Common red soldier beetle mating, Heeswijk-Dinther, Netherlands

A highly productive day for this species. This field had a few dozen large thistle plants and I found soldier beetles mating on 90% of them. In this scene, you can even see the actual penetration, if you're into that kind of thing.

comments (7)

Christine Young

Lion

Very romantic mood lighting ;P Posted 7 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  It was very hard holding the candle whilst taking the shot.
  You have expert timing btw. I pressed play on some 80's playlist in Spotify hours ago and just as I read your comment, "sexual healing" by Marvin Gaye starts playing. Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Oh, man. Thanks. Now that song is stuck in my head - probably forever ;P Posted 7 years ago
3. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Looks like I had the species wrong. Now that it is correct, count the mating photos:
  https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/698/common-red-soldier-beetle.html Posted 7 years ago
4. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Um, wow! Those are some seriously stimulated beetles!
    
    My favorite:
    https://www.jungledragon.com/image/1837/mating_common_red_soldier_beetles.html Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      LOL, the physics of that! Can't beat that one, but do have a fresh one:
      
      Posted 7 years ago, modified 7 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Well, I love yours because Boris is quite the obtrusive photo bomber. Or, a perverted bee? Or, an annoyed bee who is tired of these beetles humping on his flowers. Posted 7 years ago