Banded net-winged beetle encountered in the Amazon forest

Net-winged beetles (Lycidae) are a cosmopolitan family within the order Coleoptera, found across most regions of the globe. Characterized by their elongated bodies, these beetles are typically spotted resting on flowers or plant stems. This particular individual, belonging to the genus Calopteron, is a slow-moving insect easily recognized by its distinct orange-and-black aposematic coloration and widening, intricately veined wing covers—features that serve as a bold warning of its toxic, foul-tasting chemical defenses. While the larvae develop under the bark of decaying trees, hunting small invertebrates or feeding on fungi and slime molds, the lumbering adults prefer a gentler diet of pollen, nectar, and plant juices. I crossed paths with this striking specimen during an expedition into the Amazon rainforest at Yasuní National Park.

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