#Bloody-nosedbeetle
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This is the #Bloody-nosedbeetle, #Timarchatenebricosa.

When threatened it exudes a red drop of liquid from its mouth

It has distinctive beaded antennae.Unlike most #beetles, it's flightless

Completed in watercolour for use on #interp & information materials.
#sciart #naturalhistoryillustration
#watercolour #naturalscience #illustration of Bloody-nosed beetle Timarcha tenebricosa, with the beetle seen from the side, pointing to the right. it's exuding a scarlet drop of liquid from it's mouth. The beetle is black with a smooth sheen and is shown in 3/4 view, with 3 legs showing on the near side and only the foot of the back leg visible on the far side. The highlights are painted so tiny black pores from the elytra can be seen in the shiny areas, and in the darkest black areas tiny white dots of gouache are used to suggest the pores on the wing cases.. Feet are comparatively large with each tarsal segment being fringed with grown. The beetle's eye is a chestnut brown.. As with everything I do, this is painted by hand without the aid of AI. It's one of my favourite #UKbeetles, so I was glad when it popped up on the species list commissioned for South Devon National Landscapes. It'll be used on information boards and leaflets, and on interpretation relating to their push to preserve environments beneficial to #insect species.
January 9, 2026 at 11:39 AM