Green with Dimples by Chipka
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Description
My most pleasant childhood memories involve bugs; that’s not surprising—bugs are endlessly entertaining, and incredibly fashion-forward. Only an insect might conceivably get away with wearing metallic green accenting a lurid array of black and white polka-dots. If humans attempt fashion-sense like that, things become…tragic.
I bring up the idea of metallic green coupled with white polka-dots on a black surface, because of this particular insect. I’d first encountered Japanese beetles as a child. My mother’s iris bed was infested with Japanese beetle grubs. They were enormous. They were impressive. They drew robins and other grub-eating birds, but most entertainingly they were a convenient mother-repellant. As a child, disciplinary actions didn’t work with me. If I was punished, beetle grubs appeared under pillows or spider egg-cases hatched under beds. From such incidents, I learned the immense entertainment value of a mother with a serious case of bug-derived itches, and I often wonder if my childhood love of insects is what led my mother to re-plant much of her garden with waxy begonia type flowers: things no self-respecting insect would eat.
I took this picture last year and I’d intended to post it a lot sooner rather than later. Other things came up, and so it managed to find itself relegated to the artistic back-burner for a while. It’s the only Japanese beetle image I was able to capture with any measure of clarity. Such beetles, for all of their green and fuzzy white-polka-dotted glory, are notoriously impossible to photograph. They don’t stand still. They don’t fly very well and so—more often than not—they’re sporting damaged wings, broken legs, and wonky antennae. This particular specimen suffered from wall-damaged wings. (If you’ve ever seen a Japanese beetle in flight, you’d understand immediately how and why they receive such flagrant bits of damage to their wings. Gracefullness is a word that does not exist in their conceptual vocabulary.)
Japenese beetles are a pest import to the USA and Canada; in their native Japan, their numbers are controlled by natural predators. Insect-eating things on the North American Landmass don’t find these beetles to be very tasty. Maybe it’s the green wing-shells or the extremely hairy abdominal walls (with black and white fuzz in obnoxiously gorgeous polka-dot patterns.) Maybe it’s the strange fluttering-buzzing sound they make as they lumber through the air like drunken winged dervishes, not exactly spinning, but not maintaining straight flight-paths either. Or maybe, they’re just to big for things to eat. They are rather sizable after all: nowhere near Hercules or Stag beetle girth, but big, nonetheless. The example here (found in a truck-yard) wasn’t so large, and not entirely cooperative. But wow, what color! Unfortunately, I didn't get a good shot of the abdominal hair and those oddly serrated spots.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend.
Comments (26)
Bossie_Boots
Very good read and a superb capture !!
tennesseecowgirl
He looks too pretty to be a pest.. So let me get this right when your mom punished you, you placed the beetles under HER pillow.... lol oh my. Did you later confess to this habit. Oh I think you and my son would get along great. Okay now I am going go get dressed up in my green metallic polka dotted mini skirt LOL. great work my friend
jac204
You see so much beauty it things the rest of us see as pests. I'm almost afraid to admit to you that I have put out beetle traps to protect my mother's rose bushes in the past. However, in their natural environment in Japan they almost certainly serve an important function.
blinkings
I think it's a boy thing but I understand your fascination with bugs perfectly.
MrsRatbag
What a great capture of this guy; I like that he's partly out of frame, and looks like he's leaning in to say something. I never saw these until I moved to Virginia, and then I saw a LOT of them. Gorgeous iridescent armour he's wearing!
NefariousDrO
Wow, what a shade of green! You get the best macros of insects!
Sea_Dog
Spectacular shot, chip. Just amazing. Well done.
three_grrr
And to think this beauty is so maligned .. but wait .. this is the very same bug that has eaten it's way through my rose bushes .. and oh my, how could such a pest be so handsome! A wonderful portrait .. made even better by your story of how you terrorized your poor mother, giggles!
mgtcs
Ohhh.....Spectacular macro Chip, you captured the colors and brightness marvelously, loved the details!
auntietk
There's a certain balance in the universe. Perhaps the bugs under her pillow were advance punishment for her later, more recent sins. One never knows about these things. I love your little friend, the way he's peeking into the frame. He's clearly on your side, and would undoubtedly be happy to provide whatever sorts of amusement you might think up for the unwary! :D
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend.
CoreyBlack
SWANKY DUDS!! I love your critter shots. I've actually found out quite a lot about these fellows from you and they are endlessly fascinating and so well captured. Looking forward to seeing more.
durleybeachbum
Well, Andrew is wrong, it is NOT just a boy thing! I just can't get enough of invertebrates in general, and I share your excitement in their company. I love the way he is just coming into the frame. I went on a recording walk with a real expert yesterday..will post pics very soon.
-Jordi-
These scarabs are also common here, feeding on flowers. They are very beautiful. Excellent shot.
micturn
very very cool
helanker
I think it is what we call a rose beetle here and I have had them severel times in my garden sleeping in my big tagetes LOL ! Lovely shot of it peeking into the picture :-)
Orinoor
GREAT SHOT! I love these guys, not as a gardener mind you, but for the very attributes you so eloquently described. My parents did not need to introduce bugs to my world, we lived in a basement, which by it's very nature, was home to many things besides us.
sandra46
SUPERLATIVE, SUPERB, SPLENDID!
danapommet
A beautiful green glow on this beetle. Great macro capture. Dana
Josel007
Stunning photo, fabulous little details.
RodS Online Now!
Fantastic macro, Chip! Great shot of this little green guy! I kinda dig bugs myself! There's just something cool about them - over and above thier fashion sense! :-D
flavia49
gorgeous colors and contrast !! fabulous work!!
icerian
Very special atmosphere from "Beatle world".
Bothellite
Never too late or early for bugs. Bugs - my faves. You were a smart kid!! Such technique! These beetles crashing and bashing their way through life - what of us do they compare to. ;-)
flora-crassella
a very cool bug! GREAT picture!!!!!
A_Sunbeam
You have a good eye for a close-up; great colour!