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

[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.