Move over, baby Yoda!
Feb 1, 2020 18:22:47 #
More pictures from last summer. We are now getting into July.
First up is a male blue-fronted dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis). Dancers tend to be larger than bluet damselflies, so the strong blue color of this species really stands out against the verdant colors of a forest trail.
Blue-fronted dancer damselfly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Next is a neat little moth. This is Epicallema argenticinctella (what a convoluted name!) It is a member of the ‘concealer moth’ family, where larvae stay hidden in leaf rolls or in woven bundles of plant debris. I like the ‘wig’.
One of the 'concealer moths' by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The little butterfly in the next picture is the banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus).
Banded hairstreak butterfly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Seeing insect behavior is always of special interest. Here is a small robber fly (Dioctria hyalipennis) that has done well to capture a snipe fly (Rhagio hirtus).
Robber fly with snipe fly prey by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
I had recently shown pictures of a pygmy grasshopper. These very small grasshoppers can be rather variable in their colors, which makes it challenging to identify them. I think this is the same species that I had shown before (Tetrix arenosa) even though it looks fairly different. They were pretty common along a particular river bank, and that brings me to the last subject.
Pygmy grasshopper by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Move over, baby Yoda! Hopping among the plants of the same river bank were dozens of these very small and very adorable insects. This is a pygmy mole cricket (Ellipes minuta). Pygmy mole crickets are a taxonomic surprise since they are not mole crickets at all, and even more (I hope you are sitting down) they are actually classified as grasshoppers! The reasons for this include the number of segments in their antennae, the anatomy of the ovipositor in females, and I don’t know what else.
Pygmy mole cricket by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Pygmy mole cricket by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
A feature that I would like to see are their hind tibia, since they will have distinctly enlarged spurs on them. The spurs are described as being used to help them hop on water.
First up is a male blue-fronted dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis). Dancers tend to be larger than bluet damselflies, so the strong blue color of this species really stands out against the verdant colors of a forest trail.
Blue-fronted dancer damselfly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrNext is a neat little moth. This is Epicallema argenticinctella (what a convoluted name!) It is a member of the ‘concealer moth’ family, where larvae stay hidden in leaf rolls or in woven bundles of plant debris. I like the ‘wig’.
One of the 'concealer moths' by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe little butterfly in the next picture is the banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus).
Banded hairstreak butterfly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrSeeing insect behavior is always of special interest. Here is a small robber fly (Dioctria hyalipennis) that has done well to capture a snipe fly (Rhagio hirtus).
Robber fly with snipe fly prey by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrI had recently shown pictures of a pygmy grasshopper. These very small grasshoppers can be rather variable in their colors, which makes it challenging to identify them. I think this is the same species that I had shown before (Tetrix arenosa) even though it looks fairly different. They were pretty common along a particular river bank, and that brings me to the last subject.
Pygmy grasshopper by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrMove over, baby Yoda! Hopping among the plants of the same river bank were dozens of these very small and very adorable insects. This is a pygmy mole cricket (Ellipes minuta). Pygmy mole crickets are a taxonomic surprise since they are not mole crickets at all, and even more (I hope you are sitting down) they are actually classified as grasshoppers! The reasons for this include the number of segments in their antennae, the anatomy of the ovipositor in females, and I don’t know what else.
Pygmy mole cricket by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrPygmy mole cricket by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrA feature that I would like to see are their hind tibia, since they will have distinctly enlarged spurs on them. The spurs are described as being used to help them hop on water.
Feb 1, 2020 19:38:01 #
Feb 1, 2020 19:47:23 #
Feb 1, 2020 23:33:08 #
Feb 2, 2020 02:32:57 #
Well done, an interesting variety of little creatures, I like the last image best.
Feb 2, 2020 07:40:36 #
Feb 2, 2020 09:24:25 #
Excellent quality series. I love the pretty ones 1-3 but all are well done!
Feb 2, 2020 10:40:29 #
Feb 2, 2020 10:54:14 #
Absolutely stunning images and narratives. A treat for both the eyes and the mind.
Feb 2, 2020 11:01:30 #
Feb 2, 2020 14:15:55 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
More pictures from last summer. We are now getting... (show quote)
These are special. Thanks for reminding me of the intricate beauty and intrigue that we take for granted.
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