Net-winged Beetle
Cladophorus ?
Observed along the Elgeyo Escarpment just below Iten, Kenya, July 2014. Length is about 12 mm and is a male.
Net-winged Beetles, f. Lycidae, are easily recognizable to family by the unique wings. The first wing pair, the elytra, are leathery instead of the usual shell-like texture of most beetles. These wings sport an intricate patterns of cross veins and very often unique patterns of red, yellow, black and orange colors. Net-winged Beetles fly and crawl languidly, apparently little concerned about predation by birds or other insectivores. Toxic compounds in their hemolymph are likely.