happy holidays and all that jazz…

hope that you and yours are having a good time, one and all!

aw, crap…

described as “the ultimate in recycling” by Thomas Eisner, fecal shields are probably the most unique method of insect self defense - used by beetles family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as leaf beetles.

I found this larva with a particularly ornate example feeding on some type of morning glory back in August 

For more information and examples see here, and here

best photos of 2008

Inspired by Alex Wild’s post of his best images of 2008, I thought I’d throw together a few of my own

Callopistromyia annulipes, Oxford Ohio

 Cicindela lepida, Assateague Island Nat’l Seashore

Zeugomantispa minuta, Virginia

Mosquito (and me), Virginia

Tortoise beetle larva with fecal shield, Virginia