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Tank


Tank
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Szatewicz (aes_thor) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 198 W: 29 N: 592] (2489)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-07-16
Categories: Insects
Camera: Fuji Finepix S20 Pro, Fujinon 6x zoom
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/420 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Beetles and Bugs of the world, Love beetles, Insects' World, Beetle of the world [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-21 1:06
Viewed: 4319
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This massive looking beetle is called Dor beetle- Geotrupes stercorarius.
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Geotrupidae
Genus: Geotrupes
Species: G. stercorar

About the species: "The beetle is up to 2½ cm long. The whole beetle is weakly lustrous and darkly colored, sometimes with a bluish sheen. The body shape is very compact and arched toward the top. On each elytra there are seven long rows of points just visible. The head is clearly forward, and similar to a shovel in shape. The antennae are short and thicken into fans at the ends. On each leg there are numerous spikes.

The beetle is widely distributed in Europe. However, the population of the species is clearly falling.

The beetle is coprophagous, feeding on the droppings of herbivorous animals, and thus is found wherever cattle are kept. In the evenings, one can observe them closely circle around the animals on the ground. They create a chirping sound with their hind legs. In the spring, a male and female dig a passage in the earth under a heap of dung, which can be up to 50 cm in length. From this the female digs side passages. Into each of these a piece of dung is brought, and an egg is laid. Afterwards, the chamber is closed off with more dung. The larvae which hatch from the eggs feed on the dung for a year, and then pupate. The adult beetles emerge from the pupae." (from: Wikipedia)

Picture was taken on one of the footpath in north side of Jersey Island in hot, sunny, summer afternoon.
What is strange for me- this beetle is common in polish forests but has different colour- metalic blue, sometimes metalic violet to dark, almost black. This one is metalic dark green- never seen this colour in our polish Dor beetles.

Thank You for any comments and criticues.
Have a nice day!
ramthakur, haraprasan, pekkavalo1 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Adrian,
Superb macro shot of this beetle, TFS.
Nasit

Hello Adrian,

Very good picture of this beetle. Excellent POV and DOF. Very good exposure. Nice natural colours. Not an easy insect to capture with its shiny "carapace".
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Adrian,
Thanks for your kind words on my recent picture of a dragonfly.
Please also accept my belated welcome to TN!
I notice that you have shared some very nice images here on TN already.
This picture of a dark Beetle you took four years ago in England shows the insect in great details and colours. The image is quite crisp and the composition is well thought of.
I also like the metallic glossy sheen on the beetle.
Well done and all the best.
Ram

Hi Adrian,
A beautifully colored beetle. Excellent capture. Very good details and composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2008-04-21 4:07]

Hi Adrian,
excellent clarity and detail, i really like the low POV and the colours you have caught in the shell. Great work, well done1
tfs
Paul

Hi Adrian

Great shot of this solid looking beetle.
Good exposure, sharpness, DOF and POV
Good comosition too.

Chris

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2008-04-21 4:29]

Mmmm Adrian,what a perfect sharpness !! Wonderfull work,the pic is perfect under all corners of view and the note very very interesting,my best compliments,luciano

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2008-04-21 8:54]

Hello Adrian,
the glossy Geotrupes specimen with its 'difficult' surface is well shown.
Great depth of field and pretty good sharpness.
Light is well managed with respect to the dark and reflecting surfaces.
Best wishes, Peter

Hi Adrian,

Great shining beetle in close-up. Very good sharpness, POV, lighting and composition.

TFS

Pekka

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