Closed-cell foam strip Black craft foam mm (1 strip (shellback))
Peacock herl or black dubbing Peacock/black flex floss (body)
Rooster hackle Black or dun rooster hackle (1 feather (Splitsville brush))
Foam or poly indicator Hi-vis orange (small dot (optional))
How to tie it
Start black thread and tie in a strip of black foam at the 75% mark so the tag hangs over the bend; this becomes the shellback.
Dub or wrap a fat peacock body forward over the rear three-quarters of the shank.
In front of the body catch a doubled loop of thread and lock it upright with several backward wraps. This is the Splitsville hackle post.
Tie in a black hackle dull-side up and wrap it up and down the standing thread loop over a short length, then tie down the tip so you have a caged hackle brush.
Pull the black foam forward over the top to form the beetle shellback and bind it behind the eye, leaving a short head tab.
Pull the loaded hackle loop down and forward so the fibers splay to the sides as legs, bind it off, add a small hi-vis dot on the foam for visibility, whip finish, and cement.