What is this thing?

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What is this sapphire-looking bug? (lemm.ee)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I think it might be a Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not saying you are wrong.

But this one has eight spots. Did the bug do it to thwart those naming and categorization efforts?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Wikipedia says:

Both the common name and the species name refer to the six small white spots on the beetle's metallic-green to metallic-blue-green elytra. This is not always the case, however, as some individuals may have more spots, fewer spots, or none at all, presumably due to genetic variation.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago

This is not always the case, however, as some individuals may have more spots, fewer spots, or none at all, presumably due to genetic variation.

Or malice. ;)
Thank you for the explanation.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

And a gorgeous example of one

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

My AI image comparison concurs. What a neat looking beetle! I had no idea we had such beautiful beetles in the USA. GO USA!