spp. / Coleoptera June 18, 2007 The flat brown animal in this photo is a Water Penny, an aquatic beetle larva. The first time I saw one on the bottom of a rock I thought it was a piece of a dead leaf. Suddenly, the "leaf" moved slowly and I was surprised to find out it was alive!
Coleoptera Santa Rosa Co., FL Sept. 1, 2007 I found this beetle on the beach, it was nearly dead. Normally, these insects are difficult to photograph because they are quite active, flying close to the ground. Junebugs lay their eggs in soil and emerge as large, white grubs. When my husband was a boy, he would catch these beetles and tie a thread around a leg to let them fly in circles over his head.
Coleoptera ("sheath-wing") This beetle is sometimes called a "C-7". These beetles were introduced from Europe to try to control aphids. In some countries, Ladybugs are called "ladybirds". Ladybugs are brightly colored due to the fact that they are poisonous. They are not harmful because they can't sting or bite, but they give off a foul-tasting yellow secretion. I found out the hard way how they taste when one got in a nearly empty cup of coffee I was drinking! When I took that last gulp, I felt something in my mouth and then I tasted an incredibly bitter taste. It was awful! No wonder birds won't eat them!
