I took a stroll around Low Barns LNR at Witton le Wear, and wasn't too optimistic about finding much to photograph. It was quite a cool day, with the threat of rain, and very breezy. Breeze is the enemy of the macro-photographer. Even with flash to assist, it's often impossible to even get focus on some tiny creature clinging to a swaying leaf.
I was over the moon therefore, to find these longhorn beetles on a magically sheltered hawthorn.
This is Rhagium mordax, one of the larger longhorn beetles, the female here would be getting on for an inch in length, nose to tail. Despite it being a common species, they've always eluded me, so it was good to finally see them and get a few decent shots. Apparently they're a fast running species, known as the "barklöpare" (bark runner) in Sweden, so I was lucky to find this pair concentrating on something other than running about.
They soon separated, but the male posed for a few more photos before flying off. I later realised that he had lost an antenna, making him a one-horned longhorn.
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