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Black Bess Beetle

Aulacocyclus edentulus

Description:

A 40cm long uniformly black ground beetle with fossorial front legs. Just above the mouth parts and in the mid-line was a small protruberance like a horn. Antennae were short, beaded and ended in at least three leaflets. Elytra were a shiny black (a deep purplish black) with fine ridges. The beetle had a distinct waist separating the thorax and abdomen.

Habitat:

Spotted near a grassy verge under bright lights.

Notes:

The beetle was aware of me and my proximity to it. I could take a few shots before it reared up ( pic 2 & 3) and then I saw the elytra part a little before it took off ( pic #4) This beetles larvae feed on dead wood. Family Passalidae

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Leuba Ridgway
Spotted by
Leuba Ridgway

Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Jan 22, 2013
Submitted on Jan 29, 2013

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