Nature's Place

These beetles have been having their season lately, showing up around the house at all hours, head down – hiding in plain sight. Not easy to get a shot of the face as they usually have their eyes down, flat to the surface.

There are a few individuals here. One from the outside light I leave on in the evenings, one from the front garden on some dead flowers, and another from a drinking glass from one of the rooms upstairs – I gave it a little honey on some dry leaves to pose for me – before I let it go, and it did for a little while. It had to be tricked.

It’s a beautifully streamlined shape with head tucked up, the kind we design in wind tunnels for fast and stable flight. Easy for it to pass unnoticed.

In one shot in particular I am reminded of a hooded monk with a devilish mask on – of course that’s its ‘real’ face.

But whatever it appears to be it is no less one more of nature’s amazing little wonders.

Thank you beetle, thank you nature.

*

The mask sticks, doesn’t it. The one we wear.

And then we search and search for how to get it off …

… or put on another one …… and call it the spiritual life. ((:

© Mark Berkery ……. Click any picture and click again to enlarge