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Large Tumbling Flower Beetle (Hoshihananomia sp.) A large Mordellid beetle about 15 mm long. It had the typical wedge shaped body with humped thorax and a pointy rear end (pygidium) which extended well past the elytra. The thorax and wings were covered with fine hairs giving it a glossy look and had symmetrically placed cream spots and patches. A dome shaped head had a felty cover and laterally placed eyes. It was attached to the thorax by a very narrow neck and the beetle could completely flex the head under the thorax to protect it. I also observed it turning the head to an almost 90 deg angle to the body. <br />
Antennae were saw-toothed. Hind legs were larger than the others.<br />
Spotted on a tea-tree in a reserve. This beetle was in the company of many other Mordellids but all of varying sizes. Australia,Geotagged,Summer Click/tap to enlarge

Large Tumbling Flower Beetle (Hoshihananomia sp.)

A large Mordellid beetle about 15 mm long. It had the typical wedge shaped body with humped thorax and a pointy rear end (pygidium) which extended well past the elytra. The thorax and wings were covered with fine hairs giving it a glossy look and had symmetrically placed cream spots and patches. A dome shaped head had a felty cover and laterally placed eyes. It was attached to the thorax by a very narrow neck and the beetle could completely flex the head under the thorax to protect it. I also observed it turning the head to an almost 90 deg angle to the body.
Antennae were saw-toothed. Hind legs were larger than the others.
Spotted on a tea-tree in a reserve. This beetle was in the company of many other Mordellids but all of varying sizes.

    comments (2)

  1. Very handsome beetle. Nice capture! Posted 9 years ago
  2. Thank you Ari. I was amazed to see it almost "swivelling' its head around ! Posted 9 years ago

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By Leuba Ridgway

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Uploaded Mar 7, 2016. Captured Jan 2, 2015 12:03 in 13 Wicks Rd, The Basin VIC 3154, Australia.
  • SZ-10
  • f/3.7
  • 10/6400s
  • ISO64
  • 10.99mm