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Dead Devil


Dead Devil
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-12
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Exposure: f/8, 1/13 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Beetles and Bugs of the world, 40 points or more - 40 puntos o más [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-11-15 4:36
Viewed: 3345
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This poor Devil is dead, I think he may have been squashed by a cycle or a foot, as he lies on a pathway. This beetle is a friend to the farmer as it will eat many insects that feed on crops. This beetle has been associated with the Devil since the Middle Ages, it has a fierce appearance and a painful bite, if it still feels threatened it squirts a foul-smelling fluid from its abdomen. It is also known as the Cock Tail Beetle, as it faces an attacker with wide open jaws and it's tail arched forward over it's head, like a scorpion sting. A nocturnal predator, this beetle lives in and around decaying matter. During the day it tends to rest among leaf litter or under stones. Females lay their eggs in the soil, and these hatch into carnivorous larvae. The larvae overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter or moss to emerge as an adult the following spring. I was bitten by one of these in my childhood, yes it was painful, yes it drew blood and no, it wouldn’t let go even after It head was separated from it’s body.

This species belongs to a very large group known as Staphylinidae which numbers well over a 1,000 species in Europe. The elytra are very short and leave most of the abdomen exposed. This group contains beetles of all sizes and with many tiny species. Despite the short elytra the hind wings are usually well developed and most species fly well. Many of the smaller ones fly by day, but the larger ones are mainly nocturnal. They are predators and omnivorous scavengers. These species are also known as "Rove Beetles".


I hope you like the photo, I know dead things are not to everyones taste but the are part of life.
netfalls, LordPotty, marhowie, RAP, extramundi, Robbrown, ellis49, ydavid, gerhardt, christophe, Kirsten, AndyB, Luc, red45, JeanMichel, touristdidi, carper has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: StagsPDP 1 11-15 06:01
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Critiques [Translate]

This is a great post Paul.At first glance I thought it must be some huge exotic beetle,and your description made it sound fearsome.I'd never had guessed this was a 'Devils coach horse'
Our garden is full of these,all year around.They smell a bit like fish and chips. Can't say I've ever been bitten by one though.
ps...where are your stag beetles?

Paul, OK - That's a minus two points for being dead! ;-)) Superb details on this black devil! Excellent write-up on its life-cycle & description. Well done!

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-15 7:39]
  • [2]

Gran retrato del difunto Paul.
Excelente POV con gran detalle sobre la cabeza del insecto y un agradable efecto de profundidad.
Atinado encuadre y excelente nota.

Great picture of the deceased Paul.
Excellent POV with great detail on the head of the insect and pleasant effect of depth.
Accurate frame and excellent note.

I think this shot is quite sad, I dont know why because normally I am not sad when I see a insect smashed, but this one gives a strange feeling.

Nice one Paul, well worth showing us, superb detailed note as well.

  • Great 
  • ellis49 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3645 W: 350 N: 8890] (28681)
  • [2004-11-15 11:25]
  • [2]

Nice post Paul.
Great details and a very good note.
Well done.

Great shot very good details.
Well done

Now this is a BUG!

At first when I had a look at work I could not believe my eyes. When I got home I checked my book and there they are... The dark ones such as these (Dolicaon Genus) are quite common troughout SA. I have never seen one. Your photo sure makes him look like the devil. Very interesting write up too. Paul, you keep on amazing me with the intersting stuff you post. Love this one.

  • Great 
  • ydavid Silver Star Critiquer [C: 33 W: 0 N: 6] (76)
  • [2004-11-15 12:15]
  • [2]

Dead or not, the colors and the sharpness of this beetle are great. So is the note.

  • Great 
  • Esox Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 287 W: 27 N: 352] (948)
  • [2004-11-15 12:17]
  • [2]

An original composition with efficient DOF.
Sharpness is amazing.
Very good note too.

waooo original post, today the life, tomorrow the death, I stop the philosophy, very good contrat and detail, very great shot

tres jolie macro, la pdc est super bien gerée, les detailssont siblimes.
merci.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-15 14:10]
  • [2]

Dead or not, it's an excellent picture. Very good job done here with informative notes.

at first site it doesn't realy look death, only a bit lifeless...
but nice shot, excelent details and dof, compo and colours are good.interesting 'devil' not to, well done!

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2004-11-15 16:37]
  • [2]

The details and textures here are superb.
A good shot and great note.
I got nipped by one of these when I was a kid also,It was in my sleeping bag on scout camp!
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2004-11-16 2:14]

Great decomposition, Paul!
I really think there is some beauty in death things.
Among the trees which I prefer more, they have been trees died for several years and which remained upright near a forest overhanging a marsh. I like these "phantoms of trees" as a child said to me by showing them to me. (Systran translation)
Thanks

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8009] (26813)
  • [2004-11-16 3:58]
  • [2]

Superb level of detail of this poor beetle.

An excellent shot, Paul. Even in this poor condition, photo and very interesting notes match very well. The strenght of the forepart is very well conveyed by the low shooting condition. Technically a very good performance too.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-16 22:49]

You need not have captured this at 1/500s :) Sad shot, but good capure.

Thanks for posting

He is so weird, looks like he is wearing black armour! Like is tough for the ugly.... great photo and info, but I am sad he is dead!

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2167 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2005-03-07 12:50]

Wauw another out of your archive Paul,
fantastic photo of the devil himself, very good composing shot,great pof and wonderful dof, I like the note too, very good job

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