Natural glitter

I thought it is time for some beauty. Natural beauty, of course.

What does the word beauty spark in you?

Today, I’d like to bring it to you in the form of a glittering beautiful little wonder. Here it is again, that little wonder you can find everywhere when your senses are put on awareness.

Remember me going down very low on hot sand to take photographs of an animal in behind the camera? Well, it seems I am not the only one who loves sandy feet :0).

lying on very hot sand

Amused 😉

There is this glittering little creature living on sandy patches and standing the heat. I am talking of the Northern Dune Tiger beetle Cicindela hybrida (in German: Dünen-Sandlaufkäfer). Quite hard to photograph, indeed, as it flies or runs (they are fast runners) off whenever you come too close. But there are tricks as I found out…. go down low, be patient, be still, don’t mind the heat of around 60 degree Celsius, and be passionate. Oh and I also talk to them ;0).

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As a zoologist I am obviously specialised in the world of the animal kingdom. While I am enthusiastic about every creature, I have a soft spot for insects. With that goes a pair of vigilant eyes and a talent to actually see and/or find them. I was lucky that a demanding course on insects was a compulsory part of my studies. It provoked my deep admiration for these so often overseen animals. No need to say I ended up with the highest score possible in the exam :0).

A photographer’s and biologist’s delight: Mating season! An adorable duo they are, don’t you think?

I mostly photographed this species in the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park in the Valais but also found them in the mountains on hiking trails where they may flee into the green undergrowth, which makes for some different photos.

And then there is one in green, too.

The species are not so easy to tell apart, because the pattern on their back can vary widely. What’s more, they share the same habitat. Since there is no red at all on the back of this animal, it may be Cicindela campestris the green tiger beetle (Feld-Sandlaufkäfer in German).

I hope you enjoyed this insight into the macro world and who knows, maybe the beetles have some new friends as of today!

Have a lovely weekend.