Rainbow and Cute Feet, Pt. 6 - _TNY_0300

So I was originally scouring the bramble leaves for anything cool on them when I noticed this tiny guy on an aspen shoot which had managed to sneak in and grow among the bramble.

 

It's an aspen leaf-rolling weevil (Byctiscus populi) and that shimmering copper was very striking - even at this minute scale.

 

Their faces are quite dark so I struggled a bit with getting enough detail there, but at least some of the shots came out well.

 

Shooting this turned out to be a difficult job for the diffuser - it's a pretty reflective carapace it got there...

 

The reason they are called leaf-rolling weevils is that the female actually rolls up leaves (of aspen for this particular species) as little cigar-shaped egg chambers. Looks very cool and I'll make sure to photograph one next season.

 

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52296313181/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52343369744/

 

Part 3 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52581985690/

 

Part 4 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52705587137/

Done