Big Beetle!

I saw this guy as I was coming home from the grocery store.

It looked like it was about to rain, but I had to get stuff into the refrigerator. Right after I finished, a downpour started.

After the rain stopped, I went outside to see if he was still there and he was.

He was underneath an air conditioner, making it impossible for me to get closer due to me flash diffuser hitting the bottom of the air conditioner.

Apparently, it's a reddish-brown stag beetle, AKA "pinching beetle".

http://jimmccormac.blo​gspot.com …eetle-rather-brutish.html

Lovely find and shots
Brian v.

Lovly capture, sure looks like he can pinch indeed.

LordV wrote in post #18400010
Lovely find and shots
Brian v.

Thanks.

It was pure luck for me to see him in the first place, since I NEVER see anything interesting when it's light out, and even luckier that he was still there when it stopped raining.

It's probably the best insect shot I've gotten, rivaled only by the robber fly, similarly caught unexpectedly in broad daylight.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18400170
Lovly capture, sure looks like he can pinch indeed.

Thanks.

Actually, according to what I read, the males at least have very poor bite force. They eat plant sap and probably mostly use those jaws for mating behavior.