Blog Archives

Katydid

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

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

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Owlfly

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

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

Dorsal view

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

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Harvestman

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

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.

Hiding? Eating?

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

Prodded into a better position

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

Comb-like structures on rearmost legs

Dorsolateral view

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.

Small body, 5mm long

4mm wide

"Comb" on the right

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

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Anole

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

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.

Anole

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Two Flies Sharing a Meal

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

These two flies are sharing a meal.

I can easily identify the larger one as a micropezid.

Micropezid

I’m not sure about the smaller one though.

Smaller fly

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Leafhoppers, displaying

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

4mm | January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

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

Reference:

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Jumping Spider with Prey

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

This little salticid has captured a small fly of some sort.

White scales on the chelicerae almost look like a mustache.

Frontal view

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Another Micropezid

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

13mm (body) | January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

Here’s another micropezid, waving its front legs like they are apt to do.

Frontal view

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Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

The botanical garden is home to many of these colorful little strawberry poison dart frogs, Oophaga pumilio. Unfortunately, they seem to prefer hanging about in the plastic planters. Above, you can see some of the little fertilizer beads. Below, one was just inside the container.

Inside a plastic plant containerI would have been preferred a more natural setting.

Although they were easy to spot amongst the plantings, I would have preferred a more natural setting.

One more

As you might expect, the bright coloration is a warning to not touch these little frogs.

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Crypsis Challenge #11

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

Can you spot the critter hiding in plain sight in this photo? Just a general common name is all I’m looking for. I’ll moderate comments until I reveal the answer in a few days.

I’m waiting for the day when I post one of these and someone points out something else in the photo that I hadn’t even noticed.

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