#eleale

[drhoz]

Assorted Clerid Beetles. It's entirely likely they're all Eleale sp. They might even be the same species.

[drhoz]

#49 - Metallic Clerid Beetle

Judging by some of the pictures I've found online, and comparing the distinctive antennae and huge eyes and jaws to what I have in the CSIRO 'Insects of Australia', a Chequered Beetle of the genus Eleale, probably Eleale reticulata. Compare it to the Eleales over here if you don't believe me.

Photographed on the bract of an Arum. Did I mention how impressed I am by the macro setting on this phone? Sadly, Eleale reticulata is about as boring a Chequered Beetle as you can get - compare to the brilliant colours and metallic sheens of the Eleale here, and here. Other clerids are even more flamboyant. Brisbane Insects has a few close-ups of one with yellow antennae here. Compared to these others, Hairy + Black doesn't really cut it. Most clerids are predatory as larvae and as adult, and some are very useful predators of bark beetles. Others are pollen feeders, or scavengers, sometime of stored food products. A few species are slightly useful in forensic entomology, once a corpse has reached the later dry stage.