Fig Beetle
(Click to Enlarge)
These beetles fly around southern California like big carpenter or bumble bees — but they’re harmless. They nibble on rotting fruit that’s already fallen on the ground, and the grubs just eat compost. They’re not great flyers — they bash into things all the time. Note all the scratches on this beetle’s back — like a beat-up old car’s paint job. Nikon D800, 105mm, 1/10th @ f/11, ISO 200
