Some are beautiful, others are maybe not
Jan 19, 2019 15:06:22 #
I continue with pictures taken over the summer. It is still July according to what is on the camera roll.
The first picture shows a debris-carrying lacewing larva. Lacewing larvae are predators of small arthropods, and the best known of these are ‘aphid lions’, since these are stalkers of aphid colonies. But other species are more of a free-lance sort. This one was wandering down a tree trunk in a forest, and in this picture you can see the head with long scimitar-like jaws for piercing prey. The large pile of debris that it is carrying is for concealment and protection from its own enemies like ants. Not sure what the debris is, but perhaps it's the wooly stuff made by some plant galls. I do not know the ID, but according to BugGuide it is probably one of the many species of green lacewings. So family Chrysopidae. I had to use the Raynox 150 on my lens to boost magnification on this picture, and even so it is heavily cropped.
Debris-carrying lacewing larva by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Next is a cellar spider with a meal. Cellar spiders will frequently return to old prey to eak out a meager living, and will even accept dead and dried prey. BugGuide explains that the most likely cellar spiders to be encountered in the U.S. are one of the three introduced species. This seems to be Pholcus phalangoides. The white patch on the abdomen is the cover for one of her respiratory openings. Spiders breathe through a pair of ‘book lungs’, which are stacks of thin respiratory membranes in chambers in the abdomen Similar to fish gills.
Cellar spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
At the shore of a lake I came across a giant swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) that was ‘puddling’ on the wet sand to get nutrients like salt and amino acids. This was a nice surprise since these very large but common butterflies seem to always be flying non-stop. ALL of my other pictures of them are rather blurry as I have never quite figured out how to freeze motion with shutter speed and/or flash.
Giant swallowtail butterfly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Finally, a few feet away from the giant swallowtail was this perfect red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis). The colors really pop with the camera flash! I am beginning to think that this species is one of the most beautiful of our butterflies.
Red-spotted purple butterfly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The first picture shows a debris-carrying lacewing larva. Lacewing larvae are predators of small arthropods, and the best known of these are ‘aphid lions’, since these are stalkers of aphid colonies. But other species are more of a free-lance sort. This one was wandering down a tree trunk in a forest, and in this picture you can see the head with long scimitar-like jaws for piercing prey. The large pile of debris that it is carrying is for concealment and protection from its own enemies like ants. Not sure what the debris is, but perhaps it's the wooly stuff made by some plant galls. I do not know the ID, but according to BugGuide it is probably one of the many species of green lacewings. So family Chrysopidae. I had to use the Raynox 150 on my lens to boost magnification on this picture, and even so it is heavily cropped.
Debris-carrying lacewing larva by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrNext is a cellar spider with a meal. Cellar spiders will frequently return to old prey to eak out a meager living, and will even accept dead and dried prey. BugGuide explains that the most likely cellar spiders to be encountered in the U.S. are one of the three introduced species. This seems to be Pholcus phalangoides. The white patch on the abdomen is the cover for one of her respiratory openings. Spiders breathe through a pair of ‘book lungs’, which are stacks of thin respiratory membranes in chambers in the abdomen Similar to fish gills.
Cellar spider by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrAt the shore of a lake I came across a giant swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) that was ‘puddling’ on the wet sand to get nutrients like salt and amino acids. This was a nice surprise since these very large but common butterflies seem to always be flying non-stop. ALL of my other pictures of them are rather blurry as I have never quite figured out how to freeze motion with shutter speed and/or flash.
Giant swallowtail butterfly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrFinally, a few feet away from the giant swallowtail was this perfect red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis). The colors really pop with the camera flash! I am beginning to think that this species is one of the most beautiful of our butterflies.
Red-spotted purple butterfly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrJan 19, 2019 15:45:30 #
Jan 19, 2019 15:55:38 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
I continue with pictures taken over the summer. It... (show quote)
The lacewing Doo looks like a chubby blond's afro I saw at a Ramones concert.
Agree with beauty of the Purple. The Giant swallowtail. I have never seen one closer than 15-20 feet and going like hell. Nice shot.
Bill
Jan 19, 2019 17:07:57 #
Jan 19, 2019 20:56:19 #
Jan 20, 2019 09:05:48 #
Jan 20, 2019 09:31:51 #
A fantastic set as always Mark. great lighting and detail. Well done my friend.
-Doc
-Doc
Jan 20, 2019 09:46:51 #
You never fail to produce interesting posts with good images, so well done again.
Jan 20, 2019 12:00:21 #
Jan 20, 2019 16:21:19 #
Jan 21, 2019 14:38:49 #
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