Resigned Parasitized Caterpillar

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

September 5, 2010 | Twelvestones, Roswell, GA, USA

This caterpillar from a nearby park with head held low seems resigned to its fate as a parasitoid host. OK, I know that’s a normal position — allow me to anthropomorphise a bit.

You can see some white eggs on its back. I assume a tachinid fly left those, placing them close enough to the head that they couldn’t be removed.

In this next image, you can see there are also some already hatched eggs, sealing this little guy’s doom.

Closeup showing hatched eggs

I know tachinid fly larvae have breathing tubes that pierce the host’s skin. Could those long fibers amongst the eggs be those breathing tubes? I wouldn’t think they would be so long. I’m more inclined to think those are just bits of debris that maybe got stuck to whatever holds the eggs in place. read more

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment

Assassin Bug Mimicking Bee

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Tropical assassin bugs come in an amazing variety of forms. This one reminds me of a bee, though I didn’t see anything on my trip that might serve as a model. Despite extensive searching of the internet, I didn’t turn up any photos of a species resembling this individual.

A couple of my books do mention assassin bugs that mimic bees and wasps, so I think that’s probably what’s going on here.

[book:0962515019]

[book:0520078497]

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment

Snout Beetle with Orange Bands

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment

White-spotted Leafhopper

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment

Pink and Yellow Flea Beetle

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Now there’s some colors you don’t see on a beetle very often. Warning colors perhaps?

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment

Crypsis Challenge #2

Posted on August 29, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

This challenge should be a good bit easier than the last one. Remember you can click on the photo to see a larger version.

One thing I find challenging for these types of shots is trying to reproduce what the eye sees (or doesn’t see as the case may be). The flash tends to make whatever was previously relatively hidden stand out.

I actually spotted this critter the night before. Using a headlamp, just like a camera flash, tends to make otherwise difficult to spot things stand out. I returned the following day to attempt the shot above. read more

Posted in Crypsis Challenges | 4 Comments

Treehopper with Eggs

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

This treehopper appears to have deposited eggs in this twig.  I’m not sure if she’s still ovipositing or perhaps just guarding the eggs.

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment

Crypsis Challenge #1 Reveal

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

July 2, 2010 | Twelvestones, Roswell, GA, USA

Did you spot the hidden critter from this earlier post? No one commented, but I’ll go ahead and reveal the answer.

There’s a hint about two thirds of the way down on the left hand side. That’s a lacewing egg on a thread. And just to the right of that is the creature itself, a trash carrying lacewing larva. I circled the two in red below.

Reveal

Still having trouble seeing it? Try this side view.

Side View

Of course, all you can really see is the debris. To see the actual critter, you have to turn it over, as I did here. read more

Posted in Crypsis Challenges | 1 Comment

Fuzzy Jewel Beetle

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Quick! What is it? From this angle, you might mistake this jewel beetle for a bee.

The beetle was feeding on the purplish flowers. Purple in, purple out.

Side view

Posted in Featured Photos | 3 Comments

Snobbish Fulgorid

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Troy Bartlett

January 26, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Like many fulgorids, the front of the head of this one is oddly shaped. With what looks like an upturned nose, you could call this one downright snobbish.

Closeup of head

Take a close look at the base of the antenna below the eye.

Antenna Closeup

Posted in Featured Photos | Leave a comment