Rhinoceros and stag beetles are fairly common pets for youngsters in Japan, with the fully formed insects readily available at all manner of different outlets. For the more determined owner, however, it’s possible to go the whole hog and lovingly nurture them from larvae. And this little lad, in the narrow alleyway outside his house, was happily doing just that.
Linda says
The rare one of your photos that made me go “awwwww,” although to be fair I should be clear that the beetle babies prompted that just as much as the human one.
Lee says
Haha, not so often this kind of photo comes round eh?
Must admit, the little beetles didn’t do it for me. Quite a surprise to be honest. I was expecting the fully formed things, not the larvae…
Jenn says
So sweet. But I don’t mean the grubs! 😉
Lee says
He was. And yeah, they weren’t!
Renita says
I love the container garden of a tree in a plastic garbage can!!
Definitely a smile-maker photo. Thanks and I like the varied style you
present. Keep up the good work.
Lee says
Yeah, that’s a great little detail, isn’t it? A very makeshift garden.
Thanks, and you are every welcome. Of course I go to certain areas to take photos of the places and people that interest me the most, but you never quite know what you are going to find, such as a little lad and his larvae!
cdilla says
What a wonderful photograph. It captures the magic of being a child so well.
When I see photos of myself as a child, and my kids too, I realize how much closer we used to get to the ground. Not just because we were three foot shorter, but because we got right down there.
It’s generally smells that bring back those times – crushed chamomile plants, dry grass, melting tarmac -but your photograph has done the same.
Lee says
Cheers. Lovely to hear it brought back those memories.
That’s a very good point. Playing out, finding things and generally messing about in the mud and dirt. Happy times.