Written by Sometimes nature comes up with creatures so weird, you just have to be impressed. Today, we’ve #NatureDoodlewash hiked to Madagascar in search of the incredible giraffe weevil which wasn’t discovered until 2008. I was looking at beetles and then ran across a type called a weevil and I thought the name was cute. Next, I stumbled across this one and felt the urge to doodlewash it. Only the males have necks this long, but don’t let the size of this sketch fool you. Even with the giraffe neck these guys are tiny, with a total body length that’s just a smidge under an inch (2.5 cm).
Unlike giraffes, the long necks are not there to help it reach for food, but to beat the crap out of other male weevils in an aggressive attempt to get the girl weevil. To put it more bluntly, it’s basically evolved to be a weapon for getting laid. For her part, the female acts as a sort of referee for this ultimate battle before eventually mating with the declared champion. Apparently it’s rarely a fight to the death, though, because that would just be weird. After he succeeds, the long neck also comes in handy for helping to build the love nest. In time, the female lays a single egg on a leaf and rolls it up to protect her newborn and make sure it has food when it hatches.
I’ve no idea why I’m always attracted to such weird subject matter. I find nature fascinating not just for the creatures we all know and love, but for the ones we didn’t even know existed. It’s awesome to think about how many things we’ve yet to find out about our own planet. Somewhere at this very moment, there’s an undiscovered little creature out there who doesn’t know or care that we humans exist. He’s happily doing whatever it is he does each day blissfully ignorant of our curiosity. One day, he’ll find himself in the spotlight, but for now, that’s reserved for this tiny little giraffe weevil.
Join me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike! Show everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting and tag your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
World Watercolor Month is coming in July! Click here to learn more!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Perylene Maroon, Pyrrol Red, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Nature is indeed weird and magnificent — and you’ve captured that sense of awe beautifully in your painting. I’m just glad we humans evolved a different method of mate-finding. (Can you *imagine* the chiropractor bills you’d have after a night of speed-dating? Ha ha.)
Hahaha!! That’s awesome…yeah…totally glad we humans evolved a bit differently! Speed dating would be terrifying!! Thanks so much, Heather! 😃💕
So glad my silly musings brought a smile, Charlie. Whenever I feel awkward in my body I try to remind myself that other species are even worse-off — and your beautiful painting was certainly a case in point!
This seems like a good time to thank you for all the wonderful things you post. Your blog is a tremendous source of inspiration for me — and awe, too. 😃💕
Awww… that makes me so happy!! Thrilled you find Doodlewash inspiring. Smiling now! Thanks! 😃💕
Adorably genius..
Awww thanks so much, Suzala! 😃💕
This critter looks alien, Charlie… I like it! Very unusual.
Total alien… I think that’s what made me want sketch it! Hehe Thanks, Tom! 😃
Great painting! I really like how you get such depth in your paintings. Could you tell me what size/type brushes you use? Do you use a fine or ? pen nib? I am very glad I stumbled onto your blog!
Thanks so much, Cathy! 😃💕 I use a Lamy Extra Fine nib for the pen and an Size 6 Escoda Versatil travel brush (I have sizes 2-12 but just grab for the middle one usually and stick with that😊)
I have an impressive beetle collection, and I am still impressed. By the species and your art.
Awww cool! that’s a high compliment then! Thanks! 😃
What a weird bug but. Very interesting. Isn’t it funny how so much of nature makes sure there will be reproduction by any means possible. Love how you painted it.
Yeah… nature really made sure these guys could stick around! Hehe They’re so weird, but kind of cool too! Thanks, Teri! 😃💕
Romeo the giraffe weevil. Must be a good necker. You sure made this dude look romantically inclined, what with his pretty red back. Love the story. Your proportions are always perfect, Charlie – well done.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, I’m pretty sure this guy brings new meaning to necking! Lol
Looks like a shovel with legs! Cute! (K)
Haha! It totally does! Thanks Kerfe! 😃💕
Love “it’s basically evolved to be a weapon for getting laid!” 🙂 Seriously – I’ve learned more than I ever wanted (I mean could have imagined!) about all these little critters in nature you have discovered this month, Charlie! Not only do you doodlewash them amazingly, you provide new information and humor. What else could we want?! You rock Charlie O!
Yeah…I was typing with no internal editor! Lol But always happy to educate people with facts they never needed to know! 😉 And you’re so sweet, Jodi…thanks for the wonderful compliment! 😊😊💕
Wow! You are having lots of fun with these insects and you portrait them beautifully! I love the black and red in this one very beautiful! 😉 July is getting close….awww what an excitement! <3 😉
Hehe…yeah…I got really distracted today while looking for something to doodlewash! Lol So glad you liked it! And yes!!!! Less than a week! Brings new meaning to TGIF!! Woo hoo!!😃😃
Yes is going to be a great month! I am thinking to organize the month by a different theme each week…but I am not sure lol I also like to just paint what I feel at the moment each day! 🙂
This insect looks a little strange, are you sure this isn’t an imaginary “Charlie O” insect?! 😮 Lol! I’m still waiting for you to create an imaginary one! Hehe! 🐝🐜🐞
Haha! It does look imaginary doesn’t it? But it’s actually real! Nature can get sooo weird! Maybe one day I’ll sneak in an imaginary one. Thanks Jill! 😃💕
What! ….well impressive creature and doodlewash, another lesson learnt 😀
hehe… thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕
Just awesome – nature and your doodlewash!
Haha! Thanks so much Carsten! 😃Yep… nature can get super odd!
never never never see or knew this ! thanks! awesome doodle, cause I know more know!
Thanks, Edo! 😃Yeah, weird right? I saw a photo of one in someone’s hand… the scale is crazy… they’re super tiny!
Bizarre but so cool! Thanks for exposing us to such a strange but beautiful beetle. Excellent doodlewash too!
Thanks Cathe! 😃💕Glad ya liked this crazy little weevil! Saw it… had to sketch it! lol
Haha, everyone has said what I was thinking already. You rock, Charlie. I never know what I’m gonna see when I come over here. 💜
Hehe… I never know what you’re going to see when you come here either! Lol I always just grab for something and run it to the finish. So glad you liked this!! Thanks Laura! 😃💕
very nice
Thanks so much!😃
What a wonderfully weird beetle. I would love to see one. You’ve done a fabulous job of rendering the hard and shiny carapace of this beetle.
I really want to see one in person too! They’re soooo tiny from the photos I’ve seen. Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕
This is so amazing!
hehe… thanks so much! 😃
How very peculiar! But that’s nature, I guess. Wonderful doodlewash – the finish on the shell is especially glorious.
It’s nice to think that we’re still so far from from knowing it all – I’ve heard before that if you venture deep enough into even your own garden, there’s a strong chance of finding something new to science. An incredible thought!
Wow! I love that thought! Now it makes me really wish I had a garden! Or even a yard… but this one was too weird to pass up. Thanks so much Jacob!😃 Glad ya liked this long-necked weirdo!
I am truly amazed. Ever so glad I am not involved in a giraffe weevil love triangle!! Of course I am giggle at the moment. 🙂
Haha!! Yeah… be very happy you’re not caught up in that mess! lol Thanks Susan! 😃💕
This is just awesome!! Good joob! I’m new in the blogging world so, if you want to, follow me! https://logosphil.wordpress.com/
Thanks so much! 😃
Stunning painting, the gleam on the reflective surfaces is fantastic. Beautifully painted.
Hehe…thanks so much, Haunani!! 😃💕
Beautiful creature and a marvellous painting :-). He looks like he is walking on the white paper under a mini spotlight. Thanks for the entertaining story. Amazing how violent some animals must be to get a mate. I was surprised to read that the female only laid one egg. I don’t know insects well, but I assumed they all laid lots of them.
Yeah, this is a super weird little insect! Hehe…glad you liked this post, Myriam. Very strange habits, but really fun to doodlewash! Lol
Love your painting of the Giraffe Beetle and thank you for the info. I hadn’t heard of these guys before. Madagascar has some of the coolest critturs on this earth. I’d love to visit there some day – when the transporter beam has been invented, though, so that I wouldn’t have to fly all that way.
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 Oh yay to that transporter beam! hehe I want it too!!
Although, thinking about it – if a giraffe beetle got into the transporter chamber and mixed up with my signal…*shudders*…I hate to think what I’d look like as a half-giraffe beetle. And if I was drinking coffee at the time, I’d be a half-caff, half-giraffe beetle brew!