Insects

Insects are beautiful.

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[strangebiology]

@franzanth noticed this caterpillar (left) that looks like it’s mimicking weaver ants (right.) It turns out that the caterpillar is so good at mimicking ants that it even fools image recognition software.

[calosoma-amitch]

Small Baileya (Baileya australis), Newark DE. August 2017.  A moth commonly associated with forests and woodlots, the small Baileya is frequently encountered during light traps in the summer. Little is known about its larval stage, although there are reports that the caterpillars feed on black walnut (other members of this genus also feed on walnut).  I was unable to obtain eggs from this species, so hopefully next year we’ll have a better idea of their host preference.

Multiple generations in the eastern US; at least one in New England and three reported in the southeast. Adults common by late June. 

[drhoz]

#1286 - Gastrophora henricaria - Beautiful Leaf Moth

AKA Fallen-bark Looper

Seen by Merri Golding, on NSW’s Southern Tablelands.

A large Oenochromine Geometrid moth, with female up to 8 cm in wingspan, and males slightly smaller. Native to the SE corner of Australia, where the caterpillars feed on various Eucalypts and Box Brushes.

The sexes are similarly marked, although the males have a dark line across the forewing. The undersides have a vivid purple and yellow warning flash. 

[meishallaneousarchive]

So… this happened. It was frozen there…chillin’, as it were 😏

more of my photography

[macroramblings]

Over the edge

[lanatureenville]

Accouplement de deux tipules potagères (Tipula oleracea) sur une feuille

[sinobug]

Hooded Mantis Nymph (Rhombodera sp., Mantidae) by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr. Pu'er, Yunnan, China See more Chinese praying mantids on my Flickr site HERE…..

[nikonphenomenon]

[thesnakesstuff]

Found a cutie on the way home! Don’t know what species they are, but they’re still adorable!

[kazooie]

This is the biggest Christmas beetle I’ve seen in years, it was so beautiful, and it pooped on me, it’s a chrism miracle.

It also got loose in the house and it took me hours to find it again, then when I tried to take it outside it wouldn’t let go, why beetles do that?

[discomfort-and-stuff-deactivate]

Melanoplus differentialis (Differential grasshopper)

October 17, 2016

Fort Hood, TX, USA

I found this girl (I’m pretty sure it’s a female) on Fort Hood in Texas. I highly believe she’s a Melanoplus differentialis, but identifying species and sex has always been pretty hard for me.

[sinobug]

Praying Mantis, female (Phyllothelys sp., Mantidae) by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr. Pu'er, Yunnan, China See more Chinese praying mantids on my Flickr site HERE…..

[reanimateobjects]

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