Bees of London

In London there's a liquor store that should be selling honey. Jeany spotted this bee hive as we walked to Brick Lane for dinner a couple nights ago. I don't think I've ever seen a wild hive like this in my life, and the last place I would think to look would be the side of this building. It was a heartening sight, considering all the concern over Colony Collapse Disorder and the widespread disappearance of honey bees worldwide.

Your Annual Cicada Post

The song of the majestic Cicada is one of the ever present features of summer, and nowhere does it feel more appropriate than in the thick of record breaking heat.
This summer looks like it will be the hottest one ever in Austin, TX. And during one of our 100+ degree days I came across this little fellow singing his song closer to the ground than usual.

I've documented my love for cicadas in other posts filed from all over the country, most notably here and also here. Next year I hope to take my obsession one step further, by asking you, my loyal readers, to donate dead cicadas they find to my ever expanding taxidermied insect collection. But this summer's cicada season has passed, and all we have left are this beautiful memories.

The Eastern Dobsonfly

This is another gem from my last visit to Massachusetts. The female Eastern Dobsonfly has mandibles that can draw blood from a human. [The males' mandibles, much bigger for reproductive purposes, don't have proper leverage to cut human flesh.] These insects can grow to be over five inches long and, just to make them more endearing, they can emit a foul smelling spray from their anus as a defense tactic. My sister saw this one on the wall of our local post office. That's Jeany's hand in the picture, and our town library between her thumb and pointer finger.

Another Mantid

The last Mantis picture I shared with you was from a hiking trip I did with Sasha Carter to Ink's Lake. But I didn't have to go hiking to catch this fella. He was waiting for me by my front door when I got back from a jog. The previous Mantis was also gray in color where as this one is the more common green. Is he a Chinese Mantis (introduced to American in the late 1800s to control pests) or a Narrow Winged mantis? The Chinese Mantis is more common in the North East, so this might be a Narrow Winged. Any Guesses?

The First Bee of Spring

I haven't seen another one since I encountered this fellow in a garden shop a few weeks ago. He appeared to be very hungry, almost gluttonous.

Then One Day

Jeany found a strange looking bug in our apartment. Sadly, she killed it because it was "gross." I hadn't seen a bug in months, and I knew that even though the bug was dead, Spring was on its way.

There is (gross) life underground

I have mentioned that creatures are harder to come by in the winter months. My first solution was to LOOK TO THE TREES for winged wildlife that stays in the frozen north year round. But there is another way. A tenacious naturalist may want to do a little digging to find new animal friends UNDERGROUND. As you can see from this picture there are some disgusting forms of insect wildlife that live out their tortured and corrupt existence year round underneath logs and stones. Even in the coldest of January weather I came across this slimy little millipede. He was only about an inch long, nothing like the UNGODLY MONSTER PEDE I found in Texas, but he still gets points for being gross and toughing it out through the cold!

Chicken Fight!

The life of the dragon fly is a good one. You laze around by the creek flying and dipping into the water. Every now and again they take part in organized games like this "chicken fight" in which different bugs try to knock each other off the backs of other bugs. Ahhh the days of summer.

Cicada Husk

The majestic cicada can live for years under ground eating tree roots. Eventually it emerges and hatches out of its larval skin. Click to enlarge this picture of a cicada skin I took back in Texas. Also, I wonder why this tree is half robot.

Ants on Bread

Have you ever really thought about what an incredible creature the ant is? No? Well, I suggest you start.

A Weaker Pede!

Let me take you back to a simpler era in a place called "Central Texas." Long time viewers will remember that I once took a trip to Big Bend National Park in West Texas. There I encountered the worlds BIGGEST PEDES! Here is a picture of a far weaker pede taken in Lost Pines Central Texas. It is weaker, but a large one nonetheless. It is my hope that these photos will add to our understanding of Millipedes and their ways. One thing I think it has already proven is that they are far less creepy than Centipedes!

Red Apple Yellow Jacket

These Yellow Jackets are really painful monsters. But this shot brings with it all the colors of Autumn. Happy Halloween Weekend!

A Monarch Getting a Late Start

See you in Mexico little fella!

My Favorite

Three photos are simply not enough to celebrate a my favorite insect, THE MAJESTIC CICADA! Here is a link to a photo album of me with my little buddy.

Super CUTE!

This was the cutest little buggy I had seen in ages. I've sent 1000 of these things to one lucky viewer. They're great to play with, just watch out for their painful sting!

Cactus Bugs

Are these bugs delicious? I wouldn't be surprised.

Wonderland

"So, you would like to find the way back home again?" He said, his eyes shooting off at strange angles as he monitored our lily pad for hungry toads. "I'm not sure I can help you, but there is a mischievious old crone who lives beyond the swamps. She might know the way."

The Power of Camoflage Part II

This Moth has a secret weapon against predators. He is comoflaged to look like something that most animals would not want to eat. I think it would take a pretty twisted bird to give him a taste.

Mellow Yellow

After our BatFest fiasco I thought it would do us some good to reflect on all the beautiful things nature has to offer. This "Thirsty Butterdude" was one of the most relaxed new buddies I have ever met. I almost took him home with me, but he needed his freedom. Anybody familiar with this type of butterfly? If you're not, I encourage you to MAKE SOMETHING UP! Also what do you think of the "slide show" feature? It allows me to fit more pictures in but is it distracting? If you click on it you can see a still image of each picture.

A Memorable Tent

Here Tom investigates the tent caterpillar, scourge of the homeowner. I remember my father sticking a rag doused with gasoline on a pole, and with this make-shift torch doing battle with the tents all across our rural estate in Western Massachusetts. The New England variety grew large, colorful and fierce. The Texas strain seems a bit skimpier in size and less decorative. The colonies of both types, however, can engulf an entire tree if left unchecked. To this day I have no idea what they look like in moth form, if indeed they ever see fit to grow wings.