Macro Monday: two June bugs hanging out

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Today I’m taking part in the Macro Monday photo challenge. You can click on each photo for a larger view. If you like what you see, I encourage you to subscribe so you can enjoy the new photos I post a few times a week.

My kids and I spotted the two green June bugs below while on a summer stroll in San Diego. At first, they looked like they were tackling each other and it was challenging to even see what type of bugs we were looking out. Honestly I have no idea if they were fighting or actually enjoying each other’s company. You can see I’m not much of a bug expert. And technically, these are called figeater beetles (Cotinis mutabilis), not just June bugs.

Eventually they separated and just stood next to each other for a little while, long enough for me to snap a few pictures.

Close-up of two green June bugs (figeater beetle)
Close-up of two green June bugs (figeater beetle)
Macro Monday: two June bugs
Macro Monday: two June bugs

These figeater beetles (part of the scarab family because they’re so big) have been part of our summer about everywhere we’ve been. They tend to flight blindly into everything and everyone. They startle a lot of people by flying directly into their faces and induce a lot of shrieks and rapid movements. My kids tell me they actually can’t see where they’re going and I think they may be right. They sure look a lot nicer when they’re standing still, with their metallic green wing casing closed. I got lucky the day I managed to photograph one of those green June bugs inside a yellow rose.

Are you a fan of green beetles, or would you rather say away?

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Macro Monday: Junebug – the green figeater beetle

Zazzle online shop If you enjoy my photos and would like to purchase some, I want to thank you! Simply visit my Zazzle online shop and browse the product offerings. If there’s a photo you would like to purchase but don’t see it in my shop, please contact me by using the Contact form at the bottom of my home page and let me know which photos you are interested in purchasing, and in what format / medium.

Today I’m taking part in the Macro Monday photo challenge. If you like what you see, I encourage you to subscribe so you can enjoy the new photos I post a few times a week.

I was taking photos of roses a few days ago and that’s when I found this little guy hiding in the center of a yellow rose. It’s a green figeater beetle, more commonly known as junebug, and it was the size of my thumb. I was worried it’d leave when I got closer to take pictures of it but no, it just stayed there patiently until I was done. I love the metallic green of its shell!

Remember you can click on each photo for a larger view.

Macro Monday: Junebug - the green figeater beetle
Macro Monday: Junebug – the green figeater beetle

Here’s an even closer shot of this green junebug. Check out the “hairs” on the head!

Macro Monday: Junebug, green beetle
Macro Monday: Junebug, green beetle