Sap beetles (Nitidulidae) in an early-blooming Crocus flower
photo details:
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon EOS 7D
ISO 200, f/13, 1/250 sec, diffused off-camera flash
Friday Beetle Blogging: First Sap Beetles of Spring
photo details:
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon EOS 7D
ISO 200, f/13, 1/250 sec, diffused off-camera flash
A personal weblog by Illinois-based biologist and photographer Alex Wild.
Are they mating too?
These sap beetles bear an uncanny resemblance to small hive beetles. How closely are they related?
Sap beetles are a family (Nitidulidae) that includes the small hive beetle as well as the beetles pictured here. So the similarity you note is indeed due to close phylogenetic relation.
They look similar to me, too – I couldn’t think of what they reminded me of until you mentioned it!
[...] Wild at Myrmecos offers several spectacular beetle photos this month. Check out his sexy weevils, the first sap beetles of the spring, and a stunning pleasing fungus beetle from Ecuador. And just in case you missed it, be sure to [...]