Bedtime Surprise

Most people are used to a chocolate on their pillow as a bedtime treat but last night my surprise was a Christmas beetle. I like Christmas beetles. They have a pretty, iridescent aqua sheen that catches the light on different angles much like the wing colours on some ducks. However they have become a pest. Their larvae live in the ground and feed on grass roots causing the lawn to take on a sickly yellow look. Because more grasslands have been created the numbers of Christmas beetles has increased. This causes another problem as the adult beetle feeds on the eucalyptus leaves. (See the nibbled leaves silhouetted against the sunset sky). Land clearing has reduced the number of gum trees. With the balance upset, this pretty beetle I kept as a "pet" when I was a child is now a problem that needs to be deal with when, attracted by my reading lamp, it presents itself on my pillow.

[Linda]

Great shot. The colors are brilliant and the detail of the Christmas Beetle is clear.

[Mannie]

This is such a sad, sad tale of woe. I'm sorry for you, little Christmas beetle. We'd like you better if you weren't so successful.

[Maggiemae]

This is almost unreal! Don't know the beetle but it is certainly colourful and your shot is perfect! fav

[Tricia O'Donnell]

Amazing close up fav

[Susan.T.]

Great macro,they are pretty,although my kids are all scared of them,lol.
I like to pick them up and the kids all take off.

[Margaret Pengelly]

@skippysue Our kids are the same. I love watching them trying to build up the courage to pick one up like grandma does.

[SmileClickSnap]

Wonderful ! Fav

[Jane Anderson]

The detail on this is incredible, Margaret! The collage is creative and helpful as well. I would like these bugs too, but not on my pillow!

[Robyn]

Wonderful macro detail. Fav

[Babs]

Fabulous detail, I love Christmas beetles, but not sure I would want one on my pillow though.

[Tony Guest (snoopybooboo)]

Brilliant. Fav.

[Judith Johnson]

I'm not sure I'd be so keen to find one of these but a terrific shot.

[Pyrrhula]

Stunting close up and beautiful processed and framed

[Pat Knowles]

He is a very handsome beetle......well named but he doesn't look very Christmas like in colour!

[Judith Greenwood]

Hmm that looks BIG for a pillow guest!

[Elisabeth Sæter]

Great shot.

[Poppo Livy]

I fav'd this a few days ago but didn't have time to comment. Great capture Margaret. They also stuff up suburban lawns as they dig into the ground and create annoying blobs of dirt all though the grass. Yeah I know. Life's a bitch.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Sounds similar to the troubles we have with the Gypsy Moth caterpillar- only the GM is not pretty at all- it's bland- and the caterpillars are UGLY!! In spite of it's status as a pest, the detail on the picture is great and the inset coordinates well with the color of your lamp!