We visited Arne on the 27th April. The weather wasn't great but it's always a fascinating visit.
We had a brief rain shower in the afternoon and once it stopped we saw these 2 beetle wandering along the path at Coombe Heath.
Carabus Arvensis http://bit.ly/IGTbgm
Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) http://bit.ly/IvE7B7
Arne is about so much more than the birds, the deer and the reptiles.
Please let me know what you think.
Well, I think they're superb finds and shots!
I couldn't have put it better my self MendipBlue and that it what I always say about Arne - there is always so much to see and walk around the reserve is always exciting. This time of years there are so many insects and reptiles about - see a couple of my recent blogs - I was getting excited about minotaur beetles too!
Great photos the Carabus beetle is new to me I think - will have to find out more about it!
Yes, I love the Carabus Arvensis, - does he not have a simple name to remember by any chance - will try to look out for them.
Not many Carabus species have common names. The relatively common Carabus Violaceus is known as the Violet Ground Beetle but I don't think many (or any) other Carabus species have common names.
The incredible thing about Carabus Arvensis is that they come in 2 very distict colours. There is a very green one and the coppery one that I saw at Arne. My "beetle expert" that I consulted said he has only ever seen the green ones and was quite envious of the find.
Thanks for that, just been on my hols and saw beetles but unfortunately not these, great that they come in 2 colours as well:-)