My daughter came across a beetle in the garden this morning, its about 3cm long, black but blue legs and also blue tenticles which seem to be almost like a string of balls, any ideas before i need to post up a pic, we currently have not released it as its the first time i have seen one like this, we do get to see a stag beetle at least once a year in our garden but not seen this chappy before.
I really don't know my beetles but we do have ground beetles in North America... http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/fldcrops/ef104.htm You're probably best enquiring with local sources on this one, fauna being a local phenom.
Turns out its an OIL BEETLE with a fascinating lifestyle. Pictures are accurate and also the time of year.
