Three commenters successfully identified the frog from the last crypsis challenge.

Here’s a closer look.

That wraps up all my posts from my January trip to Costa Rica.

As I was shooting the last crypsis challenge, the critter hidden here caught my attention. If it hadn’t moved, I probably would never have noticed it. Can you find it?

Did you find the moth in the image above? If not, don’t feel bad. I might not have seen it either, except I originally spotted the moth in a more conspicuous location. After a few shots (below), I deliberately spooked it in hopes that it would land in a location suitable for a crypsis challenge. Here’s an outline if you still need a little help finding it.

Here’s where I originally spotted it. Not blending in so well, is it?

This moth’s shape suggests it might be in the family Tortricidae. It’s small, only about 15mm measured lengthwise in the photo below.

It really is quite attractive up close, with orange bordered wings. The labial palps have orange scales at their base as well.

This pretty little moth was sitting on a leaf, imitating a bird dropping perhaps. A tortricid?

 

If not for the long antennae, this large katydid could easily be mistaken for a grasshopper.

I rarely find owlflies (family Ascalaphidae, order Neuroptera). Even though this one was in an unphotogenic location, I couldn’t resist a few photos.

This was a large one. The body was around 4cm long.

Could this be the harvestman equivalent of an ostrich burying its head in the sand? Or maybe it was just trying to get at something to eat.

After a few shots as I found it, I prodded it into a better position.

It has some interesting “combs” on a few of its rearmost legs.

It’s actually quite small, the body measuring only about 5mm front to back. The longest leg, however, was about 3cm long. I’m not sure what purpose those horns might serve.

I have to admit I’m drawn to these strange creatures. I think in part it’s simply because they are so alien looking.

 

 

Anoles were abundant everywhere I went in Costa Rica. They are difficult to identify though, and I gave up trying to figure out which species this might be.

 

 

 

These two flies are sharing a meal.

I can easily identify the larger one as a micropezid.

I’m not sure about the smaller one though.

Some leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae) spread their wings in the manner shown above, perhaps as part of some mating ritual.

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