BEAUTIFUL Beetle Stumped Scientists for YEARS... Until Now

Every day we make new discoveries about insects, and this time I stumbled upon something strange! Check out this red-legged buprestis beetle in the first larval host record of the species!

Here at MyWildBackyard we investigate the secrets of the natural world- secrets that can be hidden in our very own backyards! I want to share the incredible world of insects, spiders and other wildlife with you and inspire you to explore your curiosity. Get out there, and find your adventure!

For those who read the description- we've updated the channel! I'm working on adding more features to videos to better expand our conversations about the secrets we find in the natural world! Introducing the Creature Tier System! There are four rankings:
1. Staple - These are the lowest tier creatures. They are the most common species in a given habitat, and while they're not boring, they're really only exciting when you're exploring a new habitat and you haven't seen them before. Not something to write home about.
2. Neat - These are a step up from Staple. They don't make your entire day, but they are worth taking a closer look at when found. Definitely can be exciting to have a productive day finding many Neat species.
3. Wild - These are exciting to find. Whether they have interesting defensive features that offer a nice challenge in the field, are particularly cool looking, or maybe a little bit rare, Wild species aren't necessarily the MOST memorable of encounters, but they definitely make your day when you see them. An adventure featuring many Wild species will truly be memorable.
4. Gem - These are special. Usually involving extremely interesting biology and significant rarity, Gem species are animals that you really do not see every day. These species can make your whole adventure, and will be very memorable.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

#beetles

[TheWildlifeBrothers]

There is almost nothing more fulfilling to me than being able to contribute novel information to our field of study, and you not only were able to make such a discovery, but also managed to film it so thoroughly, very nice work. I loved this video, this is the kind of content that is the new standard for wildlife content on this platform I think. Buprestids are amazing animals, they get a bad reputation among forestry workers but the native species really are beautiful and are so much fun to find. I hope you get some more crazy beetles this year, hopefully in each other’s company!

[steveroberson]

What's really amazing Spencer is the amount of intelligence these insects possess, ,I've been studying this fascinating aspect of strange life for years & it never ceases to amaze me, ,keep up your ground breaking work !

[saragates]

Incredible discovery Spencer! Here's to hoping you get some major street cred in the entomology world! Congratulations👏

[DaveTexas]

Congratulations on finding that beetle and making a new discovery about its life cycle!

[sutherngirrl]

Look at you and your scientific discoveries! So proud of you Spencer!! A couple more months and these (jewel beetles is what we call em) will be all over my yard. In close proximity to my decks 🙄
Very cool find! Congratulations 👏👏👏

[chirin]

This is pretty incredible. I remember chatting in the comments a while back about this topic, it is so cool that you now have film evidence of one of them ovipositing!

[damonaprile-turnbull]

This is amazing! Genuinely! I can’t get how this hasn’t blown up yet. Spencer, you’re genuinely one of my favourite YouTubers!

[MrLegaroth]

This is really amazing to be able to film something entirely new to the world! Even more amazing to share it with us and the world! Thanks a lot! Keep up the good work.

[coreymac]

I would love to have a backyard like yours. That beetle was beautiful.

[cds]

0:50
"come here"
*forceful abduction*

[Evandodge]

Wow! What a lucky find! Getting to see something that's never been filmed before! Awesome!

[Jefada]

Congratulations on the discovery. I hope you get some recognition from it. Since I have been watching your and Zach's videos and a few others that I think when I hike how many snakes and insects like this did I pass up without noticing. I will keep my eyes open a little more when I hike lol.

[wingedstring]

That's amazing and you having the chance to discovered it's incredible. I love your content! ❤️

[magnuslunzer]

Yoo this is just amazing! Keep an eye on this one and the larva might get named after you

[markrusher]

You are so lucky to have all these unique insects around you in your backyard. Being in Kansas we just don't have the variety, keep the videos coming..

[HuckleberryHim]

It's kind of amazing how ripe these fields are, you would think they're all done and dusted, long-settled issues, but there is SO much basic work still to be done. What an amazing thing to witness! Super exciting seeing you make a discovery like that

You're so right about this stuff being right under our noses, I've seen multiple taxa now with ~10 observations on iNat each, and each one was so close to residential settings. You've just got to go out and look, so much awesome stuff to see

[iamgood]

This was your most recent video (didn't know where to put this) but I really love how you stick up for the spiders
Keep it up

[ThePollaton]

What an amazing discovery. Have you set up a camera to see further development?

[FatLittleOldLady]

Yay! Love your show, and congrats on your discovery.

[robbyschannel]

That's awesome to see, I love finding out new things about critters I have seen around. You can't learn enough to know it all there's always more huh. Maybe you'll get some new info into science from more studding, maybe can give insite to help curb the emerald ash borer destruction. Great find n eye, keep it up.