The bugs are at it already! These Bloody-nosed beetles aren't usually around until April but these two have decided it's spring and are getting on with the business of procreation. They get their name from the way they exude a bright red substance from their mouths when disturbed which is foul tasting to predators. You can see the male's special felt pads on his feet which help him to stay put on the female's smooth and shiny back. It's apparently very interesting to scientists as the adhesion works on a molecular level - apparently creating a special bond, using an electrostatic intermolecular attraction known as van der Waals attachment forces!
@boxplayer - ha! These beetles aren't quite so frisky though ... they move very slowly and ponderously. But I guess this is counts as frisky for them :)
I love the colors- the facts makes them a little less creepy. (I used to love beetles, but I've lived in New York too long, and the roaches here are too big.)
March 6th, 2016
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