[Leica] Big, beautiful beetle

[Peter Klein]

We took another day excursion to Deception Pass, this time to the north 
side of channel. After a hike, we sat on a log on the beach. I noticed 
this rather impressive beetle crawling toward me. After I gently 
discouraged him from crawling on my trousers, we had a photo session.  
Like a temperamental model, he hissed and squealed at me a couple of 
times. But he needn't have worried. After I finished, he crawled away 
unharmed. Later I looked him up. He's a Banded Alder Borer. Though I'd 
never seen one before, they are fairly common in the Pacific coastal 
region.

Here he is posing on wood:
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563@N04/50307063126/in/dateposted-public/>

And here's a portrait. Impressive chompers and antennae.
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563@N04/50307216042/in/dateposted-public/>

And here he is, with my U.S. size 13 sneaker (EU size 47, UK 12) 
included for scale. The body alone is about 1.25" long.  The antennae 
are longer than the body, so he's a male.
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563@N04/50307063161/in/dateposted-public/>

Olympus E-M5 with Panasonic/Leica 25/1.4 and Olympus 45/1.8. And a lot 
of cropping, as neither of these are really macro lenses.  Click on 
photo to enlarge, press F11 for full screen.  Enjoy!

--Peter