Mecynorrhina oberthuri
| Distribution: | Africa |
| Size: | 60mm (female), 85mm (male) |
| Diet: | Leaf litter & rotting wood (larvae), tree sap & fruit (adults) |
Like many flower beetles (and many beetles, in fact) male M.oberthuri have a prominent horn for fighting whereas females have a blunt shovel-like head for burrowing.
I really enjoyed drawing this magnificent beetle. Similar to the goliath, it’s fun to bring out the scratches and marks on its exoskeleton, and it’s a great challenge bringing out the different textures – especially using some semi-transparent white highlights to illustrate the shiny finish of its legs (see below).
Take a closer look…
