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Blog Archives
Burrowing Bug Nymph
8mm body | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
This immature burrowing bug in the family Cydnidae was under a log. I gently held it to get a better view of those fossorial legs and its beak (rostrum).
Underside
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Velvet Ant
4mm body | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Velvet ants are challenging to photograph. They always seem to know when you’re after them. They are either running so fast you can’t keep them in the frame (much less focus) or they find cover to hide under. I always just shoot like crazy and hope for the best.
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Scorpion
20mm body | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
I spotted this scorpion on the trail just after dark. Somehow I spooked it and it ran for cover. When I removed the leaf it had hidden under, it was curled up as shown below.
Hiding under a leaf
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Bee Mimicking Assassin Bug
10mm body | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
For me, those wings are what really give this assassin bug in the family Reduviidae the appearance of a bee.
Dorsal view
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Waxy Planthopper Nymph
10mm wide | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
I’ve encountered odd planthopper nymphs like this before, but this might be the first time I’ve been able to get good shots showing the nymph itself .
Dorsolateral view
Dorsal view
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Aranha Caranguejeira – Tarantula
15mm body | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
I found this little tarantula (family Theraphosidae) under a rock. It could be full-grown, but I suspect it’s young and far from its adult size. It blends in quite well with the rocky ground.
Lateral view
Another angle
Despite its small size, it’s definitely got attitude. After some prodding, it demonstrated a classic threat display.
Don't mess with me
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Parasitised Caterpillar
13mm | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The more I observe nature, the more I realize that parasites rule. Â So far this trip, I’ve accumulated dozens of photos to prove my point, including the one above.
Believe it or not, this caterpillar was still alive. The parasites, wasps presumably, are long gone.
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Marimbondo-chap̩u РHat Wasp
July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The local common name for these social wasps is marimbondo-chapéu in Portuguese or hat wasp in English. The name refers to the form of the nest, seen above.
Seen from below, I’d say it looks more like a sunflower. They are really packed in there. I’d estimate there are probably a couple of hundred of them.
Sunflower?
Here’s another crop that I like of that same image.
A different crop
You’ve probably noticed by now these images were taken during the day. So what are all of them doing hanging out on the nest? Taking a siesta? I wondered the same thing. I spent around 45 minutes taking pictures and attempting to gauge just how closely I could approach without alarming them. During that whole time, not a single one flew off or arrived.
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Young Rattlesnake
January 31, 2010 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
I haven’t yet driven MG-223 that leaves Tupaciguara in the direction of Araguari at night without seeing a snake crossing the road. Here’s the most recent one I spotted, which I assume is a young rattlesnake. It’s small, maybe 6 inches or so, and it looks like it has a button at the end of its tail.
My real dilemma when I spot one is whether or not to stop and risk getting hit by another vehicle. At any rate, I’m definitely in a hurry to get a photo and get back up to speed.
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Flashy Coreid
January 31, 2010 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Despite their common name of leaf-footed bugs, not all coreids have flattened hind tibiae. Â This flashy specimen instead has rather impressive hind femurs.
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