Found within the family Berytidae, the Stilt Bugs seem to me to be quite the intimidating predator. Eat your heart out H.G. Wells.
Thanks for stopping by…
OZB
From the Garden – Stilt Bug
Tag: macro photography
From the Garden – Katydids
Oh tell me where did Katy live,
And what did Katy do?
And was she very fair and young,
And yet so wicked, too?
Did Katy love a naughty man,
Or kiss more cheeks than one?
I warrant Katy did no more
Than many a Kate has done.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes-
Thanks for the visit…
OZB
One Fascinating Beetle – Orange Blister Beetle
How fascinating a beetle. Did you know this group of beetles begin their lives as kleptoparasites – stealing food from the the nests of solitary bees? As adults these beetles are primarily nectar and pollen feeders and use the specialized mouth parts visible in this photograph to collect their food – primarily from the flowers of Asteraceae. If that were not enough, these guys get their names from a defensive chemical they produce called cantharidin which can produce severe chemical burns and blisters when sprayed on skin and severe poisoning if ingested. This chemical has proven an effective treatment against diseases such as cancers and leishmaniasis. This guy was found at Shaw Nature Reserve.
Thanks for visiting.
OZB
From the Garden – Jumping Spiders
I’ve always loved jumping spiders. It is hard not to assume a higher level of intelligence as these guys follow every movement you make and will turn to face the camera, your finger or your face in order to keep an eye on you. They are tremendous predators and loaded with all sorts of great behaviors, including elaborate dances in order to attract mates. I have found a few species in the backyard but they all are tricky in getting a usable photograph.
See you next time.
OZB
From the Garden – Minute Pirate Bug
Today’s “From the Garden” spotlight is on another insidious predator, the Minute Pirate Bugs, or Flower Bugs. These true bugs, classified within the Family Anthocoridae, specialize in piercing and sucking the contents of any soft-bodied insects that are roughly their own size or smaller. These prey insects, such as thrips, aphids, caterpillars and their eggs, are important insect pests. I believe the insect pictured in this post falls within the genus Orius.
From the Garden – The Planthoppers and Leafhoppers
Planthoppers and Leafhoppers are groups of insects collectively found within the insect Order Hemiptera. Both groups have piercing and sucking mouth parts and feed primarily on plant saps and tissues. These groups are highly diverse. I have been able to capture a few of these fascinating creatures with the camera in the backyard, but these are generally the more common species. The insect pictured above is known as a Spittlebug – named for the behavior of encasing themselves as nymphs in a spittle-like mucous for protection.
I’ve said before that there is no such thing as an original idea in fantasy or sci fi. I’ve found that almost every creature or effect you can find to celebrate in these films or books has been taken (consciously or not) from nature, most often from invertebrates or the deep sea.
This ultra-tiny guy posted above is a planthopper nymph. Often members of this group will have long, colorful waxy lengths of fibers extruding from their tail ends that are used for multiple purposes, including predator avoidance.
Many folks who have spent any time in the backyard have surely seen the Candy-striped Leafhoppers, one of the most abundant species in this group. Gorgeously colored and quick to disappear, the two pictured above are busy making more.
I look forward to sharing more photos of members of these groups in the near future.
OZB
email: handsomeozarkbillyboy@gmail.com
From the Garden – Nectar Robbers Clash
Ants and most flies that are abundant around my milkweed are nectar robbers – providing no pollination services for the plant. I do see flies from time to time that might carry a pollinia, and sometimes a lightweight like the housefly pictured above will get a leg or two stuck and be unable to free itself. That’s what these ants are waiting for. Here we see the ants beginning to dissect their prey while it struggles to free itself.
The Flies
The beetles (order Coleoptera) are famous for being the most diverse group of animals on the planet. The flies, however, are not too far behind and many people are surprised to hear how many forms and places flies can be found. I have been able to find and photograph a few of these forms in my own backyard and will share them here. I photographed this carrion fly (Calliphoridae) hanging out on my rosinweed.
From the Backyard – Tiny Tim
I named this guy “Tiny Tim” due to the fact that he lost one of his main jumping legs long before his final instar. Poor fellow.
OZB
email: handsomeozarkbillyboy@gmail.com
“Damsel” by Name Only…
I imagine the conversation may have went something like this…
Aphid (with a cockney accent, of course): “Oh, hello, who are you then?”
Damsel: “Name’s Damsel…”
“Oh, that’s a lovely name. My name is Aphid.”
“No, I think I’ll call you ‘Sugar Bag.’ “
“Sugar Bag? Now that doesn’t sound Aghhh!…”
😉
I caught a glimpse of this guy early one morning patrolling around the surfaces of my rosinweed and decided to watch. I didn’t wait long to observe the hunt. This bug is definitely in the family Nabidae, and I am going to call this one the common damsel bug, Nabis americoferus, due to it matching a few photos and the fact that this is considered to be the one of the most common hemipterans in the United States.
I have read that these guys overwinter as adults and have a wide selection in the prey they choose. It seems that if it is smaller than they are, or close in size at least, they will poke it and suck out their hemolymph. Like I said, “damsel” in name only…
Thanks for visiting!
OZB
email: handsomeozarkbillyboy@gmail.com
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 