Photo 15408491, no rights reserved, uploaded by Riaan Stals

Attribution By Riaan Stals
no rights reserved
Uploaded by beetledude beetledude
Source iNaturalist
Associated observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Bumspot Chafer (Popillia bipunctata)

Observer

beetledude

Date

January 19, 2014

Description

Chafer asana


It was raining and the chafers were too cold to fly. They clung to vegetation, either with the head up, or with the head down. All four individuals I saw were frozen in the same yoga position: holding on with the two front pairs of legs, but the hindlegs are spread up and out as far as they can go. They retained this position when lightly pestered by me.

I don't know what they were doing. I don't know if this is some form of crypsis, or even a form of mimicry. In the upside down position, the two areas of whitish scales may look like eyes. Are they also reverse-painted? The outstretched hindlegs may look a little spidery.

Any thoughts on this pose?

Sizes