So. It's happened. I finished up at work yesterday 🙌 Must admit I had a last minute wobble where I was wondering if I had done the right thing, and felt all sentimental about the lovely people that I see day in and day out and especially the people I have become real life proper friends with and sometimes it's better the devil you know and money is good, right? But come morning and I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face! 😃🙌 Right decision made and perfect timing too (massive hail storm overnight and I used to work in insurance; 'nuff said).
I was really hoping to start this new chapter with a bit of a photo wander but yet again the weather is completely rubbish with overcast skies and drizzle on and off all day. I swear winter was just gorgeous this year while summer has been a bit of a wash out. Still, not unlike milkshakes that bring boys to the yard, the camellia shrubs off from the front porch were total magnets for all sorts of life today. Got to love being able to find critters 2 steps from the door (in your pyjamas, at 12PM).
This Long-Nosed Lycid Beetle had me a bit baffled today. It flew in, clambered up onto a leaf and, well, sat there. For ages. And ages. Sometimes it would lift its orange elytra up (the hard wing cases) revealing the hind wings, whilst moving its long abdomen kind of up and down and in and out. And in and out. Occasionally it would lift its abdomen up and rub it along the underneath of the elytra. And then it would return to moving it slowly, up and down, in and out again and again. 😂 I have video but I fear that it would just be too sexy for you all to watch after a couple of wines on a Friday afternoon (that and I haven't even tried to edit it yet) but it was odd behaviour. I've been researching all afternoon with no success. I thought I was going to see some egg laying but nothing. Hmmm. Strange. Maybe I'm just awfully attractive to beetles 🤣
Long-Nosed Lycid Beetle
Northern Illawarra
