New people have moved in up the road. I haven't met them yet and am not entirely sure how to break it to them that I spend a lot of time popping out from the depths of the forest straight across from their house, camera in hand, head to toe in sleepwear. And not always in the daylight either. Add in a torch and the street is our nighttime oyster! I guess they're going to find out sooner or later!!! Welcome! 😂
Proving that he has not only earned but continues to earn the title of 'Only the Best Spotter Ever' Matt found this incredible Golden Green Stag Beetle on the driveway during one of our night wanders. It had already gone to beetle heaven when he found it but that meant that we really study it and could get some detailed macro images in the sun the next morning.
I love being able to really look at creatures and they almost always prove to be even more beautiful up close. I mean, who knew that this beetle would have a hairy tummy? That it's feet would have double claws and saw-like teeth along the edge of the its front legs? The huge mandibles lined with cushioning bristles?
Stag Beetles lay their eggs in rotting wood, which the larvae live in and eat, and seeing as though we live across the road from a parcel of coastal forest and all of the fallen trees and rotten logs that that contains, we were bound to see one now that the adults are moving around in the warmer nights. Fingers crossed for a live one next time. Or, if we're putting our requests out there for the universe, fingers crossed for two. Okay. Fingers crossed for two males. Fighting. And a million dollars 😉
Golden Green Stag Beetle
Northern Illawarra
