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fisherwr2 > Head of a horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae)
fisherwr2 > Head of the leafhopper, Scaphytopius elegans (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)
fisherwr2 > Member of the moth order (Lepidoptera) that resembles a bird dropping. This protects the moth from predators that preceive it as an inanimate object, and not something to eat. The resemblance is uncanny - real droppings have a darker solid end while the opposite end tends to be white and more of a liquid. The fine white hairs at the anterior end of the moth represent this liquid perfectly. It's important that the moth remain motionless while sitting on a substrate, or it will blow the disguise. Other insects use this protective technique as well (eg see the image of Limenitis sp. in this gallery)
fisherwr2 > Redbud leaffolder larva, Fascista cercerisella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on a redbud leaf. The larva made an enclosure in which to live by folding the leaf in half (I pulled the enclosure apart to take the picture). Folding begins as the larva spins silk bundles at the base of the leaf to draw the two sides together. Each of these bundles consists of hundreds or thousands of individual silk threads making them very strong and securely attached to the leaf surface. To complete closing the structure, the larva spins smaller silk bundles along the perimeter of the leaf (top of image) to "seal up" the structure. Inside, protected from predators and adverse weather, the larva feeds on the softer leaf tissue while leaving many of the veins uneaten. The remaining vein complex gives the appearance that the leaf has been "skeletonized". If the leaf enclosure is opened, the striking black and white larva (top, center) writhes around so quickly and violently that it would scare most predators away (I know it startled me!)
fisherwr2 > Ventral view of an adult long-legged fly (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) showing huge eyes, mouth parts, and antennae. Many of these flies are a beautiful metallic blue and green color. The one in this image is about 7 mm in length
fisherwr2 > Ventral view of a scarab beetle showing the lamellate or plate-like antenna, and the compound eye. The white particles on the eye are grains of pollen. Pollen was found on all parts of the insect.
fisherwr2 > Anterior end of a clownlike leafhopper, Graphocephala versuta (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Length of insect is about 5 mm.
fisherwr2 > Larva of the polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on the stem of a sycamore leaf showing the fleshy prolegs.
fisherwr2 > Imperial moth larva, Eacles imperialis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) feeding on oak leaf
Head of a horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae)
fisherwr2 > Head of a horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae)
Head of a horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae)
See photo in original gallery.
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