Friday Beetle Blogging: Rhipicera femorata

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Rhipicera femorata

Victoria, Australia 

Here's an insect with exceptional reception: Rhipicera, an Australian Dascilloid beetle.  Little is known about the biology of this species, but its North American cousins in the genus Sandalus are Cicada parasites- and there are certainly plenty of Cicadas down under.

photo details: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon D60

f/13, 1/200 sec, ISO 100

MT24-EX twin flash diffused through tracing paper

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