Phalacrognathus muelleri
9 x 12 inches, watercolor, gouache, Pigma brush, Posca, and Pigma pens.
Inktober prompt (armor)
When the sun strikes the rainbow beetle's body, you can see shades of blues, greens, and reds with a metallic shine. The tusk-like objects are called mandibles, and both sexes have black legs. The female's mandibles are smaller than the males. This color combination makes for a somewhere over the rainbow beetle!
Males measure up to 2.8 inches (70mm), and females are still large, measuring up to 1.8 inches (46mm). Even though this beetle is beautiful, I would still freak out if it landed on me. I live in Oklahoma, and our beetles don't grow as huge because of environmental factors (it gets cold here in the winter).
The Rainbow Beetle lives in Australia and eats rotten wood and treats itself to fruit, tree sap, and nectar. Australia's rainforests and bushland are the beetle's favorite hangout.
The odd fact people like to keep and breed these giant beetles for pets. I have friends on Instagram that have this hobby that has turned into a small business. The beetle can fly, scary thought! I can imagine one landing on my head.
