Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

OK Jamie, what's this one? By the by, I have no idea. It showed up for the last couple of nights and disappears in the morning. It's about 70mm long and as thick as my thumb.

You can pat it from the back and it doesn't get upset, but approach from the front and it rears up and hisses at you!

It's one of the biggest beetles I've seen in Brisbane, thought it might be tropical.

Cheers IanK

No wonder it's such a good photo. I was thinking "How good is the macro on his camera?!!"

it's still a great shot though... kitchen bench backdrop?

Kuda,


The Camera is just a little Canon Powershot A480 on Super Macro Mode. I reckon it's a very good little general purpose digital for under $150. I have no idea what aperture/exposure/shutter speed, it just does it.
The pic is on a piece of (green) paper that I put under the Beastie to get a good background. It was taken without flash, just the amount of artificial lighting I have on the outside Deck. They are all 240V/11 watt LEDs (GU10) downlight fittings. That's why there are so many shadows.

The tip of the lens was about 20mm away from the subject, and I had to rest the camera on a stack of drink coasters to hold it steady enough for the length of the exposure! Had to take a few until I got it right, and that's not easy after a bottle of Red!


Cheers IanK

um, it's a bug I really only do aquatic beasties

I'll have a look around for you and let you know.

Wrong Jaymie - it's a BIG bug !

Ahh low light? That explains the relatively low aperture (as shown by the lack of depth of field (his back legs are a little blurry), and the shaking tells me long exposure. Those little cameras only have a little sensor, so they're not that flexible. 20mm for the target? wow, you did very well indeed.
More light would make it a HEAP easier to take. Did you try it with the flash? or does the flash miss the target completely on Macro? or fire too early?

Lucky you, my mum has a new D90 and it takes such nice photos, would love one but given they cost more than a two bed AP system, it ain't gonna happen in a hurry.

This is the reply I got friom Qld Museum. They have a great service for creature ID and a wonderfull series of books for in and around Brisbane.

Dear Ian,

Thank you for your enquiry.

You have a Poinciana Longicorn (Agrianome spinicolis)
Please see this web link for more information;http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_s/b_137.htm
These beetles and their larvae feed on rotten wood, especially dead Poinciana trees. Adults often mistakenly enter houses attracted by the bright lights. They are a native species.
Best Regards,
Miranda Fabre

Information Officer
Inquiry Centre
queensland museum south bank
po box 3300 south bank
queensland 4101
t 07 3840 7635
f 07 3846 1918
email: inquirycentre@qm.qld.gov.au
http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au

We don't have Poinciana, but we do have bright lights!!

Cheers IanK

Have a look at the feet on him, what a work of art. Pads at the back of each foot and sharp hooks at the front.

if that is a male, one use for the pads on his feet will be to hang on to the female during moments of passion

[quote="Ian"]
You can pat it from the back and it doesn't get upset, but approach from the front and it rears up and hisses at you!


Shit, sure it's not called Heather? SOunds awfully like my wife.

Mmm...human ecosystem ! Fuel to build system supplies fuel for system ! My apologies if it's a bit low brow, but my system is new and i have nothing to snap !

The end bottle looks like the mandarin liqueur I used to make.
A nice way to finish the evening at 3am.
Obviously it is top shelp stuff, but what?

Looks right. 6 beers then a powerade and repeat.

Didn't some one post about the major insect taxa?

From that I'd say it was a beetle and definitely not a bug