Monday, September 14, 2009

Macro Monday: UFO

Please click to biggify!

This is perhaps the most unusual insect I have ever seen! It was on a morning glory leaf in the garden yesterday and could fit on the head of a pencil eraser. If you look closely, it's actually disk shaped with a transparent "windshield" over its head and "windows" on the sides completing the oval.

The beautiful metallic patterns caught my eye as they reflected in the sun. It was shy, and I chased it around the leaf taking dozens of photos just to get one with clarity. Finally it got tired of my intrusion and, to my surprise, flew away!

If anyone knows what this is, please tell!

n.b. My naturalist friend Bob B. in Arizona was able to identify this as Deloyala guttata, a Mottled Tortise Beetle. Thanks Bob!

For more up close images, visit Macro Monday!

9 comments:

Far Side of Fifty said...

That is one beautiful bug..I hope you find out what it is..Great capture!! :)

colleen said...

How did you even manage to see it let alone get such a great picture! Very cool.

Nola said...

That doesn't even look real! The metallic highlights are fantastic. I will be interested to see if anyone can identify it. If not, try calling your USDA county extension agent. Maybe it's something they've encountered.

WildBlack said...

Ohhhh! What the..is that?? Great capture. Gorgeous shot!
I would like to know what that is!
It looks to me like a small armour! unbelievable :O

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

OH WOW! It's gorgeous and so unusual! If I had to give it a name I'd name it "Gilded Royal Space Ship" lol!

It's amazing! If you find out what it is, please let us know.
Thanks for sharing it. Great pic!


~Lisa

Anonymous said...

That's a cool macro of the bug and I love that golden part on its body...

Holly said...

no idea what it is, but great shot!

flowerweaver said...

My naturalist friend Bob B. in Arizona was able to identify this as Deloyala guttata, a Mottled Tortise Beetle.

Thanks Bob!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Very cool! Great catch.

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