Author Mark Hanlon ◦
This is Julodimorpha saundersii from Kalbarri in W.A. today.
I found them quite commonly flying over the heath and the females walking across the road (females cannot fly). Unfortunately many were hit by cars however the males didn’t seem to care and were happily trying to mate with the dead females. The male on my car tail light landed on the red brake light thinking it was a female.
Females have beautiful metallic purple ventral surfaces while the males have a purple edge to the ventrite.
Checkout Mark Hanlon other blog and beetle contributions.
Footnote & References
- Australasian Beetles Only, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1180404322409639/