This is the same species of beetle I posted on 17th June http://365project.org/julienne1/365/2015-06-17 but this one is bigger (more like 3-3.5cm) and darker which means it's a female. Just after I took this photo she launched herself off with a very noisy and indignant clutter of wings!
@shirleybankfarm - these beetles do tend to vary in size and colour a bit in both sexes, but this one is much darker than the one I took earlier, and she really was a whopper!
@gijsje - I do tend to wander along peering into the hedgerows :)
@gijsje - I do tend to wander along peering into the hedgerows :)
@christophercox @yeshanghai - yes I was pleased with the amount of detail you can see on this one
@sgtpepper - definitely creepy ....
@jomo - I can't imagine what you mean ;)
@bluerose15 - she is certainly striking!
@woofandweft1 - she does look well armoured!
@carla42 - poor love ... she's been called creepy, dangerous and now a monster! I doubt she minds tho!