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Heteroceridae - variegated mud-loving beetle
Sierra Valley, Northern California, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2004

Heterocerid mud-loving beetles live in the mud along stream banks.  They can be brought out of their burrows by splashing water up on the banks.  Their dense velvety pubesence allows these small beetles to keep an air pocket around them in a very wet habitat.

 
USA, CA, Plumas Co.: Beckwourth
2.vii.2004, 39º49'N 120º23'W, 1490m
Banks of Feather River.


This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.