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Rhipicera sp.  - Feather-horn beetle
Rhipiceridae
Victoria, Australia

photograph © Alex Wild 2006

The impressive antennae of a Rhipicera beetle.  Little is known about the biology of the Australian feather-horned beetles, but elsewhere in the world their larvae are parasites of cicadas.  Parasitism is a relatively uncommon life history strategy among beetles.

 
Australia, VIC: Tidal River, Wilson's Promontory National Park.  39º02.052'S 146º19.530'E, 15m. 
17.ii.2006. Coastal Leptospermum Forest.

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.