Flower scarab

Description:

Of all the insects that are found in the hedge, I think the green ones are the most beautiful. It is mostly when they crawl out of the green cover to bask in the sun that I am fortunate to find them. Once there was a fine green caterpillar that had visited the canopy to nibble on fresh leguminous leaves. I noticed it rather late. It was in a fatal struggle with a lizard that spotted it first. The lizard had it in its mouth and pulled hard on the poor caterpillar that held on tightly to a small branch for its dear life. Warding off the lizard was futile as it was tenacious about this opportune meal (I guess it would have been its first for that day). The obstinate lizard would not give up, so I got close enough to capture the action. The caterpillar was left badly mangled. The head hung over from the rest of its body that was still clung to the plant. It swayed gently in the wind. It was a disappointment. No lunch for lizard. No photo of fine caterpillar. After the incident, I always scanned for similar caterpillars and the likes when passing the hedge. Many times I've encountered butterflies- a variety of them. Once there was a reed frog resting in the shade. The green beauties were rare. But the last time I checked, this is what was popping... [see photo again]

Habitat:

On the hedge