Alien Worlds

Because there is nothing truly more alien than this.

This is a Major Male Dynastes Granti Beetle in a pupa case. You can see how his large rhino horns have developed. It is neat to see the progression from grub to pupa…
This species is the largest of the American rhino beetles he is about almost 4 inches long.
For as lifeless as they look it is truly odd how active a pupa can be they can rotate and spin there abdomen and move there heads slightly. In the every picture or article I had seen before about pupa stages, I always assumed they were motionless more like a entombed mummy, or even a butterfly cocoon. LOL this was exciting to see.. I gotta figure out how to post videos..
They are light sensitive so I believe they can see at this point of there lives… I wonder how well… I mean his eyes are developed at this point.

Life stages have always fascinated me from nightmare grubs to alien pupas to wicked beetles.

On a photo note trying to focus in a high misty environment…. Gives odd results.. the picture has what looks like a white haze over it… and I was hoping to capture more of that crushed velvet look like on his abdomen but the lighting just wasn’t right for that.. Any tips for that?

A little rattle on for those who have missed them!! More stuff soon!!

Enjoy