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| Ink and watercolor in the Moleskine Watercolor Journal |
Are you ready to rummmmmmmbbbbbllllllee??!!
In lower left corner, we have the challenger, the little, cute, sorta-fuzzy Checkered Beetle measuring only 3/4 of an inch long.
And in upper right corner, towering above the competition, we have the big honkin’, root boring, Pironus Beetle, measuring a whopping 1-3/4 inches (not including the feathery antenna).
Ding! There’s the bell.
I never would have guessed it, but in my research to identify these two, I discovered that the Checkered Beetle attacks and eats the Pironus beetle at all stages of their life cycle. Eggs, larvae and adult.
This is a good thing because the big beetle is a root borer and the larval stage of this beetle can cause much damage and grief to hardwood trees.
I found both of these beetles within hours of each other. The Checkered Beetle was in the front yard, but the Pironus had come into the garage and was lying in front of the washer with his feet up in the air.
He was down for the count.
Ding! We have a winner!
Wow! What a good story and picture of the beetles. Thanks for the info too. I've seen them more than once in my tree adorned yard...yikes!
ReplyDeleteLaura, I tried to post & it went blank...so this may come thru' twice! First I'm amazed at your sketch of those guys! And we live in NM just north west of you! Ack! I'm trying to better my shadows...and help?
ReplyDeleteGreat post ... who would have thought that pretty little beetle would come out the winner!
ReplyDeleteat first I read "root borer" as "root beer" :^)
ReplyDelete