Oval iridescent green body,
Wings of bronze, quiet and still,
Always hungry, tasting nature’s nectar,
Making lace of leaves, living life with a will.
Note: This is a Popillia Japonica or Japanese Beetle. The photo was taken in Dover, MA in the Noanet Woodlands.
I think you should submit this to a photography contest or put it on the cover jacket of your poetry book, Brenda! Gorgeous and thrilling to see this iridescent creature.
LikeLike
Oh, you are too kind. It is shining and bright, isn’t it? I thought he was a handsome devil. LOL
LikeLike
Oh my! Is this the beetle you mentioned that likes the Lilies? Actually handsome-looking. 🙂 I especially like your last line — living life with a will. The way we should all live, huh? 🙂
LikeLike
This is not the scarlet beetle. The scarlet beetle hides and would never pose for a picture. This guy eats anything and everything and doesn’t seem to worry about hiding. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh wow! How very interesting! 🙂
LikeLike
“they make lace of leaves” You put it so beautifully. 🙂 If only they don’t eat the roses, I can admire these beetles more. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, they are destructive. I like them best when they are not in my garden. 🙂
LikeLike
Brenda, I am so much enjoying the pictures. And as my education continues I am enjoying more and more of the poetry. Thank you for expanding my field of vision. Take care, Bill
LikeLike
LOL I love poetry, but I am not very opaque as poets go. 🙂
LikeLike
I love the Japanese Beetle, and some people kill them! Why? because moles like to eat them, and to get rid of moles, they get rid of the beetles! What a bad practice. Japanese Beetles have proven to be very beneficial in general, they eat other pests that harm plants. And moles do NO HARM. Moles only uproot plants, but to eat the beetles, not to annoy gardeners. They don’t care to eat any plants at all. Some people poison Moles. BAD PRACTICE.
LikeLike
Moles don’t live around here, to my knowledge, and I didn’t know moles eat Japanese Beetles. The beetles irritate people around here because their larvae, white grubs, eat grass roots and destroy the grass. My dad used to call them June bugs, and they kind of look like June bugs.
LikeLike
I know, one thing leads to another, yet I also read somewhere that they’re beneficial also. They are beautiful, and your photo is very good. Their colors are fantastic. Moles are despised by some people because they leave holes in the ground and ruin the looks of a meticulous garden. But I’m against killing anything, that is my problem perhaps😔
LikeLike
Mosquitoes are the one exception in my book. And I don’t appreciate the good qualities of deer ticks either, but I do think humans kill too much, devastate other species, create noxious environments too much. I went canoeing along the Concord River and I was fortunate to see three Great Blue Herons. So beautiful, and amazing that the pollution ruining the fishing doesn’t harm the birds that live on the fish.
LikeLike
Oh yes, I have killed mosquitoes. I believe the Cattle Egret was brought from Africa to control ticks on cattle, but some farmers like to use the Guinea Fowl which also eat deer ticks.
LikeLike
Oh yes, and I am currently at war with the scarlet beetle, because it has eaten my aisan lilies for the last time!! But otherwise, I am mostly a live and let live kind of person. I even plant lots of extra parsley, beyond what I need so that I have plenty to share with the bunnies. LOL
LikeLike
Some people love to eat Guinea Fowl eggs because they taste differently. They are not easy to rear though, because they are wild and noisy, and not domesticated as chickens are. They will also defend their eggs viciously, and even hide them. They are known, however, to eat deer ticks.
LikeLike
Anything that eats deer ticks is good by me. And they can keep their eggs! LOL
LikeLike
Always tasting nature’s nectar. Very moving.
LikeLike
Thanks! I was happy it was not in my garden, though! 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
BEAUTY AND BADNESS—LIKE LIFE.
LikeLike
VORACIOUS!!!! AND THAT’S JUST THEIR APPETITE FOR PROCREATION!!! picking them off and into used oil should be an Olympic sport—without losing both partners in the clinch!
LikeLike
LOL Now, don’t be shy. Tell me what you really think.
LikeLike
Lovely picture – what a thoughtful beetle to sit there while you took the picture.
LikeLike
He looked asleep. 🙂 Perhaps he does his best chewing at night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are determined beasties!
LikeLike
Yes, they are!
LikeLike
Absolutely gorgeous photo and words! I like how it’s something we typically find beautiful– a flower– and something we often miss– a beetle. Good stuff, it’s making my head feel all deep and thoughty.
LikeLike
LOL You crack me up, always. I like how the sunshine makes even a beetle have its shining moment of beauty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So pretty!
LikeLike
Thanks!!
LikeLike
Welcome. 😀
LikeLike
He’s a shiny colourful beetle!! He/she makes that flower very attractive. I wonder what the interest in the flower is, maybe pollen like a bee, or maybe just a comfy bed?! 😉
LikeLike
He did look like he was having a snooze. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Japanese beetles are very beautiful….you have done this one justice in words and image:)
LikeLike
Thanks, it was impossible to entirely avoid it’s rapacious nature, but it is still a creature of the earth.
LikeLike
lovely words and image!
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
My favorite is that last line. The contrast between lace and a strong will, nice!
LikeLike
Thanks, they are a voracious enemy, but a beautiful one. 🙂
LikeLike
Who Knew they were such lovely little creatures 🙂 Lovely Ode to something we’ve deemed a pest, but who was made for a purpose just as we. 🙂
LikeLike
Bugs are pretty cool. 🙂
LikeLike
So are YOU 😀
LikeLike
I hope I’m a little more cool than a Japanese Beetle. LOL
LikeLike
I should think so 🙂
LikeLike
What an exquisite beetle, and exquisite words to match!
LikeLike
Thanks, long time, no hear! I’ll swing by. 🙂
LikeLike
Life is maddeningly busy, I fear 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, that’s the truth!! 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Lovely! 🙂 As usual.
LikeLike
Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow!!!!
LikeLike
They are so beautiful in their adult form, aren’t they? The destructive little bugs! 🙂
LikeLike
yeh, good thing they are so pretty!
LikeLike
I know! Mosquitoes on the other hand, have nothing going for them!
LikeLike