Goliathus Posted December 10, 2020 Report Share Posted December 10, 2020 Great photo sent to me today of Hoplia coerulea, the remarkable, iridescent blue "Monkey Beetle" from Southwest Europe, which is a close relative of the common June beetle - The males of this species are covered in photonic, reflective scales like those of Morpho butterflies. I've not seen any reports of this species having been bred in captivity, but certainly, it would be worthwhile to try! Like many other Melolonthinae, the larvae feed on certain kinds of live plant roots, and I suspect that the difficulties of providing this is why there doesn't appear to have been any captive breeding success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyes Posted December 10, 2020 Report Share Posted December 10, 2020 I want to keep them!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted December 11, 2020 Report Share Posted December 11, 2020 Beautiful species! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goliathus Posted December 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2020 Here's what the beetle's reflective nanostructures look like under magnification - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goliathus Posted December 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2020 Weevils of the genus Pachyrhynchus have similar reflective structures - ...and also the genera Eupholus - ...and Lamprocyphus - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyes Posted December 18, 2020 Report Share Posted December 18, 2020 epic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKim Posted December 30, 2020 Report Share Posted December 30, 2020 Never seen the detailed structure of this fascinating beetle species!! A friend of mine who went to UK actually collected this in person at field, and shared me some pictures. It was AMAZING!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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