It isn't just the vertebrates that are worthy of attention here on the hill. We often find invertebrates that are just plain weird (in wonderful ways). Here are two examples from the world of beetles. They bring to mind Darwin's statement that the Creator surely must have been inordinately fond of beetles.
You can click on the images to see an enlarged version or on the common names to go to relevant web sites.
This beastie is the
Feather-horned Longicorn Beetle (
Piesarthrius marginellus). The larvae of most of the longicorn beetles (Family Cerambycidae) are woodborers.
Here's the
Yellow-horned Clerid Beetle (
Trogodendron fasciculatum). The clerid beetles (Family Cleridae) are mainly predators on other insects (hence the substantial mandibles on this one.)
Thanks to the Queensland Museum Information Service for the preliminary identifications on the basis of these photographs. And, by the way, Darwin thought the Creator must have been inordinately fond of beetles because he made so many of them (though there is some
doubt as to whether Darwin ever said this)
