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Beetle Porn.... ;)

RavenSpirit360

RavenSpirit360

Mitakuye Oyasin
Went out on a Survey the other day to count and study the Big Dune Beetle out at Big Dune.. Was very fun, but it is NOT easy to walk up a dune lol... This is a very pretty beetle, IMO.. They only come out for 3 weeks every year and only for up to 45 mins around sunset, mate and dig themselves back into the sand... Not a whole lot is known about these beetles yet...

Big Dune... Not the best pic, it was getting dark out...
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Big Dune Beetles mating...
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Digging back into the sand after mating..
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Fascinating, Steph. You always have something very interesting. How big are they, like head to tail?
 
That is so cool!! What do they eat if they live in the sand? They are so hairy lol. And are there any colors, or looks that differentiate the male from the female?
 
They are about an inch long.. Its funny when your out there you hear buzzing everywhere from them flying around..

I do not know if they differ in any way from male to female other than their sexual parts.. They pretty much all look the same but I didnt really get a good chance to look at them... WE had to hurry and catch and count as many as we could before they dug back in.. They eat the rotting vegetation under the plants.. Not a whole lot is known about them yet..
Here is a link to the story about them and a few other beetles..
http://www.wildearthguardians.org/Portals/0/legal/listing_petition_sand_dune_beetles_01-29-10.pdf
 
I know , they do look funny and its even funnier watching them trying to go back into the sand... It takes them forever.. Very cute...

Thanks guys...! :)
 
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