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WilliamFisherPhotography

Small Wonders

Insects and spiders (+ some other critters) close up
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  • Antenna detail of an adult carrion beetle. The adults and larvae feed on decaying flesh. This species can be used by forensics entomologists to help determine the time of death of an individual. The age of the larvae at the time the body is found plus the temperature for previous days can be used to determine how long the larve have been the body, and thus the approximate time of death. check
  • Redbud leaffolder larva 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!). check
  • Bagworm moth larva (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) from previous image, showing the larva feeding on the leaf while enjoying full protection from the bag it prepared of silk and leaves (the entire structure to the right of the larva's head). The bag is attached to the leaf with silk but can easily be moved as the larva crawls to another location. If the larva detects danger it immediately disappears into the bag and closes the top. check
  • Bagworm moth larva on an ornamental bush. The larva prepared the bag out of silk and bits of leaf that it feeds on. The worm inside the case is secured on the lower surface of a leaf by silk and pokes its head out to feed and continually renew the case, creating the holes in the leaf seen here. This species takes full advantage of the resources available to it - for nutrition and protection against enemies. There is a small hole in the bottom of the case to allow frass (excrement) to fall out so it doesn't foul the larva's home. check
  • Moth 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. check
  • Mouth parts of a horsefly. Note the flat, amber, blade-like structures (upper right) that are used like scissors to penetrate and cut the skin to produce a pool of blood. The blood is then brought into the insect via the small parallel capillary channels located on the large yellow structure. The bite of a horsefly is usually more painful than a mosquito because more extensive skin damage is created by the fly compared to the more simple puncture of the small round mouthparts of a mosquito
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  • Note the fine spines on the legs that assist this insect in capturing and holding prey while in flight. check
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  • Male glow-worm with short, pointed elytra (hard shell that beetles have) and the incredible antennae. Females are luminescent like fireflies and are often wingless.
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  • Front leg of a mole cricket highly modified for digging in the soil. check
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  • Ventro-lateral view of a mole cricket showing the head with various palps and the massive front legs for digging. check
  • Treehopper
  • Egg of a lacewing laid at the end of a stalk that supports it off the surface of the leaf. This help protect the egg against predators looking for a meal. check
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