Bee mimicking longhorn beetle (Epimelitta meliponica?)
The most interesting of the longhorn beetles that I have found. This one is an excellent bee mimic. From the size to the behaviour. It flew from leaf to leaf, never stopping for long, making it quite difficult to photograph. Wasn't really satisfied with any one picture, but together hopefully they show the amazing mimicry at play here. The hind legs are thickened as in bees to mimic pollen carrying buckets, they are even more heavily bristled! There is a green patch on the head, since the eyes of a lot of these bees are green. The colouration is perfect! The segmentation of the abdomen and even the wings which don't look to be held in an elytra! Fantastic!!!!Found during a day hike around Sandoval lake lodge, Tambopata river area, Amazonian lowlands, Peru.
Bee mimicking longhorn beetle (Epimelitta meliponica?)
The most interesting of the longhorn beetles that I have found. This one is an excellent bee mimic. From the size to the behaviour. It flew from leaf to leaf, never stopping for long, making it quite difficult to photograph. Wasn't really satisfied with any one picture, but together hopefully they show the amazing mimicry at play here. The hind legs are thickened as in bees to mimic pollen carrying buckets, they are even more heavily bristled! There is a green patch on the head, since the eyes of a lot of these bees are green. The colouration is perfect! The segmentation of the abdomen and even the wings which don't look to be held in an elytra! Fantastic!!!!Found during a day hike around Sandoval lake lodge, Tambopata river area, Amazonian lowlands, Peru.