Happy Friday everyone! Once again it’s time for the mystery object and once again I’m in a different country and am relying on a photo I have on my phone to supply you with a specimen for identification. That means the photo isn’t ideal, but it does mean I have something a bit different from the usual skull or bone:
Any idea what species this colourful insect and its less lovely larva might be?
As always you can put your questions, observations and suggestions in the comments section below. Have fun!
Zygoma 
Seems very much to be one of the Fab Four. More thought required beyond that, though.
I wonder if it has St Stephen’s nose, despite coming from Cameroon and the Gambia…?
After a bit of scarrabaling around I’m gutted that Stephen’s nose is so spotty. Perhaps he picked up something in West Africa?
I think its from Cameroon and Nigeria
I’ll second that
With my very limited knowledge but research brain on I would hazard a guess at Cameroon and Nigeria? 😉
This? http://www.bugzuk.com/insects/beetles/stephanorrhina-guttata
It’s beautiful! I found another picture of it, I think, but I have no idea what it is – (I’m trying not to look at the remarks above, because I’m sure the brilliant folk on this site have already found its name! :-)) https://fr.pinterest.com/pin/144748575494101022/
After peeking, (thank you Tessa!) I found this: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-republic-of-burundi-circa-1970printed-in-republic-of-burundi-shows-68367838.html
and would you believe, my husband’s name is very close to the beetle’s name! Thanks for the very fun search!
Lovely find!
OK. Confession time (and just to frustrate poor Paolo), how many of us found this out with a simple google search for spotted green beetle, or words to that effect?
I’ll confess to having done it. Any others? Fess up now: it’s good for your soul, allegedly.
I did use the word coleoptera, lol.
Let’s go with a scarab that sounds like a bacterial infection of the nose that’s been hitting the carbs and beer for too long. And I went to an old fashioned tomb beaten from cotton fibers and sewn with recycled hair form some large mammal (that last part might be hyperbole).
It seems commercial collectors seek this one out. I even noticed a specimen for sale on eBay. Neat video by one collector (probably not done in native habitat): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwLA2ar4U7U
They move! So used to seeing them stationary that I almost forgot!