A New Kind of Peacock, Pt. 4 - _TNY_8524

I managed to squeeze in an afternoon trip to Åva-Stensjödal in Tyresta National Park on Midsummer's Day and ended up climbing up along the small creek hoping to get some good shots of the demoiselles fluttering over the water which looked absolutely gorgeous with their metallic wings. It turned out to be quite difficult to capture them though so I began walking (or climbing really) towards home when I spotted a real treat on a rock next to the water!

 

This is a female copper peacock beetle (Elaphrus cupreus) at just 9 mm (3/8") body length shot at 2:1 magnification and those purple pits/spots look absolutely glorious (and much like the eyes on a peacock's wings). And the small gold specks all over the carapace make them even prettier!

 

From this angle, the pretty serious-looking mandibles are showing well, but I haven't been able to figure out exactly what they eat - though they are predatory.

 

Part 1, from the top, here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52218581464/

 

Part 2, from the side, here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52267322328/

 

Part 3, a portrait shot, here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52521447433/

Done