Last week, I stalked this little insect in my neighbors’ garden, trying hard to get a decent image of it with my 100mm macro lens. When it paused at the end of a leaf, I was able to get this shot, capturing some of the details of its body, which looks like a miniature dinosaur to me. Click on the photo to see some more details of the skin/shell of this little creature.
Normally I try to identify an insect before I post its photo, but in this case I am having trouble figuring out what it is. Perhaps one of my readers can help in identifying it.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
My first thought is a snout/bark beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Perhaps of the genus Colecerus. It also appears to be sitting on a thistle (Cirsium sp., Asteraceae).
Thanks, Jeremy. Once again, I appreciate your help in identifying this insect–there are so many different insects that it can be overwhelming when I encounter a totally new one. I didn’t mention it in the posting, but the plant on which it is sitting is a globe thistle.
Wow-he won’t win any beauty contests, will he? Excellent photo of this creature.
Thanks. I frankly was happy to get a recognizable shot of this little critter.
Interesting looking critter, it almost looks armored, which I guess beetles are. Nice close-up of this bug.