park in the New Forest in bright sun that evening seeing two New Forest ponies well which was nice.

Tuesday 23rd June brought a visit to Thursley Common in Surrey shortly after an extensive heath fire there which left much of the landscape charred including the precious habitat I had seen things like Dartford Warbler in before, but new green growth there did symbolise hope and I was just thrilled to be able to safely get here. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of a view here on that scorching day. It looked very other-worldy and did present unique natural landscape admiration and photography opportunities for me. Wildlife wise we got brilliant views of Redstart and Red Kite that day both stunning birds and particularly beautiful ones to see up close we had a great year for both and also saw Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly another we‘ve had a great year for and lovely bright golden female Keeled Skimmer dragonflies and Small Copper butterfly, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush and Robin. Other highlights were things I had seen well in recent days before it as well such as Green Woodpecker and Dartford Warbler, Small Tortoiseshell, Silver-studded Blue, Large Skipper and Marbled White butterflies and a common lizard for a third day running which was quite remarkable I thought. I thought on that day how there and the three previous trips of the time off we had at a safe social distance managed to talk to so many kind, like-minded and engaging people of various walks of life a key theme of the Tuesday and week as a whole. As an ad-on we went back to Thursley Common on the Sunday of the August bank holiday this year, that day after seeing it really devastated by the fire when we last came in the June week, I was encouraged after perfect summer rain and heat conditions for lush growth to see nice green bits of gorse and trees starting to grow back from the ashes and a fair bit of heather looking nice and purple as it should at that time of year across the landscape too in a strong few weeks for observing stunning heather scenes for me.

A key moment in the June week off was Wednesday as we had a brilliant, very hot in a little heat wave that helped that week be what it was looking back, sunny and therefore pleasingly exhausting day in the oak tree clad renowned rewilding project at Knepp in Sussex. We took in stunning South Downs views on the way and ones of Chichester Cathedral and there too. Wildlife wise I had a year-defining moment when we looked at the famous White Storks there who produced the first British born of the species for 604 years I took the fifth picture in this photoset of this family and behind us saw Purple Emperor butterflies the main drawing point here and what made us first come here in 2018 and 2019 dancing along the oak trees. It was lovely to see an adult White Stork fly and feed in a bit of meadow and hear the lovely sounds the storks were making too. We got top flying and still views of both those and the emperors throughout the whole rewarding and sensational walk that day. Our first of the year for Purple Emperor as was a White Admiral seen for my first time in 2020 that day the next key butterfly I needed to see. The Purple Emperor my earliest ever sighting and White Admiral joint earliest of the species in a year once more for butterflies.

Other highlights at Knepp was our first Red Deer of the year seen brief but closely, Buzzards, Jay, Green Woodpecker yet again that week to complete a hat-trick of favourite birds of mine seen at Knepp with Red Kite seen from the car on the way home and make it there Green Woodpecker sightings in as many days and counties (Dorset, Surrey, West Sussex) which was notable. Marbled White, Ringlet and Purple Hairstreak once more stood out from a strong other group of butterflies seen that day and Fallow Deers too, and it was nice to see an Old Lady moth. What a day one of my best this year!

It was one of the other headline trips of the week on the Thursday as we caught up doing one we’d traditionally do in Easter in years gone by or somewhen in April when we were more locked down this year of course we did one in July last year when we went to Durlston Country Park again in Dorset. Here we caught up with some of my favourite bird species a lot as I saw my first Guillemots, Razorbills and Fulmar of the year birds we had normally seen usually here by this point so this felt amazing to spend some minutes watching them over the sea or off the cliffs on a brightly sunny and scorching day again. Guillemot and Razorbill would have been key birds seen at RSPB South Stack on the Anglesey holiday that this slot was meant for so this felt especially good. As I did last July here we also saw among many other butterflies some delicate and very pretty little Lulworth Skippers out maybe a bit early due to the heatwave. What an honour to see these rare little butterflies again such a beautiful insect and a lovely one to follow Purple Emperor in this strong and hot week off I hoped it could for butterflies too. What a moment one of my best for butterflies this year.

Other highlights at Durlston included; Shag, Gannet, Great Black Backed Gull and Kestrel with a chick on the cliffs which was great the latter shown in the sixth picture I took that day in this photoset, brilliant Bullfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat which I took another photo I was proud of featuring, Swift and Swallow views adding a real richness to the day of birds, Marbled Whites yet again we saw so many that week, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Skippers, many Meadow Browns and in a very good site for flowers for us traditionally we saw for the first time I can remember one of the key ones I learned, loved seeing and photographing in my best ever year of flowers a common toadflax. Before we left that scorching day, in which I took the seventh picture in this photoset looking over the sea at Durlston, it was great to see Large White butterfly in the garden and Holly Blue the other side of the railway track at the petrol station. I also saw House Martins flying over the house which was nice when home alongside a nice sunset to end a very hot and sunny day. In the week off I still got chances to photograph things like flowers in and around the garden and house which defined my pictures in part through spring and summer leading up to it which was nice and I carried on with after the week off.

We closed the week days at Portland and then RSPB Lodmor in Dorset again. Portland on a greyer day there was rather the surprise package of the week as we saw my first Wall Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies of the year, the latter my earliest ever sighting of one in a year the last real  very common butterfly I needed to see in 2020 making my year list my joint fourth highest ever at that stage and ensuring there were only eight butterflies I had seen in my life which I needed to see this year at that stage which felt very early to be saying! Five-spot Burnet, Ringlet, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Marbled White sightings completed a very impressive list of butterflies/day flying moths seen on a grey day here I thought. I reflected at how different it was to a usual year not just seeing Marbled White locally which I love but at multiple further afield locations where there was any bit of grassland which felt great.

As I saw more Fulmars dart right past us and get some time to linger with Guillemots and Razorbills from the day before seeing some more I got reflective about how exciting coming to Portland to see these some of my original favourite birds were in my early birding days and how Fulmar experiences held the fort for closer seabird views in years like this we couldn’t visit large seabird colonies where you see them so close. So it really made me appreciate getting to be here this year and see these. Shag, Cormorant, the wail of the Herring Gull making me feel I was really at the coast, more Great Black Backed Gulls, brilliant close views of two Ravens I took the eighth picture in this photoset of one, Skylark, lots of Linnets, Rock Pipit, Swift, Swallow and House Martin completed the notable species seen at Portland that day. With a second Kestrel and chick seen in as many days at the quarry with its parent a key and memorable moment.

New life was the order of the day a little as we called into the Lodmoor reserve at Weymouth on the way back seeing young Mallard and Black-headed Gulls as well as many Common Terns, Shelduck, Little Egret, Lapwing and more. I got a finch hattrick of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch seen there too. I also saw some sea aster flowers here a brilliant flower and a key species of this habitat. I noticed some early signs of autumn with some blackberries seen growing that day and very early autumnal leaves it seemed in the weeks leading up to it. We also got talking to some more lovely people at a safe two metre distance and I enjoyed taking in the sights of our family holiday when I was a kid location Weymouth and nearby such as the famous clock and the White Horse on the hill.

On the second Saturday of the time off I was thrilled to see my first Spotted Flycatchers of the year at Pig Bush in the New Forest my favourite spot in our beloved national park which looked lovely and green with some more bits of purple heather observed on a heath this week with some brilliant sky scenes there too as I have seen at Pig Bush before. I took the ninth picture in this photoset of a view at Pig Bush. We got some really good views of the Spotted Flycatchers one of my birds of the year seeing how beautiful and well-marked they are and I felt there was something so delicious and satisfying about seeing them in woods on the edge of the heathland on a day that was quite grey in places too. Another key moment this week with a real New Forest speciality for me over the years. On that walk it was also great to see foxgloves and other flowers, Redstart, Stonechat, young Robin, two Buzzards soaring beautifully over our heads and another earlier in the walk and nice views of Pied Wagtail, Swallow and Swift. A very nice and wild walk. When home I had a memorable evening for taking photos of hanging basket in the garden, a nice sky with lowering sun and a Woodpigeon against it out the back I did take lots of photos I was happy with at home during bits of my week off on mornings and evenings.

We had a fittingly sensational Sunday to end the week off. We firstly went to Fishlake Meadows and saw a bird that has fascinated and excited me ever since I first got to know of them in early days of my birdwatching one of my favourites the Osprey. It was one that had been around for a while at this very local reserve for us. We had a smashing time watching it fly around and sit on one of the distinctive dead trees of this rising star of a reserve for sure for a long time. Whilst flying a Red Kite another of my favourite birds was flying too and they had aerial fights which was stunning to watch. In a raptor fest a Marsh Harrier was on the wing at this time too and a Buzzard was about before and after this. This was amazing and it was just stunning to see the Osprey. Yet another of my favourite birds I saw for the first time this year that week at that stage meaning I’d seen a healthy 22 out of 30 of them this year after a surge after a drought of seeing them for the first time in the post-strict lockdown I went onto see 24 of my favourite birds this year in total. It made Fishlake Meadows the closest I’d ever seen these birds to home and fifth location I have ever seen one at. It was my earliest ever sighting I’d had of one in a year one we usually see at Rutland Water when we go for the Bird Fair which in its physical form was cancelled this year. This bird that was here last year was reckoned to be a Rutland born bird so I felt connected to those English comeback colony again. It made it a thirteenth consecutive year I saw an Osprey in 2020 something never guaranteed especially this year so it felt like a great relief. I also saw female Pochard, Great Crested Grebe and Great White Egret here in the way of favourite birds of mine.

That day at Fishlake we also got four great natural moments in a walk around the reserve, seeing Purple Loosestrife beside the canal my first time seeing it this year, seeing a Blue-tailed Damselfly land right in front of my face on the wood at the viewing screen and hear a very loud Cetti’s Warbler calling beside us there which was great. Additionally as we walked back along the canal path I was thrilled to spot a massive Stag beetle making its way across the path onto grass. My first ever in a year when I got more interested in beetles and it was a trend of the year I had some absolutely amazing moments seeing a few different species of beetle what a moment! It was quite a rare one to see. I took the tenth and final photo in this photoset of this Stag beetle at Fishlake Meadows. I saw a Red Admiral butterfly here too which was nice. I remarked again what a truly special and biodiverse reserve and urban haven Fishlake Meadows is becoming a real credit to Hampshire. That day at a safe distance we got talking to some more lovely people on the Osprey we were watching, other natural history topics and more.

That afternoon we then did a walk with Missy our dog and my Mum’s husband at the Titchfield canal path. Here it was nice to end my week off seeing a decent selection of butterflies and a few species with mini swarms of them as the sun and some heat well and truly emerged as expected that afternoon after brief showers earlier on. Comma and Meadow Brown swarmed a bit with Peacock, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and two of my favourites the Large Skipper and Red Admiral also seen. It was also great to see other wildlife here such as more House Martins over Posbrook flood and lovely bronze looking Black-tailed Godwits there.

So this brought to an end one of the weeks of my year and a fantastic time. I really did get to over the five days off in surrounding counties to our own and more locally at the two weekends safely in line with restrictions go on some incredibly beautiful and wild walks at nature reserves etc., some of the best in the country seeing some of the rarest and greatest animals in the United Kingdom and photographing them with possibly my highest ever amount of photos and highest ever average amount produced per day ever in a week at that stage. I witnessed history for UK wildlife during this time and I feel like in this unique year this week will stay with me forever. The weather was a key factor of that we timed the week perfectly to coincide it with a bit of a heatwave really we had such high temperatures and strong sun in places for our walks and time at home which was lovely. It was particularly useful for the extensive butterfly watching aspects of the week off and very nice to be beside the sea at times during it. I think that’s the most important thing I took from that week was those moments of relaxation be that when out, more lay ins in the mornings or just simply listening to music in the car with the window wide open. It was the perfect relaxation I needed after three months working from home in great uncertainty all around the world. I found it a real brilliant substitution to the holiday that couldn’t (rightly) be. Pragmatically it was a great chance to catch up with some of the species and trips we couldn’t see or do during the first strict part of lockdown. But emotionally I barely remember thinking “We should be in Anglesey now” and that’s because we just safely packed so much in at brilliant locations and ones that mean so much to us that it felt like a holiday without the need to find accommodation or have a very long car journey etc. It was a special time for me for many reasons and one I counted on a lot this year.

[moss-sauce]

rrrrRRAAAAAA i did it dudes. wrote about @trackinghallownest‘s vessel spindle getting a happy ending after some art they made about spindle getting all forgotten n whatnot. that would not Do for my big dumb soft baby heart.

[AO3]

The City of Tears may be a forlorn, desolate place inhabited by the husks and ghost of those that once lived there, but it was a peaceful place. The pattering rain on the window next to them was soothing, droplets spattering against the pane and trailing downwards in rivulets. 

Nudge, nudge.

Maybe if Hawk ignored the insistent pestering, Hum would take the hint. They close their eyes and act as if asleep.

Nudge! Nudge, nudge!

Keep pretending.

Pat, pat!

Just...keep the act up. Hum will stop soon. It feels mean to do, but Hawk is genuinely exhausted.

Hum stops, thankfully. Hawk actually relaxes.

SHOVE!

Hawk almost falls off the bench they’re resting on. Narrowed eyes glare down at Hum on the bench adjacent to them. What greets them is a sight familiar, somewhat annoying, but soul-wrenching nonetheless. 

Hum’s eyes are pleading for something. When they notice Hawk’s aware of their state, they stand fully on the bench and lay their little hands on Hawk’s shoulder.

Hawk tilts their head to show that they’re paying attention fully. Hum grabs one of Hawk’s hands and hops down off the bench,  tugging with all the might contained in their little form. As Hawk slowly rises, Hum eagerly points to a map pinned on a post nearby. Begrudgingly, Hawk allows their sibling to drag them over.

Hum’s hand indicates a spot on the map. Leaning in and peering closer, Hawk notices where they’re pointing to: the Abyss.

The Abyss? What’s there? Does Hum want to just go say hello to all our desolate siblings there...again?

The notion of Hum being so overwhelmingly worried about the well-being of the shade-siblings was touching, honestly. It fit Hum’s character perfectly. Hawk may not want to plod all the way back down to the Abyss to do this menial thing, but if Hum wanted to, that was all the importance Hawk needed. 

Hawk points to where they are currently, nestled in the City of Tears after a short, curt meetup with Lemm to get rid of some relics Hum had gathered. Hum follows suit, gently patting a hand on the map next to theirs. Hawk analyzes a track down to where Hum desired to go, weaving and turning as their hand mapped a path that their mind memorized.

Nothing too awful. They were already in the City near the King’s Station. A quick inquiry to the Stag Beetle could get them to the Hidden Station by the Palace Grounds, right next to their destination.

Hawk rolls their eyes. The things they did because Hum gave some baby eyes. Pathetic.

Hum wasn’t pathetic. Hum was caring and kind and gentle and bubbly. Hallownest could use more individuals like that.  Unfortunately, Hum’s size and stature limited things they could achieve solo, so a little “assistance” is needed. That’s why Hawk is so tolerant of the misadventures they are led on, or so they tell themselves. 

Hawk nods to show they’re ready to leave. Hum bounces on their toes in response. As Hawk turns and begins the stroll to the Stag Station, Hum’s hurried plip-pap-pip-plap footsteps can be heard trying to keep up. Hawk pauses, extending an arm out to the side and waiting. Hum catches up, latches onto the offered arm, and holds tight.

The King’s Station approaches soon enough. For once, Hum isn’t constantly derailing their task by meandering off to look at this, to touch that thing, to stomp in that puddle, to climb up onto some crate or box. No, they’ve got a single-minded intensity that Hawk finds themselves surprised by.

Skimming by the complementary bench that always accompanies a Stag, the duo approach a directions post and a bell. The post shows a primitive, basic map of Hallownest, other Stag Stations marked by little tokens. Hawk stoops over to pick Hum up. Hum goes willingly, already extending an arm towards the bell just waiting to be rung. Firmly, Hum smacks the bell with a clang-clang-clang and preens as Hawk sets them down gently. Shortly, the Last Stag’s thundering footfalls are audible, and grow steadily louder and louder. 

The Stag skids to a halt in his typical dramatic fashion, kicking up plumes of dust as he grunts. Hum is already scampering up to him, offering a hug that he accepts gratefully. Hawk watches passively and the embrace is exchanged. 

“Where to, my small friends?” his gruff voice asks.

Hawk points to a marker on the map post.

“The Hidden Station?” Hawk nods once; Hum nods furiously. “So be it! I shall get you there swiftly, as always.”

He kneels down and waits for the two of them to clamber onto his back. Hawk lifts Hum up into one of the seats attached to the Stag’s shell, climbing up after them after ensuring they were situated. Hawk sits right next to them, a spot where they could easily reach over to steady Hum if the ride got too bumpy.

And bumpy it was.

To be fair, the Stag had never been hailed for his smooth ride to a destination. No, he was prided on being quick and sure-footed, which he indeed was. Still, Hawk found their hand latching onto the rails of the seat one one side, and the other holding Hum firmly.

Hum, as usual, is having a blast, oblivious to the ragged look Hawk gains. Their scarf whips in the wind, tickling Hawk’s face occasionally. Hawk’s on adornment, the length of black cord wrapped around their neck comfortably in a mock-impression of Hum’s scarf, thankfully dances in the breeze behind their head.

Eventually the Last Stag barrels into the Hidden Station, and again, skids to a halt. He stands stock-still as they dismount into the Station.

“Take care, little friend!” The Last Stag grunts to Hum. With a nod towards Hawk, he continues. “Make sure to keep that companion in line. When you need me next, I shall be there.”

Hawk rolls their eyes. Hum beams, waving a final farewell to their Stag friend. Hawk turns and begins to walk further into the Ancient Basin, and Hum skitters up beside them. These parts of the Basin have no real threats within them, as the only other creatures near them were the meek Shadow Creepers, which kept to their own business. 

But there was the Palace Grounds.

Hawk knew of what went on within this area. The Pale King. The Siblings. The failed vessels, all pitched over the edge into the Abyss like unwanted discards. It infuriated them. Hawk was one of those vessels. Discarded for being too stubborn. Too expressive. Too protective. That’s where they met Hum a while later. It hurt to think about. Their own discardment was upsetting, sure; but the fact that one like Hum was thrown aside in the same manner was infuriating.

Shuffling past the lifeless Kingsmould, Hum slows and looks curiously at it. Hawk throws a stern, no-nonsense look their way, reaching a hand out. Hum latches on as Hawk leads the way past the Kingsmould, away from the awful associations and experiences in that horrendous place. They swiftly pass by the ancient adornments without a second thought. Ironic. So quick was He to forget about us and discard countless vessels, when His own kingdom was doomed to fall regardless. Hawk shakes their head, jostling the thoughts away.

A small jump down here, carefully skidding down a wall a short ways with Hum clinging to their back tightly, and there they were. 

The King’s Brand.

The relic towers over even Hawk’s height. Hum pads up closer to it, watching as it glows brighter and brighter with proximity. Hawk’s seen it before, many times. It’s no surprise that Hum is still fascinated. Hawk allows them a few more moments of wonder before patting their shoulder and pointing his head left. Hum eagerly patters after him.

The Abyss... Hawk didn’t hate this place, didn’t hate the other residents of this area. It was not the Siblings’ fault they were seen as “imperfect”. If anything, Hawk felt...sad. Genuine sadness. It hurt to return here, it hurt to think about what led to all these poor souls being thrown here. Hum’s chipper mind made it less of a dreary experience than ambling this chasm alone, lost, terrified, and confused.

Stop that. Hawk shakes their head again.

Hum goes to lead the way further into the Abyss. This snaps Hawk out of their dwelling instantly. The Abyss is full of jumps that required precise timing and direction. “Platforming,” someone had called it once. While Hum is full of compassion and kindness and excitement...coordination is something they lack.

Hum had a predetermined destination in mind. Hawk would plunk down or jump over to a platform, turn around, and reliably catch Hum after them. Some had the jagged, teeth-like spikes that some landscapes in this place garnished, but they were easily avoidable. 

Instead of the steady descent to the bottom of the Abyss, Hum veers straight around halfway down. The Lifeblood Room? What was there that they hadn’t seen before?

The Lifebloods are a shocking splash of color in the scenery. Vines and buds and long-passed Lifeblood Blooms covered a door. Did Hum want inside?

Hum skitters up to a thick tangle of vines and...peers into them. Hawk wants to roll their eyes. But Hum looked like they were expecting something. Gently, Hum begins untangling the outermost vines and brambles, unraveling lengths that dwarf their own size. Deeper vines are more of a challenge for them, so they turn to Hawk’s gawking form for help.

Pat, pat! That vine? Tug! Ah, move that vine.

Hawk pulls out their double-ended, spear-like nail and sets to work. They draw it back, readying a mighty strike to slice through multiple vines in one go, but Hum intervenes frantically. 

Shakeshakeshake!! Eyes wide, arms flailing in a halting motion, their mask furiously shakes in a dissuading gesture. Hawk freezes. Hum shows them what they meant, softly making a chop! motion on the vines before looking back. Hawk nods.

The nail is as sharp as ever, but the vines are thick. They’ve been growing for ages, twining and furling and wrapping around...whatever was under them. After a span of time spent carefully, precisely peeling away the vines, Hawk sees something. Something white and scuffed.

Oh no.

Hum tries to peer over Hawk’s shoulder to see the discovery, but Hawk is working with one goal in mind: the Sibling. That was a Sibling’s mask. 

Once the majority of the vines are unraveled, Hum can see too. They immediately try to rush in to check on their fellow vessel, but Hawk holds them at bay by blocking their approach with the nail. For as much as Hawk wanted to rescue this Sibling with good intentions, the vessel wouldn’t know that at first. They might perceive it as an attack, an intrusion.

If they can still perceive.

The sight they meet wrenches Hawk’s soul.

An unseeing mask stares blankly ahead. Their body slouches against the wall behind them limply. The Sibling had been here so long that the Lifeblood Vines had actually begun to intertwine with the vessel itself, little blue roots worming into cracks in the mask and allowing blobs of blue Lifeblood to accumulate.

Hum frets immediately. They barge past Hawk’s barrier, running up to stand before the Sibling. They brush smaller twigs and leaves off the vessel delicately, eyes wide with worry.

For a moment, they wait. Is the vessel merely dormant? Will it wake like so many others have after abandonment?

Or was it...gone?

Hawk refused to believe the latter. For crying out loud, they’re entrapped in Lifeblood plants. What amount of irony and cruelty would lead to a creature dying while encased in a plant that’s literally called Lifeblood?!

So the two of them wait. Hawk stands guard, watching the Shades of other Siblings float aimlessly about forlornly. Hum plunks down to sit at the newly-found vessel’s feet, arranging little twigs and flowers into shapes.

Then the vessel twitches.

Hum nearly startles out of their lavender-colored cloak. Hawk does not ready his nail, but raises a hand, prepared to swiftly draw it if needed. They’d never harm this vessel, no. Just enough to let them know Hawk was not allowing Hum to come to harm.

The vessel scuffs a foot through the dirt, drawing their legs up to their body. Hum bounces on their toes in joy.

The vessel looks up, blearily.

What a sight to wake up to. A bouncing, excited little vessel and their self-assigned protector towering over them.

Naturally, Hum waves. Hawk watches closely.

The vessel stares blankly at the two of them. Then, feebly, raises a trembling hand to meekly greet Hum back.

Hum is ecstatic. They bounce right over to the spindly-limbed Sibling, plapping their hands on either side of their fractured mask in a mock-expression of squishing someone’s cheeks happily. For the vessel’s part, they tolerate it much more tamely than Hawk would, squinting their eyes happily at the attention. 

Hum whips around to point at Hawk and bounces a few times. The vessel turns to look. Hawk stares. Hum looks expectantly at Hawk. Hawk rolls their eyes and waves. However, not a half-hearted wave they’d fling at any other creature or bug Hum was forcing them to greet. No, this was a full-hearted wave for a fellow Sibling.

If possible, the vessel beams even brighter. Hum stands back as Hawk helps them to their feet, though they lean heavily on Hawk’s shoulder. A Hot Spring will likely help this poor, fellow soul. That, and a trip to the Mask Maker for a few repairs. Maybe getting checked over by someone that knows what they’re doing, and not just two wanderers with hearts too big for their bodies.

Hawk flicks a hand to Hum to get their attention. When Hum looks, they mimic the lines of steam a Hot Spring produces with a hand, conveying their idea to Hum. Hum brightens and nods.

Fear not, Sibling. The others forgot about both you and us, but we have not forgotten you.

[ueaecology]

Ash Tree, Fraxinus excelsior

Ash trees are native to Europe, Africa and western Asia, and are the third most common tree in the UK. A fully grown ash tree can reach a height of 40 metres, and in its 200-300 year life span, its bark turns from grey and smooth to a grey/brown and creased. Ash trees are part of the Oleaceae family and produce an oil that is chemically similar to olive oil.

They provide essential habitats to numerous different species of wildlife including bullfinches, woodpeckers, owls, the lesser stag beetle and dormice. In addition to these, the airy ash tree canopies provide optimum conditions for wildflowers to grow beneath, such as wild garlic and dog violet, which then provide nectar to various insects. The bark of the tree is typically covered with lichens and mosses, which act as an important food source for a number of species of moth.

Their leaves fall when they are still green, an interesting characteristic of the ash tree. The first flowers of the ash tree blossom when the tree is about 30 years old. The male and female flowers are deep purple in colour and blossom before the leaves in the springtime. In the late summer and autumn, the female flowers that had been successfully pollinated develop into fruits that fall from the tree during the winter, where they are dispersed by birds and mammals. Ash trees are dioecious, which means that the male and female flowers grow on separate trees, although there are some instances where a single tree has both male and female flowers on different branches. The distinctive black leaf buds during the winter make ash trees easy to identify.

Ash trees are threatened by ash dieback, a disease caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which is estimated to cost the UK £15 billion. It results in the loss of their leaves, eventually causing the death of the tree.

[fmp-anatomy]

Examples for FPM

anatomy:

chosen theme

colour theme would stay neutral and flesh toned silhouette should include bones like spines and ribs.

mind map:

 Leonardo da Vinci

bones

skeletons

skulls

hands

ribs

hearts

lungs

nevres

brain

teeth

muscles

animals

fish

human

reptiles

dinosaur rhino

cats

moose

whales

beetles:

colour theme will range in bright colours silhouettes will be round 

mind map:

wings

horned

shiny

hard shelled

multi chromatic

iridescent

smooth

breeds:

stag

rhino

fire

green tiger

jewl

armoured

spiked

speckled

astronomy:

colours will be dark in mostly cool tones

silhouette will be round to imitate the planets 

mind map:

stars

constellation

clusters

shooting stars

meteor shower

planets

earth

pluto

jupiter

saturn mars

galaxies

spiral

black eye

milkyway

satellite

solar eclipse

mars rover

[8dpromo]

Klaus Benedek - At The Shore (fortunea)

This summer fortunea head Klaus Benedek returns with a deep and moody two track single. “At The Shore” is featured on the A-side, and it’s a fitting piece for sunset and after-hours sessions. The track evokes nostalgic memories of a simpler, laid-back, and peaceful time on the beach. A smooth guitar is the key element as the track builds up to a break that dives into the waves of the ocean. Siren-song vocal cut ups and a beautiful, haunting pad splash through the mix, providing the icing on the cake. The B-side — though similar in vibe to the title track -- has a more somber feeling to it. “South Bronx Depression” reflects the mood of the troubled New York neighborhood during the ‘70s and ‘80s. A bombastic jazz fanfare has been sampled, filtered, chopped, and transformed as the track’s hook. Eerie synthesizer stings make an entrance as a narrator tells his story. The vinyl is limited to 300 copies. Mastered by Patrick Pulsinger.

Vanilla Ace (Club Sweat, Elrow) – “Cool, laid back grooves.” Tensnake (Mirau / Defected) – “Lovely tunes!” Dutchican Soul (Salted Music) - “Both tracks are fire!” Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) “South Bronx Depression is an odyssey.” Andrew Emil (Broadway & Wilson) – “Love this release.” Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Gorgeous.” DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show, Perth) – “Klaus is quality. I like this release a lot.” Richie Hartness (UM – syndicated radio show) – “Enjoyed the funky swagger to this terrace affair.” Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel, Sydney) – “Absolutely top shelf house. Inspiring production.” Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - “Excellent release from Klaus. South Bronx Depression is superb!”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Smooth Black Stag Beetle - Lucanus placidus

It looks like this week has turned into large garden Beetle week! While walking from work, a smooth male specimen was found crossing the sidewalk, and admittedly he was doing so very slowly. They are well equipped to walk, but the additional bulk from their armor takes some getting used to (as can be glimpsed from the many videos found here). With more people following behind me, I picked up this big guy for a closer look and got him of out reach of an errant foot. With mandibles raised, he was ready for a fight but did not bring one against my finger when they were lightly poked (disclaimer: please don’t prolong annoyance to any Beetles). He flipped over of his own accord while exploring my hand, hence the pictures of his magnificent underside and a chance to closely examine how each pair of legs connects to the abdomen. Moreover, it can be seen that each pair of legs are structured differently than the other. The front legs are covered in armored spikes, while the back legs have altered curvature to better move and slide beneath the abdomen. 

Each leg extends from the tibia to a slim, flexible tarsus and ends with a grappling-hook like claw (known as a pretarsus). As would be expected, those tarsal claws are handy when climbing up surfaces and for gripping terrain, but against human skin they won’t slash at all. At most, they’ll tickle. When flipped, he didn’t flail those legs around very much, nor his body in attempt to re-orient to the right way up (my hand tilted to flip him back to normal) which is most strange. Generally the Beetles I’ve seen go mad when flipped over and use any means at their disposal to right themselves. When a Stag Beetle exposes their soft underbelly to nature, it can be a death sentence since they’d be put in a position where their armor couldn’t protect them. An exposed underside is also the ultimate defeat when males fight each other, aiming to grip and flip each other with their curved, toothed mandibles. It sounds a little silly, but it’s no easy feat to grab a rival by your mouth, hoist them above your head, carry them and then flip them over!  The mandibles are big help of course, and while they are the most prominent mouthparts, smaller mouthparts are beneath the head to manipulate sap and vegetation into the insect’s mouth.

Pictures taken on June 15, 2023 with a Google Pixel 4.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Jonny's Insect Catalogue - Now on YouTube

As mentioned in my 5 Year Anniversary post showcasing a colony of Small Yellow Ants, the blog's reach has been expanded to YouTube as I've created a channel that will host insect videos. If you are interested in insects or nature content, I will see you there!

Please note: any advertisements placed on my YouTube uploads are not of my doing. The intention with my channel and the videos there are to showcase the insects I've observed, not to incessantly bombard you with ads.  

With the channel up and running, all the videos featured in this blog’s Video Catalogue will eventually be uploaded there without any caveats. Videos that were previously trimmed or separated into multiple parts will be shown in full. Furthermore, the intent is to upload them chronologically, beginning with every video currently uploaded to this blog. I may jump around a bit, especially if I find an amazing insect to share.

New videos will be uploaded every Sunday, creating the following upload schedule for this blog: Tuesday (Tb) >> Friday (Tb) >> Sunday (YT). For additional information, please refer to the YouTube info section of the blog. If you have any further questions, I'm happy to answer them.

The rest of this post will speak briefly on the channel's welcome video (playing above), the channel's outro video and the first insect upload that will grace the channel. I hope to see you in the world of video content creation. Also, I apologize in advance for any audio "pops" heard in earlier recorded videos (particularly those from 2017-2019). Audio for those videos will be cleaned up best as possible before they are uploaded.

The Channel Welcome video is intended to showcase a glimpse into the content that has been on this blog for 5 years. To keep with the natural feel, the background audio was created using the sounds from the following videos: Asian Ladybug Pupa, Cicada Hatching, Potter Wasp. Ironically, though my channel is focused on insects, the Welcome audio primarily features birds. They may like to eat insects, but they provide some of the best and most recognizable natural ambience sounds! As the video approaches the end, there's also a bit of the outro audio when the logo appears...

The channel's video outro audio was created by layering the sounds of the insects in these videos into one track: Black-Legged Meadow Katydid, Brown-Belted Bumblebee, Eastern Carpenter Bee, Cicada Hatching. It was a challenge to synchronize the sounds to the text, but everything gradually clicked together. The outro features the famous slogan for creating a YouTube community, "Like, Share, Subscribe", and of course "Thank you for Watching". I do sincerely mean the latter, thank you! Shorter videos will use a truncated version of the outro since it doesn't make sense to have the video's outro longer than the video itself (haha).

When I originally created the thumbnails for the videos on this blog, I chose the film strip since it holds strong iconography with visual media and movies. It also held potential to be stylized and clean, as if to show the best possible glimpse into the life of the recorded insects. Little did I know that 5 years later I would join them together to create film reel styled graphics for the channel's banner. The image on the left is my first draft, and the image on the right is the final draft currently in use. I didn't want to change the dimensions and content, but the image had to fit YouTube's TV and Desktop parameters. I couldn't bare to junk the original file, so I have included in my channel's welcome video before the insect showcase, and it's featured on the blog in a few places.

All text and image graphics used in my video will be created in photoshop. The videos will be compiled together using Clipchamp. Although it has a bit of lag during playback, slow finishing export and a cluttered UI, I can make it work.

Finally, the first insect video to official grace my YouTube channel will be the Monarch Butterfly I found emerging from its Chrysalis after a few days of careful observation. It's the video I'm most proud of and it showcases something truly special in the insect world. On YouTube, it has a duration of 4:46 compared to 50 seconds here (it had to be trimmed due to size limitations). I'm honored to finally show it in full. Please see for yourself: Monarch Butterfly - Emerging from its Chrysalis.

Thank you to all my followers, readers, friends and family for your support and for viewing these insects. Every one of you mean the world to me. The journey into the insect world continues!

This post also represents a serendipitous milestone: 100 video posts uploaded to this blog! Here's to 100 more featuring many amazing insects!

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Smooth Black Stag Beetle - Lucanus placidus

As promised from last week, today we have a showcase and little more of an in-depth look at this specie of Stag Beetle with several individuals having emerged from their pupation. First seen in these 2 video posts that showcase their movement and shape, now we dive into a photo showcase. Since these Beetles are quite large in terms of size (especially for a temperate insect) their details and intricacies become much more visible, especially with the available equipment. For a view rarely seen, Pictures 8 and 9 are recommended to view the underside of the insect*. True to their name, their carapaces are smooth, free of ridges, grooves and patterning. In Ontario, that is the piece of information that can help distinguish this insect from the Antelope Beetle, a fellow Stag. Moreover, while they look imposing with their size and large mandibles, remember that is posturing and their jaws can do little to hurt you. Look at those jaws carefully: a close north american relative (L. capreolus - The Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle) is very similar to this Beetle. However, today’s insect features mandibles will multiple small teeth, while the Reddish-Brown Stag has mandibles with only one extra point. If you wish to pick them up for a closer look you certainly can, but do so gently, grabbing from the sides and lifting them carefully.  If you do, they don’t hesitate to climb around a hard and investigate. 

Like other insects, they use their tarsal claws which make climbing no issue for them. Claws may sound intimidating, but rest assured their claws do little more than tickle or slightly pull as they walk. They are good for what they’ve been honed to do: pull them across leaves, grass and to climb out of the ground after emerging from their pupa. Picture 7 showcases this nicely, with a fresh adult joining the world. For the most part the Beetles largely seem passive with each other’s presence (there were 4 in this area), but (as seen in Picture 10) they will posture and open those jaws to try to intimidate their rivals and dissuade a confrontation. All bets are off of course if mating competitions begin. Though the males can use their jaws to grip and flip their fellow Beetles, the strength of this specie come from the jaws alone. Take note of their legs! Pictures 5 and 9 showcase the Beetle’s ability to remain gripped even while half their body is off a surface and while hanging upside-down respectively. Magnificent! And yet just a taste of strength! It’s that grip, power and maneuverability that allows the Beetles the leverage to flip their foes, even if heavy and clad in armor! When I say maneuverability, I’m strictly referring to the legs and body when anchored, as normally their armor and side make them relatively slow to move and run.

*Note: While temporarily flipped over, I flipped the Beetle right side up again after taking pictures. Though they appear helpless these Beetles can right themselves up with some effort by themselves.

Pictures were taken on June 3, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Smooth Black Stag Beetle - Lucanus placidus

For today’s specimen, it was found while I was in a bit of rush. However, there’s always time for at least one picture, especially for a Stag Beetle! Unfortunately, this Beetle wasn’t alive when I found it (or at the very least, was barely moving), and it was just sitting on the sidewalk. Moreover, the wind blew it onto its side when the picture was take. I suppose that does allow for the showcase of the dorsal side of the insect along with a clear view of the comb-like antennae (so maybe it was a good thing). In any case, I placed the Beetle in nearby grass after the picture and then hurried off! Whatever its condition, its a lovely specimen, and probably a female Stag Beetle given the size of the mandibles (more on that below). This Beetle doesn’t have a common name, so I’ve given it one for this blog; hopefully I can find more live Beetles in the future to better document this specie. As mentioned above, this Beetle is most likely a female given the size of its mandibles as males tend to have larger ones used for competition for mates. 

However, compared to other Beetles with more exaggerated horns and jaws, the difference in mandible size isn’t as drastic (I’d say it’s similar to the Antelope Beetle - Dorcus parallelus). While this female has smaller, more blunted jaws, males have jaws that sport multiple tooth-like protusions, which can be helpful during identification as this Beetle can be confused with another Ontario resident: the Reddish-brown Stag Beetle - Lucanus capreolus (whose males have only a single jaw tooth). Something else to be aware of: L. placidus and L. capreolus can appear in differing shades of brown and black, irrespective of what their common name may describe, so you’ll need to look at other details to successfully identify them. Best way to tell them apart: their legs. Today’s specimen has legs that are uniformly dark (some accounts say dark reddish-brown, others black) while Lucanus capreolus has brownish, bi-colored legs. It’ll make a lot more sense when you compare the two, but try to use all the knowledge available when working to successfully identify a specie. In retrospect, I probably could’ve collected the Beetle to examine it further, but it wasn’t to be. Hopefully the specie can be found again in the future! 

Picture was taken on June 12, 2018 with a Samsung Galaxy S4