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WilliamFisherPhotography

Small Wonders

Insects and spiders (+ some other critters) close up
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Ventral view of a predatory larva of a lacewing showing "trash" it has piled on it's back to protect itself from predators and parasitoids.
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Ventral view of a predatory larva of a lacewing showing "trash" it has piled on it's back to protect itself from predators and parasitoids.

ChrysopidaeNeuropteradebrisgreen lacewinglarvatrash bugventral view

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  • Larva preparing for pupation. This larva is a bird-dropping mimic and does not appear to predators as a food source. This genus contains three very closely related species that are nearly identical and the larvae look just as unappetizing as this one: the viceory, white admiral, and the red-spotted purple.
  • Immature bugs forming a protective cluster on a leaf. Note how each individual is oriented away from the group's center and in a slightly different direction around the perimeter. This ensures that there are at least "one pair of eyes" and antennae facing all directions to sense danger (eg spiders or other predators). When danger is detected by one, the others are immediately notified and will scurry away, often to the underside of the leaf. In insects, alarms may be relayed by chemicals, physical movement, vision, contact with each other. In addition, a tight-knit group appears to a predator to be more dangerous (eg larger) prey than a single individual. Thus, group behavior for this species provides more fitness than an isolated insect.
  • A paper wasp constructing a nest. This queen uses masticated wood fibers and salivary secretions to make the nest. Note the egg already deposited in the upper cell. The cells remain open for the duration of the larval stage so the queen can feed the larvae. Prior to pupation the queen covers the openings. The offspring from this queen will be sterile and help tend additional larvae produced by the queen. This image was featured on the cover of the winter 2008 edition of American Entomologist published by the Entomological Society of America.
  • likely id
  • Ventral view of a predatory larva of a lacewing showing "trash" it has piled on it's back to protect itself from predators and parasitoids.
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  • Note the piercing mouthparts embedded into the leaf's main vein, which anchors the insect and allows the next stage to more easily shed it's old skin
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  • view from behind the thorax
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  • Male spicebush flower about 3 mm in diameter
  • Pollen from male spicebush shrub
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