I haven't been taking many pictures the last couple of weeks, (and today it's pouring rain), but here's a photo I took on Christmas Eve three years ago, of a single green lacewing egg in my garden. Think of it as a wrapped present with a bug in it. 🎁🌿🐙📷 #bugsky

Today I have something really special for you guys! Not too far from the caiman I posted recently, I found something MIND BLOWING This is a butterfly pupa, and it mimics the head of a snake. And not just any snake, but specifically the head of a boa snake!!! Probably Opsiphanes, an owlet butterfly.

A pair of leaf-mimicking katydids (Typophyllum mortuifolium) from Ecuador displaying mate guarding to ensure paternity. Sometimes females carry *two* males simultaneously. Regardless of how we interpret this, I think we can all appreciate the physical and emotional labor the female is doing 🤗

Finally got some photos of Australia’s “blue ant”, Diamma bicolor, which is not an ant at all but a shockingly large metallic blue thynnid wasp, wingless and solitary, that hunts mole crickets. Been meaning to shoot this thing for years.

Our neighbor for this week is 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢, commonly known as the six-spotted zigzag ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). A highly common and ecologically beneficial beetle, it is found across the city's gardens, agricultural fields, and urban parks.

that time of the year when this little species (Habronattus ustulatus) becomes active found this little male yesterday in eastern San Diego County, In-Ko-Pah County park, perched on little pieces of granite and quartz along wash edges

my modest collection of flies with WIDE heads 🙇 a hammer-headed Richardia (Ecuador), a stalk-eyed Chaetodiopsis (Mozambique), a pointy-eyed Ophthalmoptera (Colombia), and an antlered Richardia (Colombia) why though? male-male competition? sexual selection? chime-in if you know!

New Ant Lab video today about pincer wasps and a new research project. This one has some really cool, newly-filmed insect behavior in it! youtu.be/9osTBzQ0zbk

It is true that when your eyes are focused on the vegetation and on the ground trying to find hidden arthropods, you tend to miss some of the larger animals. Here is a juvenile Schneider's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) that we almost missed while crossing a small stream. What a lovely beast!

Day 20 of #InsectAdvent Nearly there, eyes on the prize of Christmas Day. Talking of eyes, some of the best eyed creatures are stalk-eyed flies including Plagoiocephalus latifrons (image @bertonemyia.bsky.social) we saw in Costa Rica @royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social

Oh, just a couple cute little ladybugs with blue eyes 🥰 #Coccinellidae: #Hyperaspsis bigeminata North Carolina, USA

We are continuing our virtual hike along my favorite trail at Emerald Arch in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Oh, what's this? A wizened dry leaf?.. (see what I did there) No, it's a dead leaf mantis (Acanthops falcata)!

Oh good morning! Here's a brand new one from my studio, for your Thursday enjoyment. Need a last minute holiday gift? I can help with that. Check out my 2026 UV Floral Calendar - it's a stunner, guaranteed to impress. www.rainhayes.com/product/2026... #flowers #photography 𝑂𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑚

Amazon tree boa (Corallus hortulana), an arboreal snake with many beautiful color morphs. This is one of the subtle morphs but I think it is stunning! Something about the ghost pattern against the olive background, and those pink and black accents are just... 😙👌 *chef's kiss* Photographed in ecuador

A handsome suit of armor on this female Nemotelus (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Dendroblatta sobrina, a beautiful cockroach found in rainforests across northern Latin America. At night these stunning roaches can be found foraging on bark of mature trees, usually in small groups containing adults and nymphs. They are hypervigilant and sprint up the trunk upon any sign of danger.

🫧 ͛.* #invertebrates

This monkey slug caterpillar (Phobetron sp.) from Ecuador has evolved to look like a discarded tarantula molt. This one mimics the tarantula Avicularia juruensis (see my previous post) so accurately, down to the pink toes and yellow bands! The hairs cause skin irritation, just like Avicularia hairs.

ENOOOOORMOUS SNAIL!? 🤯🐌 PLEASE meet the Giant Amazon Land Snail (Megalobulimus popelairianus)! 🧡 These guys are the HEAVIEST terrestrial land snail and are just an all-round extraordinary critter! It was an absolute HONOUR bumping into this one on the beautiful paths of Maquipucuna’s forest! 🌳✨

More than meets the eye

Curiosity and attention are behaviors that allow us to disengage from the rapid-fire chaos cycle and stay grounded. Medium and subject are not really important. Find something interesting and let it take over your mind for a bit. Enjoy the refreshment! 🌿 𝑁𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑓 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑘𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑑 #flowers #photography

Amazonian pinktoe (Avicularia juruensis) is by far the most common tarantula species at Emerald Arch. We encountered them on trees, on the path, in man-made habitats, I even had one living on the wall right above my bed! Beautiful and gentle creatures, it's easy to forget they are vicious predators.

MEET MR. MOSSY WEEVIL! 😍👋 This is the most ADORABLE little beetle strutting its mossy stuff around the Amazon! 🌳 LOOK at those adorable little antennas! 🥹💚 Measuring in at one centimetre long, I believe it is in the genus Ulocerus and it is another little GEM found at Manu Biological Station! 🪲💎

in retrospect Termite Greg may not have been the best one to take the group holiday photo

Acorn Knight

Oh, you're tired after taking care of your one kid for the entire day?

Beautiful pattern on this longhorn beetle

It's always nice to see the Lilac-breasted Roller in action, as we did in South Africa in August. This species and the Sunbittern are the two birds that I will constantly be trying to improve upon when it comes to flight shots.

No filter, woke up like this

The bulky Brontostoma basalis from Ecuador - incredibly strong and its venom packs a punch! When I took it out of the vial it immediately grabbed my finger and bit it. Was it painful? Yes, for a hot minute. But as always with assassin bugs it is more the speed of action that surprises me the most.

This grasshopper has all the angles. (Found at night in Colombia a couple of years ago) #bugsky 🌿🐙

When they are small they look like little pancakes, but as they grow they turn into proper manju crabs. 🦀🦀

A beautiful Amazon broad-headed wood lizard (Enyalioides laticeps) that we encountered on multiple occasions while night hiking at Emerald Arch. This fast-moving diurnal lizard was so relaxed in our presence that I almost booped its nose while using the Kuangren K150 wide angle macro lens.

Day 10 of #InsectAdvent & the Christmas flirting has ramped up This male Robberfly, Pegesimallus teratodes, has striking, feather-like scales on its hind legs, likely used for female attraction during courtship. (& cleaning the dance floor) @royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social

#ElkeDagEenInsect Een hoornaarvlinder heeft als hobby mimicry, dan lijkt hij sterk op een andere soort om met rust gelaten te worden. @aglaia.bsky.social

The peacock katydid (Pterochroza ocellata) is a leaf-mimicking katydid with a huge variability of wing colors and shapes, which makes it difficult for predators to recognize it. But if camouflage fails, the katydid can flash its colorful eyespots at predators before disappearing in the leaf litter.

Some native bees of Brazil 🐝

Day 10 of #InsectAdvent & we are wrapping the presents What about this bling covering - The genus Formosia (Tachinidae) have some of the most striking bodies. Its not for showing off but to hide in the mottled forest light (hiding as we do under a tree) their 'presence' @royentsoc.bsky.social

Like a moss 💚🌱Swipe to see the species and check if you’ve find them all! 💚

I just know that many of you saw yesterday's yearbook preview and thought, "I wish I could see that spider up close!" Here's a better view of the mama Huntsman guarding her egg sac, as well as another female Huntsman doing the same. Do you see the newly-hatched baby just below Mom #2?

I'll break up the stream of parrot mushrooms with another favorite of mine, the cat's tongue fungus! 📷 Canon 5D Mk III Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM M, f/4, 1/25, ISO 800 Stack of 19 images 10/17/21 Northern Oregon Coast #mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms 🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄‍🟫

A few months ago I shared this beautiful and mysterious hawkmoth caterpillar from the Amazon, and it seems that now more than ever we are finally close to revealing its ID thanks to @gwentomologist.bsky.social, who decided to rear it to adulthood. I highly recommend following this story on IG!

An adult female Northern Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis) from Starr County, Texas, USA.

A thread with beautiful photos of aquatic invertebrates. Look at this cute mite!

The amazing journey of a parasitic fungus: An ant infected with Ophiocordyceps australis got covered by leaves. The fungus stalk started probing for a way to the surface. After making contact with 2 leaves it eventually punched through a third leaf and produced a fruiting body for releasing spores.

You know there's deep meaning and symbolism in a winter-blooming flower called Lenten Rose. Anxiety, delirium, scandal... but also hope in darkness. Wishing everyone a strong and peaceful week. #flowers #photography

Precious bebe crab

Candicarina sp. Cooler evenings last week meant fewer large moths visiting our Perth Hills moth light, which in turn allowed some smaller #inverts to settle. Like this very small (~5mm in length) planthopper which is endemic to Australia. #ausinverts #wildoz #Hemiptera #planthopper #inaturalist

I found a tiny octopus on the tide pool🐙✨️ Small as it is, it’s every bit an octopus ... and absolutely adorable!! It even shoots ink🫧 ͛.*

One of my favorite local planthoppers, Dictyonissus griphus. Such distinctive wing venation.