Dogwood Leaf Beetle

[pauraque]

Getting into my car after a walk, I found this elegantly decorated beetle on my shirt. It has the very appropriate scientific name of Calligrapha philadelphica, also known as the Dogwood Leaf Beetle.

When it opened its wings to fly, I was surprised to see its inner wings were red. I guess that could be the wax seal on the parchment. :)

Comments

[cmcmck]

What a gorgeous little creature!

[pauraque]

I was delighted by it!

[yarnandglue]

How interesting! I've never seen one of those before.

[pauraque]

I don't think I had either!

[xerimorph]

Oh gosh, what a charmer! I love the wax seal comparison :)

[pauraque]

:)

[melannen]

Ooh, I love the color palette!

[full_metal_ox]

Including pauraque’s clothing:

[pauraque]

Nice, thanks for that!

[magid]

What a gorgeous insect!

[pauraque]

Very!

[yourlibrarian]

Fascinating markings + wings! It looks like a nut.

[pauraque]

Ha, I can see that.

[miscellaneous_section]

It's wing cover look like it has wood burning carved designs on it; such a fancy little guy. 💖

[full_metal_ox]

Exactly—the wing case markings seem to be engraved.

[katherine]

What a beautiful beetle!

[pauraque]

There are a lot of great beetles but this one really impressed me!

[pameladean]

That is one fancy little creature. P.

[pauraque]

Indeed!

[gingicat]

Neat!

[pauraque]

I thought so!

[shirebound]

Oh my goodness! Thank you for sharing this calligraphic beauty.

[pauraque]

My pleasure!

That's wild!

[jesse_the_k]

Your eyes are trained to see movement.

Re: That's wild!

[pauraque]

I usually look at flying things that are a little bigger, but this was a special exception. :)

[full_metal_ox]

And I’m reminded of a particular Japanese aesthetic born of sumptuary laws, in which you’d let the merest furtive sliver of a forbidden red underrobe peek out at the wrists and hems of your otherwise subdued neutral garb.

(I find myself remembering the word as “yukashi”, but a Web search isn’t bearing me out, and the foremost result is a restaurant name.)

[pauraque]

I can imagine what you mean! The red popping out did feel like the revelation of a secret.

[adafrog]

Oh wow.

[pauraque]

:)

[octahedrite]

Cool beetle 👀

[pauraque]

Yes!

[dhampyresa]

So pretty!

[pauraque]

It is!