@Edent iNaturalist says that this is Spanish Fly (an Oil or Blister beetle). Historically, were ground up as an aphrodisiac (plot point in Patrick O'Brian's Treason's Harbour). There are only three records for this species on #iNaturalist for the UK🇬🇧, so it would be nice if you could add this one (with suitable care over location privacy).
Um yeah... crazy huge colorful flea beetle (Aspicela scutata). Whoever said blue is hard to find in nature didn't study tropical insects. I am really curious though if this is a refraction trick or if this is actual pigmentation. I presume its the latter.
Der niedliche Borstige Blattschaber (#Cionus olens) ist, wenn man genau hinschaut, an #Königskerzen (#Verbascum) zu finden. Im Ruhrgebiet kann man ihn im Umfeld von Brachen finden.
I cleaned the beetle hoodie specimen and tried something new for the focus stacking photo intake (50% smaller steps, but twice as many). The result is superior, I think. Left photo is previous attempt, right is latest (same magnification, but the latest version is cropped more closely). #entomology#Photography#Beetle#Insect#InsectPhotography#Coleoptera
Der Kleine Uferläufer (Elaphrus riparius) lebt räuberisch in feuchten Gebieten an schlammigen, vegetationsarmen Ufern. In meinen Augen ist er ein wahres Schmuckstück!