This may not be the greatest picture I’ve taken of an insect – but this guy deserves his rightful place in my Bug-a-day challenge purely because he has the BEST name I’ve come across so far.
I have no idea if this will have any impact on anyone outside the UK, but it certainly has connotations to those of us living in England ….
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the Hogweed Bonking Beetle !!
© Alice through the Macro Lens [2012]
Alice through the Macro Lens 
The name works in American English, too. 🙂 I really like this photo. It’s a pretty cool looking bug. The flowers are interesting and a nice contrast to the beetle.
I think the flower is some type of umbellifer / cow parsley wild flower. Whatever it is, it’s got a pretty interesting look up close.
I agree. I’ve not seen this type of flower before and never heard of those names before either. I’ll have to go look them up.
oh …. but on second thoughts …. it could be a Hogweed! Doh!
That is soooo cool 🙂
I guess he’d have to be with a name like that 🙂
Bahahaha – love it!! Aussies appreciate that name too!!
Good! i’m glad someone else gets it 🙂
The interesting part is that it appears to be called that BECAUSE it is always bonking (or “in copula” as the posh people call it).
Whoever named it obviously had a sense of humour.
There is a Bonk Frog in Australia, so named for the distinctive ‘bonk’ sound it makes. Not half as exciting as the beetle! 🙂
I lived in Wales for 2 years, a long time ago (I was in the U.S. Navy) — I can appreciate the bonking beetle:)
I think anyone in the Navy would appreciate the bonking beetle! (Says she, the ex-Navy groupie! 🙂 )
LMAO! Yes, the Navy loves its bonking:)
I cannot say I like the subject, but your photo’s are brilliant, so clear and vivid, I tried macro many times but have had mixed results. Fabulous posts ..;)
Thank you!
Can’t say I like the subject either, but I suppose they are starting to grow on me 🙂
(not literally!)
great shot I found a couple of bug I will have to post later.
That is a great name: hogweed bonking beetle. Whoever came up with it should have gotten an award for creativity.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
I’m surprised it made it into the official names list, knowing how prudish English wordy people are! But I’m glad it did 🙂