Tumbling Flower Beetle

Description:

Small beetle of the Mordellidae family. The Mordellidae family of beetles is known as tumbling flower beetles for the typical irregular movements they make when escaping predators. The apparently tumbling movements are composed of a series of very rapid separate jumps (each jump of a duration of approximately 80 ms). They result from the beetle's efforts to get itself back into take-off position for flight when it has been in either lateral or dorsal position.

Habitat:

Spotted in a Holm oak and pine tree forest

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.; f/18; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 90.0 mm.