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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Mar 29, 2012 0:09:02 GMT -8
Yes, the beetle is green. My cheap camera is very finicky about lighting and it refused to pick up the really dark green of the beetle. I found it in front of a gas station near some kindling wood he had stacked on the sidewalk. Attachments:
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Post by nomihoudai on Mar 29, 2012 0:23:06 GMT -8
Try either another angle to take the picture (not straight from above) or another type of light source (try outside in the sunshine if you haven't done so). This beetle probably has structural color and no pigment color and this makes taking a natural pic a lot more difficult.
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Post by prillbug2 on Mar 29, 2012 5:11:48 GMT -8
Family: Meloidae. Lytta sayi LeConte.
Jeff Prill
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Mar 29, 2012 9:10:42 GMT -8
Thanks for the photo tips, Nomihoudai. I am going to attempt to use sunlight in a little while to photograph the other one I caught at my lightsheet just before I went to bed. I had never seen one of these before, and I just happen upon one and find another alive at a different spot all the same night.
Thanks for the I.D, Jeff. So this is a blister beetle. Does this mean I need to protect my fingers when pinning the good one I caught or is it just when they are alive? I have never encountered a blister beetle before so I don't know if the blistering agent is resident on the body or if it is emitted only when disturbed.
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Post by prillbug2 on Mar 29, 2012 13:53:22 GMT -8
The cantharidin is only released when they are alive, so it's safe.
Jeff Prill
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