Platycis minutus a Net-Wing Beetle

e6filmuser

This species is supposed to be found in Southern and Eastern England but is rarely reported. It is found on well-rotted beech wood but this was well-rotted willow or apple. I had never seen one before.

The main characteristics are the sculpturing on the elytra, the very modified dorsal side of the thorax and the coloured tip of the antenna (OOF in first image).

This one had its head down and its legs folded under its body (second stereo) and did not move for several minutes. I fetched my camera and flash guns. I would then have fitted my 50mm macro and x2 TC. However, before I could do so the beetle became active and my left hand was fully occupied rotating the wood. I had to go with the Laowa 25mm x2.5 to x5 lens attached. So the FOV could be no more than 7mm, making the frame very cramped and sometimes inadequate.

Olympus EM-1 (manual mode), Laowa 25mm f2.8 2.5x-5x ultra-macro at x2.5 and f11, twin TTL flash hand-held.

The stereos are crosseye.

Harold