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Author Archives: Troy Bartlett
Crypsis Challenge #14 Reveal: Bark Mantis
Did you rise to the latest crypsis challenge and spot the bark mantis in the photo? If not, take another look with the help of my crude outlining skills.
July 5, 2011 | Victorio Siqueroli Park, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Mantis Position Revealed
This bark mantis was the first thing I photographed on my first visit to Victorio Siqueroli Park. It was difficult trying to get some natural light photos that showed off its camouflage. It’s head down in the shot above, but it moved around during the shoot and ended up in various positions. Here’s some more shots with the aid of flash.
Posted in Crypsis Challenges
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Crypsis Challenge #14
July 5, 2011 | Victorio Siqueroli Park, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Can you spot the camouflaged critter in this image?
Posted in Crypsis Challenges
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Victorio Siquieroli City Park
Park Entrance
In July I spent a few weeks at our condo in Uberlândia, Brazil. Unable to take the time for any side trips, I sought out nearby locations for nature photography. I was pleasantly surprised by Parque Municipal Victório Siquieroli (Victorio Siquieroli City Park).
The park is a little slice of cerrado (Brazilian tropical savanna) nestled in the northern part of the city. The park comprises an area of about 23 hectares (57 acres) and promotes environmental consciousness. There’s even a small museum that gives visitors a look at the biodiversity of the cerrado. The park is named after Victório Siquieroli whose wife convinced him in 1996 to donate the land to the city for the construction of the park.
Posted in Location Profiles
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Camouflaged Planthopper
15mm | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This little planthopper blends in pretty well with the lichen covered bark I found it on.
Side view
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Caterpillar
30mm | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
I might not have noticed this caterpillar during the day, but after dark it stood out in the light of my headlamp.
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Termites at Work
July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Just after dark, termites started emerging from below ground. Here they appear to be excavating. The darker soil has been brought up from below by workers while guards form a defensive perimeter.
Posted in Featured Photos
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Soldier Fly
11mm | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The wing venation, patterned eyes, and even the horns on the scutellum suggest this is a soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae. Many soldier flies bear a resemblance to wasps. This one kind of reminds me of a yellowjacket.
Reference:
[book:9968927147]
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Crypsis Challenge #13 Reveal: Jumping Stick
82mm | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Were you able to find the critter in the photo above? It’s in the lower right corner. Some of you may recognize this as another stick grasshopper in the family Proscopiidae, previously featured in Crypsis Challenge #3. They are so cryptic that I couldn’t resist doing another challenge with this one. Here’s an outline of the grasshopper if you’re still not seeing it.
Grasshopper revealed
Check out how closely the color and texture of the insect matches that of the surrounding vegetation.
Can you distinguish animal from plant here?
Here’s another image where it’s blending in fairly well.
Posted in Crypsis Challenges
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Green Huntsman Spider
9mm body | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This attractive green huntsman spider in the family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae) was concealed beneath a leaf. With such a striking green color, it must hunt primarily in foliage.
When I found it, it was concealed within a silken retreat on the underside of a leaf. The texture of the silk is interesting.
Concealed within silken retreat
That wouldn’t do for photos though, so I poked at it until it removed itself.
Reluctantly exposed
That did allow for some nice closeup shots though, like this one of the eyes. I always try to get a shot like this to help in the identification.
Posted in Featured Photos
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Crypsis Challenge #13
July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Time for another crypsis challenge. Can you spot the critter hidden in this scene?
Posted in Crypsis Challenges
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