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Red Net-winged Beetle, Golden Net-wing

Dictyoptera aurora

Description:

This reminds me of a cardinal beetle, Schizotus pectinicornis, [wrong! See below] I can't remember its size, but I believe is was less than an inch long. Thanks for the clue, Mark! A little more research turned up this species, Dictyoptera aurora, which is a dead ringer -- I'll go with it. The red is warning coloration to advertise its acidic taste.

Habitat:

It was spotted in rainforest at El Remanso Eco-lodge at the south end of the Osa Peninsula, in Costa Rica and is perched on a palm or banana leaf in the photo.

Notes:

Notice the hole in its elytra (wing cover). My guess is that this was poked through when the wing was not yet fully formed or dried, and it healed around the hole.

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2 Comments

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 8 years ago

Well done. Yes that hole is interesting.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 8 years ago

It's a 'Net winged beetle' (Lycidae) possibly Dictyopterus genus :)

Irene Brady
Spotted by
Irene Brady

Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

Spotted on Dec 21, 2010
Submitted on Feb 21, 2016

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