Large Spanish Beetle (1 Viewer)

[Barred Wobbler]

Large Spanish Beetles

An interesting giant crawled across the path in Sierra de Maria, Almeria a couple of weeks ago.

It's about 40mm (or more) long from tip to tail.



The second photo was a large ladybird, about half an inch long that was one of hundreds hovering around broom bushes in a rambla in the steppes just north of Retamar.

Anyone know what they are?

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Update.

I've managed to find out that the black one is a Red-striped Oil Beetle.

I'd still be grateful for an ID on the ladybird.

 

[pdwinter]

Update.

I've managed to find out that the black one is a Red-striped Oil Beetle.

I'd still be grateful for an ID on the ladybird.

It looks like a beetle of the Clytra genus - not sure which species.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Two more views here at different angles.

 

[aeshna5]

Update.

I've managed to find out that the black one is a Red-striped Oil Beetle.

I'd still be grateful for an ID on the ladybird.

It's not a ladybird. I would say it's a chrysomelid- the leaf beetles, but can't help with species.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Yes, after Paul posted his reply I realised it was a leaf beetle. I've had a look for photos of them, but I couldn't find one with the same spot arrangement as mine.

Are the patterns variable within a species? I wish I'd taken a few more photos of different individuals - there were plenty to choose from as they were hovering all over the place.

 

[Jon Turner]

An interesting giant crawled across the path in Sierra de Maria, Almeria a couple of weeks ago.

It's about 40mm (or more) long from tip to tail.



The second photo was a large ladybird, about half an inch long that was one of hundreds hovering around broom bushes in a rambla in the steppes just north of Retamar.

Anyone know what they are?

The big black and red bug is indeed an oil beetle - they are quite common in spring around andalucua. They are in their egg-carrying phase - hence the huge size.

I've seen the red one too also in large numbers, but not when I was with my entomologist friend!

Jon

 

[Imaginos]

I'd say Clytra quadripunctata - a very lightly marked one. A look at google images on this species will show quite how varied the markings can be.