The End Band Net-winged Insect: Nature's Beauty.

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(Edited)

While taking a liesurely stroll around my parent's home surrounding on Sunday, I spotted this fascinating creature, perched on a delicate flower stem.

It's striking bright orange and black color, captivated me, and I sought to find it's name and also take some snapshots. However, the gentle breeze caused the stem to sway, resulting in blurry photos.

To get a better shot, I carefully cut the stem and relocated the insect to a steadier plant, the Miracle Leaf - "Kalanchoe Pinnanta". There I was able to take clearer photos of it.

A search revealed its name as the "End Band Net-wing.

End Band Net-wing, also called "Calopteron terminale", is a specie of net-winged beetle in the Lycidae family.

More nteresting finds about the End Bang Net-wing

  • The bright orange and black bands on their wings, is a feature that make them easily identifiable. Little wonder I was able to do so.

  • They have soft-bodies, thick antennae and moves slowly, as you'll see in this photo.

  • They have a veiny wing, covered with a net-like pattern.

  • About their length, they measure up to 9-18mm (0.35-0.70 inches).

  • The End Band Net-wing are active between July to September, and mostly found in woodlands and deciduous forests.

Hmmm, how come this one left the forest to my parent's home surrounding? 🤔 Who knows, maybe it came to hunt for insects on the flowers and equally feed on the fresh green vegetation.

Here's the kicker;

If you find an End Band Net-wing, ensure you don't get close or better still handle them with care because they're known for emitting foul-smelling chemicals when their wings are broken. Thank goodness, I was cautious about this one. Lol.

Just like every other insect has a defense mechanism to wade off predators, the End Band Net-wing is known to release toxins from their leg joints when threatened, making them unpalatable to predators. Smart insect. 😂

Although these fascinating creatures play a role in decomposition, helping to facilitate the carbon cycle,
Net-winged beetles are not considered agricultural pests because they're known to cause damage to living plants. Well, all insects do.

I also made a video which I'd love for you to watch. 😂

Have you seen an End Band Net-winged insect before? Do let me know. Thank you.

Author's Photos Capture

Posted Using INLEO

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9 comments
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I have seen oh and is looking so beautiful here including the flower is resting on the picture is so lovely

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Oh, that's great. Yes, the insect is beautiful but sadly, harmful. Thank you.
!BBH

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This insect has a pretty attractive colour but I doubt that I have sent it here in Lagos.

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I doubt if it could be found in cities as there are rarely forests there.
!BBH

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(Edited)

Very nice post!

To make it perfect it would be even better to provide sources (e.g. internet links) backing your text, for example if you write: "About their length, they measure up to 9-18mm (0.35-0.70 inches)." In these cases some readers might ask themselves "Is that information correct? Where can I find and verify it myself?".

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Thank you. Have noted that.
!BBH

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