Beetle on St John's wort

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MacroLuv
Posts: 1964
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:36 pm
Location: Croatia

Beetle on St John's wort

Post by MacroLuv »

Beetle on Hypericum perforatum. :D The genus name "hypericum" is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture) in reference to the traditional use of the plant to ward off evil, by hanging plants over a picture in the house during St John's day. The species name "perforatum" refers to the small windows in the leaves, which can be seen when they are held against the light. Do not know much about beetle. :roll:

Image

Camera model Olympus SP-320
Date/time 20.06.2006/12:38:20
Exposure time 1/640 s
F-number f/3.5
ISO 64
Focal length 8 mm
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome. :D

beetleman
Posts: 3578
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:19 am
Location: Southern New Hampshire USA

Post by beetleman »

You just keep on finding these beautiful creatures to take pictures of Nikola. Wonderful job :wink: Interesting folklore on the flowers, thank you. :D
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda

Ken Ramos
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Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: lat=35.4005&lon=-81.9841

Post by Ken Ramos »

I remember some years back, people went nuts over this thing because they thought it could cure depression, how depressing that was. Anything haveing to do with St. Johnswort, people bought it up hoping that it would be the answer to all their problems and that every morning would be filled with sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows :smt044

Beautiful image there Nikola :D However I would be cautious of insects on anti-depressants. :wink:

MacroLuv
Posts: 1964
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:36 pm
Location: Croatia

Post by MacroLuv »

Ken Ramos wrote:... people bought it up hoping that it would be the answer to all their problems and that every morning would be filled with sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows :smt044
Well, I prefer ale. :lol:
Besides, St John's Wort Infused Oil is great for massage. Massage itself is beneficial. 8) :lol:
St John's Wort Infused Oil recipe:
1 cup
unopened yellow St John's wort buds and tiny cut fresh leaves

2 cups
light olive oil

1/2 tsp
lavendar essential oil, optional

Place the unwashed flower buds and leaves in a glass jar
Cover with olive oil and set in full sun
Allow to steep for at least 1 month, shaking the jar occasionally to ensure buds are covered in oil
When oil is deep red and smells of raspberry jam, strain through a piece of fine cotton cloth (men's handkerchief, old sheet, or piece of muslin), squeezing to extract as much oil as possible
Add lavendar oil, if desired
Store in covered glass jars or mix with beeswax for a salve
Apply directly to the skin for nervous tissue damage, bruises, sore muscles, inflammation, burns, including sunburn, ulcers and sores.
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome. :D

rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Posts: 24396
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
Contact:

Post by rjlittlefield »

A beautiful picture, and that recipe has a lot of promise! :wink: :D

I think you have a "checkered beetle", family Cleridae, perhaps Trichodes nutalli or similar. According to "How to Know the Insects":
Most adults and larvae are predaceous on other insects, especially wood-inhabiting beetles such as bark beetles (Scolytidae). Many clerids occur on flower and foliage.
Google turns up some more info, but it's a bit spotty. I found one good reference at http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/Cleridae.html . It adds that
The larvae of Trichodes are predators and/or parasites of grasshoppers or bees and wasps (where they feed on pollen and/or invertebrate contents of nest cells).
--Rik

MacroLuv
Posts: 1964
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:36 pm
Location: Croatia

Post by MacroLuv »

Thanks Rik, I can see similaritaty... :-k
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome. :D

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