Tiger Beetle

Description:

Neocollyris bonellii Guérin-Méneville, 1834. The head and thorax appear to be very glossy black. The elytra are also black, but not so shiny as they are textured with a myriad of tiny dimples. The elytra seem to display some metallic blue when viewed from various angles. The femora are reddish-brown, changing to black at the knees and on down to the claws. However, this black on the lower parts of the legs also changes (depending on the angle of view or the reflecting of the sunlight) to a silver-grey metallic. You can see that the wings are not fully concealed by the elytra. This is not normal, but they would probably fully retract after its next flight.

Habitat:

Spotted on St. Vincent Plum (Gliricidia sepium) at the edge of a rice field. I found it difficult to take some pictures as it was agitated and hyperactive, running all over the leaves. It probably was not reacting in fear at my presence because it could simply fly away. I got the feeling that it was looking for something - possibly a prey insect which had escaped. Anyway, it eventually settled down to a more relaxed state, enabling me to snap a few pictures.