tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61310882673924503622024-02-19T23:44:28.296-05:00the pace of natureAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-4636821850687262192017-03-26T07:38:00.000-04:002017-03-26T07:38:18.923-04:002016<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQJ8JvUIkTHIW8Pl2mrd5cMEyBnWYs5FMWRuo1bEuOsoOcnXHspxvIIGe0KL0-tvTukWSBEqvXb-llup30xPkzORN-7haMo1XNJdgryJDW2Nm2b6C8vCRqAZFSVjKBrgaNCtEzWp0oB-y/s1600/DSC_0196-3-Edit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQJ8JvUIkTHIW8Pl2mrd5cMEyBnWYs5FMWRuo1bEuOsoOcnXHspxvIIGe0KL0-tvTukWSBEqvXb-llup30xPkzORN-7haMo1XNJdgryJDW2Nm2b6C8vCRqAZFSVjKBrgaNCtEzWp0oB-y/s640/DSC_0196-3-Edit-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chorus Cicada, <i>Amphipsalta zelandica, </i>Ngaruawahia NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dgTyp2NN9spBOz7LZ7syiMSZ43OzBlBhUis-VUScd6E4bCyczAqGILxGdcaVx37N8z6UjwmY6oMWfeVQPNY4LvwB6L2tlPqk07cOe8KuQF8Z-hm9_cXyUIDXmOFx9JiJ-7Ltl-M-_LWR/s1600/DSC_0413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dgTyp2NN9spBOz7LZ7syiMSZ43OzBlBhUis-VUScd6E4bCyczAqGILxGdcaVx37N8z6UjwmY6oMWfeVQPNY4LvwB6L2tlPqk07cOe8KuQF8Z-hm9_cXyUIDXmOFx9JiJ-7Ltl-M-_LWR/s640/DSC_0413.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly Stick Insect, Ngaruawahia NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhDZs-GechMyKnOlqY_FDlfd9hMWfvgoDWGYTS55t0uftxFXNDwH-M0plUJr5Ti13Xl1i661ajba4jK3f_ARavB03ELakh818C7B2bWpBw0JpgqlNGhNMykmF73thw14D93lz0KLB2CoP/s1600/DSC_0290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhDZs-GechMyKnOlqY_FDlfd9hMWfvgoDWGYTS55t0uftxFXNDwH-M0plUJr5Ti13Xl1i661ajba4jK3f_ARavB03ELakh818C7B2bWpBw0JpgqlNGhNMykmF73thw14D93lz0KLB2CoP/s640/DSC_0290.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fireflies, Maryland USA</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82oEDA3OpuJS5hX6yVC3Dw0hPISVeLVbUoWdLKW0pmU1ok9YI5Th0pSCdCjKdh-EWWdClYJFHWNKhwjOq1I0J-z3QPtsKIVA021n4HYyjZxCjI9FsPYXMpu7SUG19_IZHoyAuvi7IhnSh/s1600/DSC_0955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82oEDA3OpuJS5hX6yVC3Dw0hPISVeLVbUoWdLKW0pmU1ok9YI5Th0pSCdCjKdh-EWWdClYJFHWNKhwjOq1I0J-z3QPtsKIVA021n4HYyjZxCjI9FsPYXMpu7SUG19_IZHoyAuvi7IhnSh/s640/DSC_0955.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Sky, Ngaruawahia NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYBOwBEt0-dwags6ZpQaSmHiqktyIGtOkXIDPP6-cCtJF5GPq-ceF7ZJq_H8xLoeVlbDNyEhtDTpXQB8U8NIbugSFVbkAhskoZ3a93NpVrw16tePjlMPWq2tilURckp7a_EWU4ImQsGuB/s1600/20161210-DSC_02443untitled+shoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYBOwBEt0-dwags6ZpQaSmHiqktyIGtOkXIDPP6-cCtJF5GPq-ceF7ZJq_H8xLoeVlbDNyEhtDTpXQB8U8NIbugSFVbkAhskoZ3a93NpVrw16tePjlMPWq2tilURckp7a_EWU4ImQsGuB/s640/20161210-DSC_02443untitled+shoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glowworms, Ngaruawahia NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF6ZZVPMytX0Om8RqQl9edKM8ic3et18bHwHhbSTObIjEBEsaF5enECXn4Emk_1trViZ_QZz1qz-d0LgCYyhmRQn8K3GCRJj3kvm_68jPTa-jIceW6F1iu5gy0TRuLAgjVKqdNqnDyqwB/s1600/DSC_0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF6ZZVPMytX0Om8RqQl9edKM8ic3et18bHwHhbSTObIjEBEsaF5enECXn4Emk_1trViZ_QZz1qz-d0LgCYyhmRQn8K3GCRJj3kvm_68jPTa-jIceW6F1iu5gy0TRuLAgjVKqdNqnDyqwB/s640/DSC_0519.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mothing, Pennsylvania USA</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJFD8ov08RwZhI9Ahi8RvhW805oEvH5gXlDjahIReTSPlojFHa48Q77k3TcPG4DMxTRiLwXNoCPpv1jnrMnLP3Z3h0GEJmeKStj63iyCju6JJEAAEoYFG94Bak43rnwZVovYK8KZiBhyphenhyphenH/s1600/DSC_0635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJFD8ov08RwZhI9Ahi8RvhW805oEvH5gXlDjahIReTSPlojFHa48Q77k3TcPG4DMxTRiLwXNoCPpv1jnrMnLP3Z3h0GEJmeKStj63iyCju6JJEAAEoYFG94Bak43rnwZVovYK8KZiBhyphenhyphenH/s640/DSC_0635.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosy Maple Moth, Pennsylvania USA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5mc6omJMBiQ3Kqv_jwJ7IOA6aWSt04FHd1gL7lDE7orvKskEKBD4bW19aKEoA90bFO64obFwpw_rTYtutbdpb9HP8u7RzQql6-kSBJsXXp7r0WEOi0ZwCGR5KmcRDVZW4cWAxRphyOJo/s1600/DSC_0881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5mc6omJMBiQ3Kqv_jwJ7IOA6aWSt04FHd1gL7lDE7orvKskEKBD4bW19aKEoA90bFO64obFwpw_rTYtutbdpb9HP8u7RzQql6-kSBJsXXp7r0WEOi0ZwCGR5KmcRDVZW4cWAxRphyOJo/s640/DSC_0881.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sawfly Larvae, Pennsylvania USA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2jBZuu9APQzYIInkrxyTUMtlKew5K7lbM1jO3Wtmc5YJytVp_vBrOsR_IpUQaBhKcaCounGuMphF9ai0N-ITBfP7HQZ9oMvV-eHoEK89z1_coUAGyYPh3RaZC2MpQ5tAGuGrOWVmY4nz/s1600/DSC_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2jBZuu9APQzYIInkrxyTUMtlKew5K7lbM1jO3Wtmc5YJytVp_vBrOsR_IpUQaBhKcaCounGuMphF9ai0N-ITBfP7HQZ9oMvV-eHoEK89z1_coUAGyYPh3RaZC2MpQ5tAGuGrOWVmY4nz/s640/DSC_0022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogbane beetle, Pennsylvania USA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5ZGzXGldS-BqTEZ8r4FGzLA-GKLv1zFKjI2Ta9QCM8_49cLzws46STXK57nlkNZsS8CvzkNgf7MHzTEQUTp2FXHyWhTJLBbFeQXJkxwDJFEHVdhwCdDK2zaCw5O35ef0NeIqnaxiGFQq/s1600/IMG_0897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5ZGzXGldS-BqTEZ8r4FGzLA-GKLv1zFKjI2Ta9QCM8_49cLzws46STXK57nlkNZsS8CvzkNgf7MHzTEQUTp2FXHyWhTJLBbFeQXJkxwDJFEHVdhwCdDK2zaCw5O35ef0NeIqnaxiGFQq/s640/IMG_0897.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raglan NZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAjGoFSXJpp08G9W81acNl5xzT1pq_kgxFSlZ7XrTI9rV6t_2RiX0CFuldX-gMq1Isd-RuX4LpgAm-tvffucd8nW27u4irgzC98FGh0thO0URzPBe35MHB27lWnPuKlE0dOOcQg__l_vz/s1600/IMG_1044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAjGoFSXJpp08G9W81acNl5xzT1pq_kgxFSlZ7XrTI9rV6t_2RiX0CFuldX-gMq1Isd-RuX4LpgAm-tvffucd8nW27u4irgzC98FGh0thO0URzPBe35MHB27lWnPuKlE0dOOcQg__l_vz/s640/IMG_1044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taranaki NZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7XGNchrMFqCGlRjJm3AzUWMism5vcjPXYLXu8Gq-8ALdZ8xGX8K2MgIupJaNmYh_rvdQBFjJK0-GayJ0BdPENiwEMnz5z66qFTCbP7yORCGDaUcVcxekD148cXnbAmwv3kfpDTjmq60F/s1600/DSC_0271-Edit-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7XGNchrMFqCGlRjJm3AzUWMism5vcjPXYLXu8Gq-8ALdZ8xGX8K2MgIupJaNmYh_rvdQBFjJK0-GayJ0BdPENiwEMnz5z66qFTCbP7yORCGDaUcVcxekD148cXnbAmwv3kfpDTjmq60F/s640/DSC_0271-Edit-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chironomid, Queensland Australia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-Z7SQi0AjwHuhOR15Fd7SIjlu2hj5iqZmfQRBH6S6kZLk3brR_-wmMJWjaTzRZP_Jo59raiJTnadVbOdiUzfTByTNfFzJYl82Cw5qXjkTUDm7WxydRkd-UbBf6cdFC1Hha-iQVod4_Sl/s1600/DSC_0180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-Z7SQi0AjwHuhOR15Fd7SIjlu2hj5iqZmfQRBH6S6kZLk3brR_-wmMJWjaTzRZP_Jo59raiJTnadVbOdiUzfTByTNfFzJYl82Cw5qXjkTUDm7WxydRkd-UbBf6cdFC1Hha-iQVod4_Sl/s640/DSC_0180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orlando Florida USA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFjpO0wDEuiEkCUggkso2NsDs5EflNRWbvhuDDX5U6i-hWKtVJB-GM7cJ3OvnC3Oi0RU7hXkwofS4x4cyMBiUMqC8QimwYNtE6aKBgfcs-Vi970jq_6VTkzRPmUdppErsbPSiyV7FIIW/s1600/DSC_0529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFjpO0wDEuiEkCUggkso2NsDs5EflNRWbvhuDDX5U6i-hWKtVJB-GM7cJ3OvnC3Oi0RU7hXkwofS4x4cyMBiUMqC8QimwYNtE6aKBgfcs-Vi970jq_6VTkzRPmUdppErsbPSiyV7FIIW/s640/DSC_0529-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allegheny Mound Ants, Maryland USA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSg-mHSxBB7D9SGcFu_sBWvMIgJUtdsP7DGLvR70Jdv2qTBEh4omR-PtuwVHgXAR5-qcevlHyrWSIRNzRfCstLGCcNEdPgwHJC_NZ45Gd9doh2UsYs4n-9rmkGF67B4DaymT4QZXlw6_/s1600/20161106-DSC_048111untitled+shoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSg-mHSxBB7D9SGcFu_sBWvMIgJUtdsP7DGLvR70Jdv2qTBEh4omR-PtuwVHgXAR5-qcevlHyrWSIRNzRfCstLGCcNEdPgwHJC_NZ45Gd9doh2UsYs4n-9rmkGF67B4DaymT4QZXlw6_/s640/20161106-DSC_048111untitled+shoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey bee with RFID tag, Bay of Plenty NZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnP0CLtewG7TtdOJ1VsQNMFr1k7SWzHLmBD9EMSS9UBbhvQJEw5SCT4UgUBPAGSU3LjhDmrbW0PnlWyVOjXSRXtYJLp_zBDoFcrgw3BFEmyOqRTaaRZZPk2YvyXroQ73HCtIM1LpzLgGm8/s1600/DSC_0665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnP0CLtewG7TtdOJ1VsQNMFr1k7SWzHLmBD9EMSS9UBbhvQJEw5SCT4UgUBPAGSU3LjhDmrbW0PnlWyVOjXSRXtYJLp_zBDoFcrgw3BFEmyOqRTaaRZZPk2YvyXroQ73HCtIM1LpzLgGm8/s640/DSC_0665.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee with radio transmitter, Ruakura NZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKBqHHarxjPAbXc-123H4SvM3jII0eREu2rBFQsToHmJGIdTS8c05YbFHOnLfp_CD0J3Zsj2Hy_lJL097MICDj_REopZehQMgt2YbtclF5b_wqE3YiOfWDEzWaTbq9B6moGJhYCQz9gAR/s1600/DSC_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKBqHHarxjPAbXc-123H4SvM3jII0eREu2rBFQsToHmJGIdTS8c05YbFHOnLfp_CD0J3Zsj2Hy_lJL097MICDj_REopZehQMgt2YbtclF5b_wqE3YiOfWDEzWaTbq9B6moGJhYCQz9gAR/s640/DSC_0532.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forked sundew with crane fly, Ngaruawahia NZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vpJf3LDz5wgY_XDRf0yM7_aTWbZAJNejG6_FrDtuWw08rhsCJ_FbJ1eLzGedIMbE6cG2tXN5qUZkM4eeRuBpHaIuzB3Jm4zunS_VnfQOngvJFyUx3XhtwK2Ok7FLQb-7JQhgJdVwn88U/s1600/20161217-DSC_05604untitled+shoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vpJf3LDz5wgY_XDRf0yM7_aTWbZAJNejG6_FrDtuWw08rhsCJ_FbJ1eLzGedIMbE6cG2tXN5qUZkM4eeRuBpHaIuzB3Jm4zunS_VnfQOngvJFyUx3XhtwK2Ok7FLQb-7JQhgJdVwn88U/s640/20161217-DSC_05604untitled+shoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tui on flax flower, Ngaruawahia NZ</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-27616671426307483532017-03-25T02:13:00.003-04:002017-03-25T02:13:40.884-04:00Better late than never: 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbTYBRBJKP7Av0ic5SzwqM5tUzKaBe2W5tYKRUKMRuWq0Lj2E2izCClM0osBdSY5Oi5IB2AunLkTiPfOn9F6VueJdm0u-_K-l84SjRp8m8XyEoV0aLgDo-D3hASP_Kwj5Oq7h4LAn3g4I/s1600/DSC_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbTYBRBJKP7Av0ic5SzwqM5tUzKaBe2W5tYKRUKMRuWq0Lj2E2izCClM0osBdSY5Oi5IB2AunLkTiPfOn9F6VueJdm0u-_K-l84SjRp8m8XyEoV0aLgDo-D3hASP_Kwj5Oq7h4LAn3g4I/s640/DSC_0082.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A yellow-faced bee (<i>Hylaeus sp.</i>) on Jeju Island, South Korea</td></tr>
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2015 was full of travel, research, and changes. My library from the year contains some 14 thousand images - and it seems I've been increasingly photographing the people around me as well as the fauna. That said, hominids have never been the primary focus of this page, so here are selections from the year covering some other taxa across a few locations.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDKirtGOsPVBmcIHlPp_iomRPKbIOlKRsbeD3wtH_wc_BsSCJVYyW4z7DolH0aGxFYZnPvbg4ZMXqmyovC7xI9_aAaqb3wHW3U7d43c-NJUe2PbECj-JqTwVuRpQNgWwIiG24abb6IMdA/s1600/DSC_0241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDKirtGOsPVBmcIHlPp_iomRPKbIOlKRsbeD3wtH_wc_BsSCJVYyW4z7DolH0aGxFYZnPvbg4ZMXqmyovC7xI9_aAaqb3wHW3U7d43c-NJUe2PbECj-JqTwVuRpQNgWwIiG24abb6IMdA/s640/DSC_0241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rangitoto from Tiritiri Matangi, NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_aKdbzBUQ0isczvLQrozWeY-M9Z4JoFqxd12tFxOUFFvVHmG8VB6vyV2S8sm4T9nuRvuXa_YuTe6V0CU8oy2rgdvPdj0aDcFPDW80PLX0bBi6zNlJpBCrup_mXpIyVQ43mqF7YuRA_rR/s1600/DSC_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_aKdbzBUQ0isczvLQrozWeY-M9Z4JoFqxd12tFxOUFFvVHmG8VB6vyV2S8sm4T9nuRvuXa_YuTe6V0CU8oy2rgdvPdj0aDcFPDW80PLX0bBi6zNlJpBCrup_mXpIyVQ43mqF7YuRA_rR/s640/DSC_0069.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Island Saddleback, Tiritiri Matangi NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCofBXh7HLTBI59s4fjlmSNEsXL1BpY7RrouHkL0Z8X5czBIBdNGV9zD3x5vJpS7lJH1wjsjlU_qvIwr0VTF6qJ8QP41T_Mmefs0oG6R2JrXm-nyda6_sz-UiHm-Jt2rrXSyHadkRH39sD/s1600/DSC_0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCofBXh7HLTBI59s4fjlmSNEsXL1BpY7RrouHkL0Z8X5czBIBdNGV9zD3x5vJpS7lJH1wjsjlU_qvIwr0VTF6qJ8QP41T_Mmefs0oG6R2JrXm-nyda6_sz-UiHm-Jt2rrXSyHadkRH39sD/s640/DSC_0262.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queensland, Australia</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8rkaRuChYpo4S9K-46AJ2Xm6cZUH_CXq7POoEYxK1FkdTVj3MgCAIp78d0JKm35xtQfMtDVaOenc5_oolc70gGSWOO3HAPZ4V1LI0BXom-Vrv9XD-JtBUZTO_imTXYQCcY8q7Jc4bARk/s1600/DSC_0353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8rkaRuChYpo4S9K-46AJ2Xm6cZUH_CXq7POoEYxK1FkdTVj3MgCAIp78d0JKm35xtQfMtDVaOenc5_oolc70gGSWOO3HAPZ4V1LI0BXom-Vrv9XD-JtBUZTO_imTXYQCcY8q7Jc4bARk/s640/DSC_0353.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hihi, Tiritiri Matangi, NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOjGup8m1uMIZ0f7e5KN6xqa-hslUVRfcKKWYbwayAu2ME1U5iZKHvwmtaZuA74J2JCAgIDN3q8u8GJPZlKreT6mqhj6IZ5v74QTex-jKRjye9V62aXsknl3xCdFfdvvr5vi0ukB2-Zz9/s1600/DSC_0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOjGup8m1uMIZ0f7e5KN6xqa-hslUVRfcKKWYbwayAu2ME1U5iZKHvwmtaZuA74J2JCAgIDN3q8u8GJPZlKreT6mqhj6IZ5v74QTex-jKRjye9V62aXsknl3xCdFfdvvr5vi0ukB2-Zz9/s640/DSC_0590.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-nosed Lycid Beetle, Queensland, Australia</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxvznF9UQIW9BFHfVdhIUbALWHZAwjYavYL5kXffsf44GHXIDFF1epJgBSXtRr4eQgxwsbiY3ojyVXAIk8so6QwKczfQPqt2tllDBxO7eWGE9xOU9MJDxUXELq5mpUZqfFQFPIqEu-XIO/s1600/DSC_0784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxvznF9UQIW9BFHfVdhIUbALWHZAwjYavYL5kXffsf44GHXIDFF1epJgBSXtRr4eQgxwsbiY3ojyVXAIk8so6QwKczfQPqt2tllDBxO7eWGE9xOU9MJDxUXELq5mpUZqfFQFPIqEu-XIO/s640/DSC_0784.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dainty Green Tree Frog (<i>Litoria gracilenta</i>), Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQG_Kt7vmNlvrw50cPU0sB4vQ7Gi6nFso_Fv0zl2ekSasx5oakiA2cyRwO8VXuWZ9E0PqfoU8mhPTXfq7ShnEsHcbNEAPqW_e6G1A3hwIognh4atQwufeEqJ7fBkFLx77xtQj_qym6OuV/s1600/DSC_6904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQG_Kt7vmNlvrw50cPU0sB4vQ7Gi6nFso_Fv0zl2ekSasx5oakiA2cyRwO8VXuWZ9E0PqfoU8mhPTXfq7ShnEsHcbNEAPqW_e6G1A3hwIognh4atQwufeEqJ7fBkFLx77xtQj_qym6OuV/s640/DSC_6904.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kereru with Puriri fruit, Goat Island, NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7IeS3dxghL32eyaM6d1IwacCJn_MYzT_uaBqEzxrxf-hDXU40HtHscKMWc9LuiY91jmjzVUgUmkVj7rTWqLokj3Mlm_g0uCkBs9KzTkLhKTsInTr0YXXzVSPHhzoDGN8_bg9fNXs3_Wq/s1600/DSC_9986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7IeS3dxghL32eyaM6d1IwacCJn_MYzT_uaBqEzxrxf-hDXU40HtHscKMWc9LuiY91jmjzVUgUmkVj7rTWqLokj3Mlm_g0uCkBs9KzTkLhKTsInTr0YXXzVSPHhzoDGN8_bg9fNXs3_Wq/s640/DSC_9986.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD1CPQW6EjajbonFmGdXiRT9tn8Fs-AfvdnYf56GAetj_ixOVtRdofHI_uxW9F4l7PO6IE8S7FzbJw8Bda04diBrZLTVu_kNlxJYcla-Jhqe5E77O3waMc7pabMPBm2LxdB5txCfrzUFc/s1600/IMG_7499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD1CPQW6EjajbonFmGdXiRT9tn8Fs-AfvdnYf56GAetj_ixOVtRdofHI_uxW9F4l7PO6IE8S7FzbJw8Bda04diBrZLTVu_kNlxJYcla-Jhqe5E77O3waMc7pabMPBm2LxdB5txCfrzUFc/s640/IMG_7499.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Green and Gold Bell Frog (<i>Litoria aurea</i>), Hamilton, NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKmc3YfaDKez-ARYM8KIs4PctHvvDf_0uQtQG-YFE10pDL4aWoDiP39XfLG9r9ey0nnQudkbmFyyn7IwoDESKjpSxNOXpFOghhtqqxosLU97KEGFUJsJdXJUJlwuB7YB42AGVcjYp_UbO/s1600/My+first+decent+shot+of+a+Tuatara%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKmc3YfaDKez-ARYM8KIs4PctHvvDf_0uQtQG-YFE10pDL4aWoDiP39XfLG9r9ey0nnQudkbmFyyn7IwoDESKjpSxNOXpFOghhtqqxosLU97KEGFUJsJdXJUJlwuB7YB42AGVcjYp_UbO/s640/My+first+decent+shot+of+a+Tuatara%2521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuatara, Otorohanga NZ</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-16524022685032357592015-01-17T18:18:00.000-05:002015-01-17T18:21:08.494-05:00One year, one post: the best of 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FAPSXfRA-uW3ptGGjL6lv4FERy1mLSf0FdyYB_aMUjToEXNSLjSV1ezD4aMa1DZDwJiQZA5-LwrjUyz05uyK-pQ_mOh94bZvtYM1fAQT4RdwMy6GfD-yhmHeNpTryLJYdeqocl01ndZx/s1600/DSC_5149+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" height="424" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabbage tree looper, <i>Epiphryne verriculata </i>is well camouflaged (when correctly oriented) on the old leaves of its <i>Cordyline</i> host plant. Hamilton, NZ</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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In my annual reflection on the previous year I almost always seem to comment on just how busy I was. 2014 was the same, and as a result this is my first post pertaining to that year gone by! I enjoyed a challenging and rewarding year studying pollination with the <a href="http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/" target="_blank">New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research</a>, and in my free time I put in many hours working on manuscripts for publication and finishing some contracts from my freelance entomology days. All this meant that I was more likely to relax with some music or a novel than with computer screens and blog-writing, but I haven't set down the camera and I miss regular insect outreach!<br />
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I hope that 2014 has treated you well, and that you will enjoy a few of my favorite shots from last year!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJ3G1Zdbq0nHtgITfTyVS_Rx_fe8amZxqd8sWYECCZu2M_ICDLJ_twB9Ysxx-fa2pEljpkC-ZHlTjyofOT4qfXFs58wj_o4OTHyKRKNMgKpApIHW9ZoxWrQ4efCV5fDVfABbByOPF8wxe/s1600/DSC_0051+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJ3G1Zdbq0nHtgITfTyVS_Rx_fe8amZxqd8sWYECCZu2M_ICDLJ_twB9Ysxx-fa2pEljpkC-ZHlTjyofOT4qfXFs58wj_o4OTHyKRKNMgKpApIHW9ZoxWrQ4efCV5fDVfABbByOPF8wxe/s1600/DSC_0051+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <i>Tetragonula </i>stingless bee collects pollen from <i>Macadamia </i>flowers. Northern NSW, Australia</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUsj2JcY2wa_KR-Pm31x68u0V4mWbnIYYHdxzC0fn3n8NJiS5fk9Q22tVVpeEoTVGK-sK9bi1QIbWhVHxEL7rBG5aYPb64dRF0pxOR1RoHUv8mtO0iXBTbNX0oy5Ut0rxsRJIya_dUyYD/s1600/DSC_3106+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUsj2JcY2wa_KR-Pm31x68u0V4mWbnIYYHdxzC0fn3n8NJiS5fk9Q22tVVpeEoTVGK-sK9bi1QIbWhVHxEL7rBG5aYPb64dRF0pxOR1RoHUv8mtO0iXBTbNX0oy5Ut0rxsRJIya_dUyYD/s1600/DSC_3106+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising Salvin's albatross. Kaikoura NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqeaigHxyBqumXn67OW_dyUFpDu2pu_oiwkXm4C0QP-4Ek6M1AFKw_spYwGMAHrLYsIypcab5zlhH0D1mLZMaiIloragettrh7DNEjbvXdvvLyNZPwC_wTjo3gJ0N3xY3kUmEC4HRAhVK/s1600/DSC_3377+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqeaigHxyBqumXn67OW_dyUFpDu2pu_oiwkXm4C0QP-4Ek6M1AFKw_spYwGMAHrLYsIypcab5zlhH0D1mLZMaiIloragettrh7DNEjbvXdvvLyNZPwC_wTjo3gJ0N3xY3kUmEC4HRAhVK/s1600/DSC_3377+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good for your eyes? A tabanid fly visiting carrot flowers is covered with grains of pollen. Canterbury, NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSuYp-ISgMviRxD-UYvEXSu6IxGwFd-GIkKQTD9rQvrhOU4iweq0nczSLYVUDRtWBPl-BQG363TIQO3NmjtzsWYt7oe8ci5pICAwRHqI2qXYR_qsDxcQNStHF3mlBNuLZMRkRe5wcrV5C/s1600/DSC_3893+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSuYp-ISgMviRxD-UYvEXSu6IxGwFd-GIkKQTD9rQvrhOU4iweq0nczSLYVUDRtWBPl-BQG363TIQO3NmjtzsWYt7oe8ci5pICAwRHqI2qXYR_qsDxcQNStHF3mlBNuLZMRkRe5wcrV5C/s1600/DSC_3893+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head first. The endemic New Zealand mantis <i>Orthodera novaezealandiae</i> devours a crane fly. Hamilton, NZ</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3SXk0L4uw4/VLq3-kHcXXI/AAAAAAAADto/ohKUPx14C9M/s1600/DSC_4157%2B(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3SXk0L4uw4/VLq3-kHcXXI/AAAAAAAADto/ohKUPx14C9M/s1600/DSC_4157%2B(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(5).jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A raphidophorid weta ovipositing. Pukemokemoke, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZCfJAG4jviA9IR_eY8ff4hf5RPeK8dYsTe8tPMLrtoWHWpsj3dxXCvfyaSz7qL-FZXvPoaONRO5ttXWNev30oCGzGvl08GUlnUCbNI-SzHYLwFGDhIhlZVNxnDgIaM5ku4qxrq9ZwvBv/s1600/DSC_4164+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZCfJAG4jviA9IR_eY8ff4hf5RPeK8dYsTe8tPMLrtoWHWpsj3dxXCvfyaSz7qL-FZXvPoaONRO5ttXWNev30oCGzGvl08GUlnUCbNI-SzHYLwFGDhIhlZVNxnDgIaM5ku4qxrq9ZwvBv/s1600/DSC_4164+(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The slender owlet moth <i>Rhapsa scotosialis</i> is a common forest moth in NZ. The males and females are somewhat dissimilar in appearance. Pukemokemoke, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulNSEJj6m6KpSSF3uOUkP8s8_hPqUiU1EYTzCRx2FILQOhQ_c2kDK2-pBCee1IAB7u2tjBaW9kLCGrSr2s6iZvRt8aKjnwones19mn0GdleEq1E_BE7tkByC4nDzo-3ZlbpPcsm-jkAZY/s1600/DSC_4636+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulNSEJj6m6KpSSF3uOUkP8s8_hPqUiU1EYTzCRx2FILQOhQ_c2kDK2-pBCee1IAB7u2tjBaW9kLCGrSr2s6iZvRt8aKjnwones19mn0GdleEq1E_BE7tkByC4nDzo-3ZlbpPcsm-jkAZY/s1600/DSC_4636+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree frog. Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7WNbMMalakrCXucXfNyEvkJbqowLw-cH0jDE9zZTSU9__w_bbvvmR5nAfmXRmWWtKPO54PaNhBqlTx02HcFsWKc7_R1zJJueXstm4NuWlm-Ek_DPW9Lxxc3qFXxLFW49XvRrhfn6Gy8t/s1600/DSC_5937+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7WNbMMalakrCXucXfNyEvkJbqowLw-cH0jDE9zZTSU9__w_bbvvmR5nAfmXRmWWtKPO54PaNhBqlTx02HcFsWKc7_R1zJJueXstm4NuWlm-Ek_DPW9Lxxc3qFXxLFW49XvRrhfn6Gy8t/s1600/DSC_5937+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1).jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weevil <i>Rhadinosomus acuminatus </i>whose Latin name more or less translates to "fragile-bodied long, tapered." At first I was annoyed that this one had a broken antenna but now I think it's rather fitting. Waihi Beach, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IkQKeLUDjbEfWhudNA-fsdwHqWwe1wrh1WKIu7SdnNrZ9evXfmHKsEDYBizYChPuSMBSBo2XL6usMXkce9T2eycAzeSMLMFxM0Dk34EBlOG-7Jr467bqs_m5Bml56aH-ZSZSD_jMyHI-/s1600/WD_0378+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IkQKeLUDjbEfWhudNA-fsdwHqWwe1wrh1WKIu7SdnNrZ9evXfmHKsEDYBizYChPuSMBSBo2XL6usMXkce9T2eycAzeSMLMFxM0Dk34EBlOG-7Jr467bqs_m5Bml56aH-ZSZSD_jMyHI-/s1600/WD_0378+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1%2Bof%2B1).jpg" height="244" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aptly named 'emerald lakes' near the summit of Mt. Tongariro. Tongariro NP, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkyZlP9ss6OkUFap8WeELQCLB-ubhUlY_MBUVvCc1eB_t1uoYdLuzXVPtr8y0ldEou7EeEgIVZMUKj0lYuh370FY4lviBimjdVu2GmjvVqSOddGlQu9665kZRuIG0-I7Ke_iuevoqHq3W/s1600/WD_0483+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkyZlP9ss6OkUFap8WeELQCLB-ubhUlY_MBUVvCc1eB_t1uoYdLuzXVPtr8y0ldEou7EeEgIVZMUKj0lYuh370FY4lviBimjdVu2GmjvVqSOddGlQu9665kZRuIG0-I7Ke_iuevoqHq3W/s1600/WD_0483+(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(1%2Bof%2B1)%2B(2).jpg" height="186" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at Lake Mattheson with Aoraki shrouded in cloud. Near Fox Glacier, NZ</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-91374873600924325372014-01-01T00:47:00.000-05:002014-01-01T04:20:55.138-05:00Favourites of 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2f00rTGeOGSg9foS0D7aMIlFY6nOwTQBpc_To8M5ci0R5uFrtp1BGZHMSHx15G9SLDN385UIWqAZPmfoFd5NAoRW-c_Cwf5SUVqdlJyVsUzKeoVgqZJRkA6I6aGXlX41qWTxGt6Ob4Gy/s640/DSC_0528+(1+of+1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stick insect on Kahikatea, Hamilton, New Zealand</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2013 was full of changes... A new job, new town, new country, new hemisphere. Photography and blogging took a back seat during the process of moving to New Zealand. I've learned to drive on the left side of the road, add the letter u to a bunch of new words, and identify many new trees, birds, and insects. With all that going on, 2013 was the first year in a while that I haven't added any photography gear to my collection, aside from a new phone with a much better point-and-shoot than I'm accustomed to. It was a really busy 365 days, but hopefully I still got a few shots that you will enjoy. Here are my favorites:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green vegetable bug, Nelson, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4REqXLOf9V7pmY0be165PHEKFaWTxkAapNrtTJ8TSTn96vmLrdC4nlUG7KlrEvyFGR_Jbuj36d6Va4hpIR8WaqdMU3BSSZ_8THy5ljk3gIcatzWIn_9F2HkPRdp7aZ3nCB149uwXrwUh/s1600/IMG_2670+(1+of+1)+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4REqXLOf9V7pmY0be165PHEKFaWTxkAapNrtTJ8TSTn96vmLrdC4nlUG7KlrEvyFGR_Jbuj36d6Va4hpIR8WaqdMU3BSSZ_8THy5ljk3gIcatzWIn_9F2HkPRdp7aZ3nCB149uwXrwUh/s640/IMG_2670+(1+of+1)+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I've seen as many nice sunsets in 10 months in NZ as I have in the rest of my life elsewhere. Waikato region, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaCtvDWCvuyzKi5BdxnwcLJAiWPv2qVfW-q134C9GByPXLgvTAdCnclQQnHctgX5l6-PPtDLjY5rn0rKwF-uabyOKASrS5QU-qJ0So4YEnb6uG_hc81NQMyhwW63QFGXc5Wvjk9TIn3qq/s1600/IMG_1985+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaCtvDWCvuyzKi5BdxnwcLJAiWPv2qVfW-q134C9GByPXLgvTAdCnclQQnHctgX5l6-PPtDLjY5rn0rKwF-uabyOKASrS5QU-qJ0So4YEnb6uG_hc81NQMyhwW63QFGXc5Wvjk9TIn3qq/s400/IMG_1985+(1+of+1).jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wife is an ecologist studying how late successional trees grow and contribute to ecosystem function in urban forests. Brook Waimarama Sanctuary, Nelson, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6OsOahUgAykXpOHFPW4mSicawaYCDLcHbpcN4dRFPs_8i_6RGPPHQmIrm-lT5i9f-KCJFjDxc-WT3okpAwJCoPHwmyK2dJzXthiz7DmHwyxnaNa37jP7tjqL6Fr0xboqUzXG3-w6uawA/s1600/DSC_1163+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6OsOahUgAykXpOHFPW4mSicawaYCDLcHbpcN4dRFPs_8i_6RGPPHQmIrm-lT5i9f-KCJFjDxc-WT3okpAwJCoPHwmyK2dJzXthiz7DmHwyxnaNa37jP7tjqL6Fr0xboqUzXG3-w6uawA/s640/DSC_1163+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A NZ Blue Hover Fly visits an avocado flower, Bay of Plenty, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers plant 25 thousand trees at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton, New Zealand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZyJbANvkddgnmLfKZWyy_WYYLBjpeDwLaG65RNe8i1WG6p8GKNFC14MJ1SZj_VT-GtwVldr44qyCIcRMFjSTIy9fV01mLXCJwyQrhLachC-FbEfDAUsMJNkzDnYsX-KZ0inoAnLa-uw2/s1600/DSC_0515+copy+(10+of+28)+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZyJbANvkddgnmLfKZWyy_WYYLBjpeDwLaG65RNe8i1WG6p8GKNFC14MJ1SZj_VT-GtwVldr44qyCIcRMFjSTIy9fV01mLXCJwyQrhLachC-FbEfDAUsMJNkzDnYsX-KZ0inoAnLa-uw2/s640/DSC_0515+copy+(10+of+28)+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snail on Harakeke, Hamilton, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvIsIYV-RYGDcz1crVmxuug7UbvOrwOvabnvDBPB_mJE6_EoO8QlgRLJ9YzYCz-fzm0H350IQ5R5KCFPPSPGHOPLGw1PpywuyjzQ6DtIAw7ejtaZbBoHyGqW6FJo0r9DmLUmu8QQUeirF/s1600/DSC_7492+copy+(4+of+28)+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvIsIYV-RYGDcz1crVmxuug7UbvOrwOvabnvDBPB_mJE6_EoO8QlgRLJ9YzYCz-fzm0H350IQ5R5KCFPPSPGHOPLGw1PpywuyjzQ6DtIAw7ejtaZbBoHyGqW6FJo0r9DmLUmu8QQUeirF/s400/DSC_7492+copy+(4+of+28)+(1+of+1).jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaka, Maungatautari, New Zealand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoW64fJP7r5klDTWxZyIpwmiF3xl2E8wV4t3huaQh9RVDWqO-76jfDe9m7NS7ug0CIvUMQxGAvkCLMmBtIkh9Bj6jV9YlIWdlwwbg_zZOy8U2jkqbY-fEUL_GFygh0Q8D5MPjxsYMix0k/s1600/DSC_1744+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoW64fJP7r5klDTWxZyIpwmiF3xl2E8wV4t3huaQh9RVDWqO-76jfDe9m7NS7ug0CIvUMQxGAvkCLMmBtIkh9Bj6jV9YlIWdlwwbg_zZOy8U2jkqbY-fEUL_GFygh0Q8D5MPjxsYMix0k/s640/DSC_1744+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Researchers run some late night experiments with Kiwifruit pollination, Waikato, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCtW8ex9eDVXwnX26yx3TXmYRsyMKvOdiDNKpEE3MEEALspy3dY7QqIfVqriuLxXKV4DUBvmFsLKjD2_A3hfEVUnVfRITbFBKBGDi4K7D_FhSgABMV5AOb8iV0qIVuWTm8V6ncTDKaGS8/s1600/DSC_9985+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCtW8ex9eDVXwnX26yx3TXmYRsyMKvOdiDNKpEE3MEEALspy3dY7QqIfVqriuLxXKV4DUBvmFsLKjD2_A3hfEVUnVfRITbFBKBGDi4K7D_FhSgABMV5AOb8iV0qIVuWTm8V6ncTDKaGS8/s400/DSC_9985+(1+of+1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunnel web spider, Pukemokemoke, New Zealand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuDzmYtWKeHqiBPONlPnFrSDCxeZUKY0Iu6P_GE8Z47nX9XknnWo_PlqT2kTe_zdylp45rLRHA4IZH7dARAmOQG-3BRtHQBkotngPmY3BXB9LQ_qDued4pDYUjXzmrsnLgUxtpSYgzG9I/s1600/DSC_7686+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuDzmYtWKeHqiBPONlPnFrSDCxeZUKY0Iu6P_GE8Z47nX9XknnWo_PlqT2kTe_zdylp45rLRHA4IZH7dARAmOQG-3BRtHQBkotngPmY3BXB9LQ_qDued4pDYUjXzmrsnLgUxtpSYgzG9I/s640/DSC_7686+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NZ giraffe weevil, Maungatautari, NZ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseCjxBGp_OkOfbFlgwQwWYP7UuR_AQ2mvcG2B01KrXvP2fSN5fv5EXhnv_mFXBN-ohg5T4ApNwt1RgQyJUXfW71kPTBDO6kUoRgP4PXPX64m68dOLQO2xxLpw2tKsNJxembHDr8iXJo33/s1600/DSC_0142+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseCjxBGp_OkOfbFlgwQwWYP7UuR_AQ2mvcG2B01KrXvP2fSN5fv5EXhnv_mFXBN-ohg5T4ApNwt1RgQyJUXfW71kPTBDO6kUoRgP4PXPX64m68dOLQO2xxLpw2tKsNJxembHDr8iXJo33/s400/DSC_0142+(1+of+1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NZ sundew with prey, Rangitoto Island, New Zealand</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I had it narrowed down to 12 photos, but had some time to shoot on the last day of the year, so I'll post a baker's dozen. I'm looking forward to sharing more in 2014!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NJGnDZK031Jj9Mk6UiGHxTnyvicn_GBGscPtS_lT06dj2GdFzQdwoKG2sqt5A3DP0SgGjPaL8-xt5vy_O0urIeBB35scISWAdCt-SAR7WzDXzDd7TxEiaKY-hGNfhfZbHA3GtrVRNWWx/s640/IMG_3375+(1+of+1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boulder bank, Nelson, NZ</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-65557296633674767352013-10-22T22:06:00.001-04:002013-11-16T17:03:49.379-05:00What's in a name: Phasmida
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPtuK9mOqDbwLNUvZnAZ2VlEv3kYQD-eXgUty7RkO2_hn16KkRJK6d7RG3qwGy4UEszY6EZlxDEP605o_ibShAvD8MNh4ugHSSMqWX73ALdsf0D3p9psdOAmLWzXl26vZwcqAamXq7i5D/s640/DSC_0528+(11+of+28)+(1+of+1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stick insects are easier to find at night when they are most active. This one was fairly easy to spot against the brown leaves of Kahikatea in New Zealand</td></tr>
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Have you heard of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strigiphilus_garylarsoni" target="_blank">Gary Larson owl-louse</a>? How about <a href="http://www.livescience.com/6977-slime-mold-beetles-named-bush-cheney-rumsfeld.html" target="_blank">George Bush's slime-mold beetles</a>? It's not common for the non-biology world to take notice of Linnaean nomenclature, but with more than <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/science/30species.html?_r=0" target="_blank">1.3 million named species on earth</a>, there are more than just a couple of interesting scientific names out there. Many insect monikers communicate information about the biology of a species, for example: their location, diet, or affect on humans. Names can hold clues to physical appearance, or in the case of stick insects - their disappearance.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe4KXU1hzZ3E81U3Pd9YpujJaidQ2Rnqq2TAfN22eM5SqxZx7_KYg-hUUhHPI7lOKkupypFMkOgqq_J3mW-KF3g-woggqF4lEUp3aTFBuLLmC3c_7GS1ihjhfn2Q94nejyYROaRLHX6Dh/s1600/DSC_9808+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe4KXU1hzZ3E81U3Pd9YpujJaidQ2Rnqq2TAfN22eM5SqxZx7_KYg-hUUhHPI7lOKkupypFMkOgqq_J3mW-KF3g-woggqF4lEUp3aTFBuLLmC3c_7GS1ihjhfn2Q94nejyYROaRLHX6Dh/s640/DSC_9808+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't see me!</td></tr>
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Stick insects (or walking sticks) belong to the insect order Phasmida. The Greek word <i>phasma</i> means 'apparition' or 'phantom' and it is an exceedingly appropriate descriptor for this group. Many cannot fly, they're not especially fast, and they only bite plants. To survive they play the ultimate game of hide-and-seek, and these large insects take camouflage pretty seriously:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPweN-o7WCmiv5b_cTgiC_DCW56IpPKxR4_xHdWD0sNFoqabbTuAYSQ3VW2NB14ULuQ0c5f7xQsk463FIALDhbvWFd1Xus9NesQrpYENBIRF0P2zs6L7s4YxK6Ulwd-JcadBVRxrcR5XO/s1600/DSC_9823+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPweN-o7WCmiv5b_cTgiC_DCW56IpPKxR4_xHdWD0sNFoqabbTuAYSQ3VW2NB14ULuQ0c5f7xQsk463FIALDhbvWFd1Xus9NesQrpYENBIRF0P2zs6L7s4YxK6Ulwd-JcadBVRxrcR5XO/s640/DSC_9823+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a stick! A New Zealand phasmid on Mahoe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLPoStYYwS19zrJ4zKz-9yNNJRxyNNcxlvednNGJQsFRR111mxZ1yZp0FEJkdOxLo1xyPw-quHUKPNNlnIOTh4K8LOyhfj9CPje14lPDfORfbWFEKR3FOEH-1QjWuG5MYa4W-r6zftuB4/s1600/DSC_6971+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLPoStYYwS19zrJ4zKz-9yNNJRxyNNcxlvednNGJQsFRR111mxZ1yZp0FEJkdOxLo1xyPw-quHUKPNNlnIOTh4K8LOyhfj9CPje14lPDfORfbWFEKR3FOEH-1QjWuG5MYa4W-r6zftuB4/s640/DSC_6971+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing to see here, just some lichen. Walking stick, Monteverde, Costa Rica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp6UJfdQhvfNEjVpuNPF61Pzdp91PYavkvfME0nSxhElltsA9J1YtTCkdEuUGy6Dv_wqbFVK5iZPjRWtCprBPmeJpY8VgPLXjvZ0IfoJY1nlOx4QQUYFV0hmIej79dxOL5SgkycWA3Gys/s1600/DSC_1049+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp6UJfdQhvfNEjVpuNPF61Pzdp91PYavkvfME0nSxhElltsA9J1YtTCkdEuUGy6Dv_wqbFVK5iZPjRWtCprBPmeJpY8VgPLXjvZ0IfoJY1nlOx4QQUYFV0hmIej79dxOL5SgkycWA3Gys/s640/DSC_1049+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of phasmids do synchronized stick impressions while mating, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gFXTWomMDoWjuA-Zl2QyMPrRQJ4YExo0MofVT9PmRY2yknaYm1zo5BrL86OTrylP-gHcCgpQesqKJWbjTGzf6_jumtUH7vnwftkeVHCoDVsy3bIJaS9A3m9TtuI7UIupNYqfS5AdtY6H/s1600/DSC_9950+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gFXTWomMDoWjuA-Zl2QyMPrRQJ4YExo0MofVT9PmRY2yknaYm1zo5BrL86OTrylP-gHcCgpQesqKJWbjTGzf6_jumtUH7vnwftkeVHCoDVsy3bIJaS9A3m9TtuI7UIupNYqfS5AdtY6H/s640/DSC_9950+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you find it? Just kidding, this is actually just a photo of some sticks, no phasmids here.</td></tr>
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The naming system can also indicate which groups are related to each other. Phasmida are one of the 'orthopteroid orders' and are closely related to grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Other common orthopteroid groups include termites, earwigs, roaches, and mantids. Many of those have pretty good camouflage, but the stick insects really can blend in with the best of them!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gPvF_vKeDQ0ZhCUyOWFnZWzPWtMhP5zhyYOJnzqhHKf2wYJYznW1Sdj2c1MWANjv29SjwQYmmttPKU9e5FIdWjZBFSeocopDey6nDoL7gXXvqcSx7RB2KbL2u_rY3jknWg8JZLarC4S3/s1600/DSC_0192+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gPvF_vKeDQ0ZhCUyOWFnZWzPWtMhP5zhyYOJnzqhHKf2wYJYznW1Sdj2c1MWANjv29SjwQYmmttPKU9e5FIdWjZBFSeocopDey6nDoL7gXXvqcSx7RB2KbL2u_rY3jknWg8JZLarC4S3/s640/DSC_0192+(1+of+1)+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These <i>are</i> the orthopteroids you're looking for. Like other orthopteroid insects, phasmids are 'heterometabolous,' their young look like miniature versions of the adults. Here, a juvenile walking stick on Rangitoto Island, New Zealand.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-13739156388333518022013-06-30T21:55:00.000-04:002013-06-30T22:06:54.380-04:00Little things that run the world: Parasitic Wasps<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnKNiZtpEZzJ5-CJZJv6Zoafc3xUWAnVvlvvU_NC7lkUeQWU47YsTtY8rmBfrMzum787BFIWvOQ_m0GvgIIReBl06_Z8i4GmLshURm_6FXZTXxd5_verRzWG5b3WyKujTMJ7vK_5ZqqfZ/s1600/Trissolcus+in+eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnKNiZtpEZzJ5-CJZJv6Zoafc3xUWAnVvlvvU_NC7lkUeQWU47YsTtY8rmBfrMzum787BFIWvOQ_m0GvgIIReBl06_Z8i4GmLshURm_6FXZTXxd5_verRzWG5b3WyKujTMJ7vK_5ZqqfZ/s640/Trissolcus+in+eggs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parasitoid wasp <i>Telenomus podisi</i> emerging from <i>Euschistus servus</i>
stink bug eggs. The wasp is about 2 mm in length. As she developed, she
consumed the bug inside the egg. Both the wasp and the host stink bug
egg are native to the Eastern U.S. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.briancutting.com/search/label/parasitoid" target="_blank">Parasitoids</a>
differ from other parasitic organisms in that they kill their hosts as a
normal part of their life cycle. Because many are quite small they
often go unnoticed, however, their degree of importance in ecosystems
far outweighs their diminutive size. Parasitoids can be important for
controlling populations of their hosts, and as such they can be great
drivers of evolution of defensive behaviors and forms:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3u5YrSAS7qTnjZboWckpRJcKT9XHnL-clAIfZjo1rZpe2E59_mZfGMR-DjGCWcMKjR5fOAO1imPEKXyzA6Wn-u9kYfMX8hBMD4Znzav4WypTIbUzIsGlKa5h5Sb5vQ0zEL2AeZ5SHlkE/s1600/DSC_5658+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3u5YrSAS7qTnjZboWckpRJcKT9XHnL-clAIfZjo1rZpe2E59_mZfGMR-DjGCWcMKjR5fOAO1imPEKXyzA6Wn-u9kYfMX8hBMD4Znzav4WypTIbUzIsGlKa5h5Sb5vQ0zEL2AeZ5SHlkE/s640/DSC_5658+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Defensive behavior: A Costa Rican stink bug in the genus <i>Loxa</i>
defends her eggs by standing over them. She will use her hind legs to
deliver a sharp kick to any intruders; enough to startle a human or send
a small parasitoid careening through the air.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-wTWFcPYQKxkptTPhD8pPtQsKYI3nqY-weDgViLV_bFo0WS31vcIngqJfJ3igOQ1J1scm8fn2-I3IJ_EiVjtOAc7Ky1k3-XXW6_AEjAy9pnU7tWHfSerHkYIbbAnpLvAoG1sBccpsatw/s1600/New-Out99997-Pyramid+Do+Stack%5B1,0,1%5D+(1+of+1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-wTWFcPYQKxkptTPhD8pPtQsKYI3nqY-weDgViLV_bFo0WS31vcIngqJfJ3igOQ1J1scm8fn2-I3IJ_EiVjtOAc7Ky1k3-XXW6_AEjAy9pnU7tWHfSerHkYIbbAnpLvAoG1sBccpsatw/s640/New-Out99997-Pyramid+Do+Stack%5B1,0,1%5D+(1+of+1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Defensive form? All stink bug eggs have micropylar processes - a ring of
tubes that allow sperm and oxygen to enter the egg. Those of <i>Podisus maculiventris</i>
are very long, forming a spiky crown around each egg. I wonder if they
serve an additional purpose in interfering with the movement of small
parasitic wasps among the eggs.</td></tr>
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Because
parasitoid wasps are so effective at reducing populations of their
hosts, they can be very useful for providing control of pest species.
When one organism is used to control another, this is termed biological
control. Current research is investigating certain parasitoid wasps as
potential biological control control agents for the brown marmorated
stink bug.</div>
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The
brown marmorated stink bug is a familiar pest because of its annoying
habit of hiding out in houses during the winter months. Unknown to many, it causes huge
losses in agricultural systems and negatively affects the environment;
farmers must spray more pesticides to control stink bugs. Researchers
hope parasitoid wasps in the genus <i>Trissolcus</i> (a relative of the <i>Telenomus</i> wasp pictured above)
will be able to provide control of the brown marmorated stink bug,
without being a hazard for native stink bugs and ecosystem function. Because of the close relationship that many parasitoids share with their hosts, many will not attack other species.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gmOnEIJdGPUm3wT0CIrGC6hvAR6zigGDDPUWVCU3DEPPScbTc5V12Y8jjfusxPHpc7mWkaIL398ufPkzstKR-zxqRTeAzJRLchMJNUW5Dz4ROdjlnLNENZ5GCsw14p2i6mCzuU3pUkYf/s640/BMSB+006+(1+of+1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="530" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Halyomorpha halys</i>, the brown marmorated stink bug. Originally
from Asia, this insect is a serious agricultural pest and a nuisance
pest in buildings. It is broadly distributed and has a growing range in
the U.S. and worldwide.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-24149012601662927392013-06-09T00:55:00.000-04:002013-06-09T16:29:28.478-04:00New Zealand: Land of the long...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsf-WKl6XcbaTWq_2Afah_mMAAToajFDMJaeY2XgIU0Gp4TLqLIGysCq3M2nLuUDw9MI9PfvkHGbG8KymKtEu4ZIUejEU-9288aobsgWpovXOW4vDh-WjNzLvxS-cjgn9LDq4Gyhh6lZV5/s640/DSC_7872+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A New Zealand Stick Insect, probably in the genus <i>Acanthoxyla</i>. All species in this genus are entirely parthenogenetic; populations consist only of females that reproduce asexually.</td></tr>
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Moving to a new part of the world is a big adjustment, and perhaps particularly so for a biologist. Getting used to the New Zealand culture has been a minor adjustment, but finding myself surrounded with species and ecosystems that are mostly unfamiliar to me has been a much bigger change.</div>
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For me, a walk through the woods, or 'bush' in New Zealand is a bit like reading poetry in French (Je ne parle pas français). I know that it is beautiful, and recognize things here and there, but still have a lot of learning to do to fully understand what I am seeing.</div>
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Despite the learning curve, I have been doing some exploring and photography. I don't have enough images yet to tie together a biologically relevant theme - but I have noticed one trend in my photos: animals of unusual size. The<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span></b>Māori name for this land is Aotearoa, "the land of the long white cloud," but judging from my photo library, this is also "the land of the long invertebrates." Here are a few of the lengthy critters I have come across thus far:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7p_142rdONDB5UNOkFmoLUFd-Q3BSn_7OdrQ79NuxRCxdAIxtZYB4oQRllMy-Auu-7BRlT2BMKztl6WoAPLv9zynvtes0d2uCauHvIYTFqnSkHm83RK0GUK7Y518IvH39UDgWaMeH3hU/s640/DSC_8130+%25281+of+1%2529+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male sheetweb spider in the family Stiphidiidae. These can be quite large spiders, the leg span on this one was at least 6 cm, and... wow! Hey there, mandibles!</td></tr>
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New Zealand has a number of amazing spiders (more of those on the way!) Some of the most impressive are the sheetweb spiders. They are quite common in bush fragments with native plants. Their complex webs are often seen at the bases of large trees, with the spiders hiding out nearby during the day. This large sheetweb was found high up a tree by a researcher climbing in the canopy. They can be a bit startling at first, but of course, I find them quite beautiful!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra6z6bk1rdMBdl8yXCf0RYkT96KMMUmUl0PGdfdQjH-Qwx2FayjT4403ziNShLdAEq3vCUinRPlH-Cw0_HXlcaLW1BACvxd8mAyZhFFtKX837z7Z_jiRP6wqRSNv0gTVnwJCZeOphwN0C/s640/DSC_7324+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many of the caterpillars I've been finding in New Zealand are long, twig-mimicking geometrids, or 'inchworms'</td></tr>
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As we've discussed previously, many caterpillars are '<a href="http://www.briancutting.com/2012/07/nmw-masters-of-disguise.html" target="_blank">masters of disguise</a>,' hiding themselves from hungry birds and other animals that would like to find a high-protein snack. The moth family Geometridae are the best of the best when it comes to hiding in plain sight, and a number of the new Zealand fauna are excellent when it comes to pretending to be a stick (although the stick insect at the top of this post may give them a run for their money).<br />
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Not all animals take the hiding approach. This lovely yellow terrestrial flatworm isn't hiding from anybody - and I suspect that the bright color would be followed by a nasty taste, although I didn't have a bite to find out.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov7VgvSrrjgrHlDC-bq97nzgfaLN361PtqA91VevwF9tvl8c9DXO92wUD2COJXHta_aGP-GcmrTLG_2-_2S5nvNobpGvfhKZGKmUe0lnFvtguzvREpM88EfJXIhpy5iZEXmIS0Lg644lo/s1600/DSC_8611+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov7VgvSrrjgrHlDC-bq97nzgfaLN361PtqA91VevwF9tvl8c9DXO92wUD2COJXHta_aGP-GcmrTLG_2-_2S5nvNobpGvfhKZGKmUe0lnFvtguzvREpM88EfJXIhpy5iZEXmIS0Lg644lo/s640/DSC_8611+%25281+of+1%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bright yellow terrestrial flatworm, around 15 cm long. Terrestrial flatworms are predators; they eat other invertebrates including slugs and earthworms. I haven't been able to find out much about this species, but it may be an introduced species from Australia.</td></tr>
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One of the New Zealand insects that I was most looking forward to seeing was the New Zealand Giraffe Weevil. There was no mistaking it:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New Zealand Giraffe Weevil <i>Lasiorynchus barbicornis</i> (Brentidae) is worthy of attention. They can be over 8 cm (3 inches) long!</td></tr>
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These beetles have extreme sexual dimorphism; the males are much larger than the females. These males fight each other for opportunities to mate with females, with the largest males usually having the upper hand. However, there is a notable exception to the rule: the male pictured here is relatively small: closer to the size of a female than to a large male. Rather than being a fighter, this male is probably a 'sneaker' who will mate with females without being noticed by large males, even if they are mating right under their (long) noses.</div>
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This method of circumventing that seem to be the normal rules of engagement is what biologists call an 'alternative mating strategy,' and similar sneaking behaviors have been recorded in many animals from insects, to fish, to orangutans. It would be really cool to know if the smaller males have similar success rates to larger males when it comes to fertilizing eggs; for many insects, the act of copulation is only half the battle when it comes to passing genes along.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTNaOD1iXSTufVUrGTtTlEcxK9cbWVYqRgRT26wlSZeRkLcSznxChInNaiY06DL0QrWaVoQYppsMMN-hef-wf5012JXhpgSLD9j3na-MHAmcAXaW8Pn0p-Qra0LLsjwVNKohQZvtQrZbf/s1600/DSC_7720+copy+%25281+of+1%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTNaOD1iXSTufVUrGTtTlEcxK9cbWVYqRgRT26wlSZeRkLcSznxChInNaiY06DL0QrWaVoQYppsMMN-hef-wf5012JXhpgSLD9j3na-MHAmcAXaW8Pn0p-Qra0LLsjwVNKohQZvtQrZbf/s640/DSC_7720+copy+%25281+of+1%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My, what a long nose you have, <i>Lasiorynchus barbicornis</i></td></tr>
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More adventures in Aotearoa to follow! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-11735554515177347912012-12-30T01:01:00.002-05:002012-12-30T01:06:08.986-05:0012 Favorites of 2012<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles hatch at dusk and head for the Pacific. Costa Rica.</td></tr>
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2012 was a busy and exciting year. I learned a lot about photography by reading photo blogs, talking with friends, observing the work of experts, and attending workshops. I also benefited from patient folks that showed me cool subjects, and <a href="http://www.briancutting.com/2012/08/why-hiking-with-me-takes-patience.html">held my flash</a>. I got some new tools, and some <i>amazing</i> travel opportunities. There was also a lot of trial and error... in the last 365 days I took 12,256 frames. Here is one image per thousand shots; 12 of my favorites from 12 months in 2012:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sTUPPyQOrmqHRg5_NNxCyqW_Fc61P6Kpb5q78S5EgpQJwLkIvIx1IQnZZ7PjyESBNyvR4-rIwCALOEX8VbMkXAWzPfRrMwPuaWe1YTNhdHaTa-RMIHOWJ44-IzszFeKuRb1d7ytMBgro/s1600/turtle+guarding+025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sTUPPyQOrmqHRg5_NNxCyqW_Fc61P6Kpb5q78S5EgpQJwLkIvIx1IQnZZ7PjyESBNyvR4-rIwCALOEX8VbMkXAWzPfRrMwPuaWe1YTNhdHaTa-RMIHOWJ44-IzszFeKuRb1d7ytMBgro/s640/turtle+guarding+025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Delaware students protect hatchling Olive Ridley Sea turtles as they make their way to the surf, Costa Rica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIdR6Vp8u4pVhly6zA6KM8VmTEYhJnevrMihLt75ksrsVVlfX27nnWXrZmTqgTiIxda51rEIRuNckDKFkJKh9onPWQv5lnqt8LX0KaX79rhp9oQcjInGXYTMfKFDFjuBOPuAmwStiS2qD/s1600/weevil+silhouette+026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIdR6Vp8u4pVhly6zA6KM8VmTEYhJnevrMihLt75ksrsVVlfX27nnWXrZmTqgTiIxda51rEIRuNckDKFkJKh9onPWQv5lnqt8LX0KaX79rhp9oQcjInGXYTMfKFDFjuBOPuAmwStiS2qD/s640/weevil+silhouette+026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costa Rican weevil, silhouette</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR9MW5M0D5mqQZcijgMEB8VuvrvzWqQ48BClyx8IHPwefyDnPNZySR-hMRgSTb7Q7BIYDY5_mcp5Q6eKrqvAj91L4i5Kjn7R5E5DRCzjRv6jHOhZx0DtMvcdcLsrhCU79ZlhoX13VDpE_/s1600/ants+030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfR9MW5M0D5mqQZcijgMEB8VuvrvzWqQ48BClyx8IHPwefyDnPNZySR-hMRgSTb7Q7BIYDY5_mcp5Q6eKrqvAj91L4i5Kjn7R5E5DRCzjRv6jHOhZx0DtMvcdcLsrhCU79ZlhoX13VDpE_/s640/ants+030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Atta cephalotes</i> workers, Costa Rica. I've been getting a lot of mileage out of this shot...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Eyelash Viper, Costa Rica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0glbSeQrXiJvXt4uWvt96cxE654qK75_G6ghBGQuz-I6Bx47F9WHlJQa64n6jsWrJLvOLSOSguuDqopntXZlqIzeudb6LOYhEJictMA4EuhDxz3uJmYV1jMlMea_1u82bhPYm8BZpLf0/s1600/ghost+bat+028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0glbSeQrXiJvXt4uWvt96cxE654qK75_G6ghBGQuz-I6Bx47F9WHlJQa64n6jsWrJLvOLSOSguuDqopntXZlqIzeudb6LOYhEJictMA4EuhDxz3uJmYV1jMlMea_1u82bhPYm8BZpLf0/s640/ghost+bat+028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Ghost Bat, <i>Diclidurus albus</i>. Costa Rica</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brochymena quadripustulata, the rough stink bug. Delaware, USA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tibicen</i> sp. cicada, Delaware, USA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myrmeliontid antlion, Delaware, USA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biologists studying the effects of sea level rise on marsh birds set up mist nets for sparrow monitoring. New Jersey, USA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centrolenid Glass frog sp. Costa Rica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4yuf1la7bwJM907jPUdFNbwQAg-m4nhs3DYFPumDBLRvkk0CpePTkEsIWiXysZQQzHwy_jcM8Vi-P7zNmk4J-qHwlfT4Y_-UdkQ98o6P8eoRLUgDchF0lfc-PUfW_uvj5m3_35IhuV7N/s1600/hummingbird+029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4yuf1la7bwJM907jPUdFNbwQAg-m4nhs3DYFPumDBLRvkk0CpePTkEsIWiXysZQQzHwy_jcM8Vi-P7zNmk4J-qHwlfT4Y_-UdkQ98o6P8eoRLUgDchF0lfc-PUfW_uvj5m3_35IhuV7N/s640/hummingbird+029.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Violetear, <i>Colibri thalassinus.</i> Costa Rica</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-69899521040062039052012-12-30T00:29:00.001-05:002012-12-30T17:01:02.452-05:00Kia ora New Zealand!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0Uo0rmRK6B0kFGZgiGilPSnBfMdZUdP7KUQDt-4ox46Fnrba-URSSFdd6hTiNZakY-1z8o2I96ZhIVZ3DfKVO-rqJwSeHdCYChhdGlIvylrBT8hPJLFzzHVIbRTHwCcJE9DJ9A37CdJB/s1600/NZ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0Uo0rmRK6B0kFGZgiGilPSnBfMdZUdP7KUQDt-4ox46Fnrba-URSSFdd6hTiNZakY-1z8o2I96ZhIVZ3DfKVO-rqJwSeHdCYChhdGlIvylrBT8hPJLFzzHVIbRTHwCcJE9DJ9A37CdJB/s640/NZ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In just over one month, Aotearoa will be my new home!</td></tr>
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The blogging has been slow lately, but I promise it is for a good reason! My wife has accepted a Ph.D. position at the University of Waikato, and we are preparing for a move to New Zealand! Kiri (whose name is Māori) will be studying urban restoration ecology and I am excited to go on this adventure with her.</div>
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As you can see on the map, New Zealand is geographically isolated - and it has been for a looooong time. Because of this, a number of animals have evolved there that are drastically different from anything that can be found elsewhere in the world. The only native mammals on the islands are bats, so many other creatures fill the ecological roles that would more typically be filled by something furrier. One group that I am particularly looking forward to meeting again are the wetas:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjco3lJs6Y0cAW_A-89mM8ERPl5SSCz6Tjrsh5K3VYo5ewRICq8jVLXvGQZg5il7ET8_4VqxRjfRqd5xAqHb1QUkBpcIsWkmRbMiTapTDwkHOe-oxNVHKDi03w87WCr7UyYj1dEsLTqDVNG/s1600/tree+weta+017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjco3lJs6Y0cAW_A-89mM8ERPl5SSCz6Tjrsh5K3VYo5ewRICq8jVLXvGQZg5il7ET8_4VqxRjfRqd5xAqHb1QUkBpcIsWkmRbMiTapTDwkHOe-oxNVHKDi03w87WCr7UyYj1dEsLTqDVNG/s640/tree+weta+017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tree weta in the family Anostostomatidae</td></tr>
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These insects look a bit like crickets, but they are in their own different family - to an entomologist like me that automatically makes them cool. On an island with no rodents, these guys evolved to fill the ecological role (or niche) of mice and rats! Accordingly, some are very large:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1kYqy6RXMDqwUmAfiPajffRYvP2dwc8SDKrirtMzC5NXtZ3i3ff2yQZrg5GM3QikuQpbQFJb0p8iQOcOGxNOD6iSH8PSFGxzrBlmH9QGpY64JxzFO3lURb7Ps51-2lNsHQb_2X14aRVj/s1600/giant+weta+baby+025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1kYqy6RXMDqwUmAfiPajffRYvP2dwc8SDKrirtMzC5NXtZ3i3ff2yQZrg5GM3QikuQpbQFJb0p8iQOcOGxNOD6iSH8PSFGxzrBlmH9QGpY64JxzFO3lURb7Ps51-2lNsHQb_2X14aRVj/s640/giant+weta+baby+025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant weta... babies. Photo credit: Kiri Cutting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWKFE_PArpP_lAGg_I7Ht9HT3kBNo7qFsjjSp7AvgPck6nVZ5D5YkfLildXX_8Jkq2n80frEjqpdtN65kfL14WSgITf6QyKQVbVumXTBH_O6yG_SeNgS1Qj_MF2mu_ybx_gfyxI7SOo9D/s1600/giant+weta+018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWKFE_PArpP_lAGg_I7Ht9HT3kBNo7qFsjjSp7AvgPck6nVZ5D5YkfLildXX_8Jkq2n80frEjqpdtN65kfL14WSgITf6QyKQVbVumXTBH_O6yG_SeNgS1Qj_MF2mu_ybx_gfyxI7SOo9D/s640/giant+weta+018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's what I'm talking about!<br />
<i>Deinacrida</i> sp. Giant Weta, New Zealand. Photo credit: Kiri Cutting</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, each group of humans that reached the New Zealand islands brought new invasive species with them, including rats and stoats which have destroyed populations of wetas and many other New Zealand endemic species. Some species have only persisted because of the relative safety of offshore islands. This is the case for the tuatara:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnTD65sOjHsdBLqj7uhxevMeInLXiw9XvM4xN8Z9oKWHhbeiFirQYuSgg31N7q2XqGVF2nYp9onMwN4LUQ11jNRgTE1HT8QW-rx7jXy0uNpUQxeopMCOReKxHjXRhQE_ajFlUbO0Tfa8E/s1600/tuatara+023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnTD65sOjHsdBLqj7uhxevMeInLXiw9XvM4xN8Z9oKWHhbeiFirQYuSgg31N7q2XqGVF2nYp9onMwN4LUQ11jNRgTE1HT8QW-rx7jXy0uNpUQxeopMCOReKxHjXRhQE_ajFlUbO0Tfa8E/s640/tuatara+023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male tuatara, New Zealand Photo credit: Kiri Cutting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Tuatara look like lizards but they are a separate, ancient, and unique group. They did just fine until humans added a bunch of species to their home. Recently, researchers have had some success reintroducing them to parts of mainland New Zealand that have been painstakingly cleared of introduced mammals. Kiri had an opportunity to help out with a tuatara study a few years ago:</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-h6o_6NhKOy05IQULLCrNq1O9kLqGbtbyRS_8RfoMdgaBVnT9xXvoXrwE2hZlFZXfQh4zeL3PP7PBpeoKnyyRfRnS54RefEB9tQ29k2rCQmihEiPauzrEKLQ-RGfCTEuRdSGtCnpwF34/s1600/kiri+tuatara+020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-h6o_6NhKOy05IQULLCrNq1O9kLqGbtbyRS_8RfoMdgaBVnT9xXvoXrwE2hZlFZXfQh4zeL3PP7PBpeoKnyyRfRnS54RefEB9tQ29k2rCQmihEiPauzrEKLQ-RGfCTEuRdSGtCnpwF34/s640/kiri+tuatara+020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kind of woman. Photo credit: unknown</td></tr>
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These are just a few of the unique and wonderful things that I hope to see over our next few years in New Zealand. I'm looking forward to sharing more photos from the "Land of the Long White Cloud"</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96JzKBvm5u_HdfChf9KkwGxcPvN73SiIL46PIjgHVTbdKYZCxd_uA5zPpJ15Q1oA5kaEzh_rNoj9Qpt6ZrFO8UTkvuRGv4nwEIu-C45qYObj49bNtnDjpZr6yKMnfB5hFEMU56UpOfGOk/s1600/tree+fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96JzKBvm5u_HdfChf9KkwGxcPvN73SiIL46PIjgHVTbdKYZCxd_uA5zPpJ15Q1oA5kaEzh_rNoj9Qpt6ZrFO8UTkvuRGv4nwEIu-C45qYObj49bNtnDjpZr6yKMnfB5hFEMU56UpOfGOk/s640/tree+fern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See you in 2013!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-33337254544874378172012-12-24T23:23:00.003-05:002012-12-24T23:24:27.966-05:00Another Brown Marmorated Merry Christmas!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLTe_gsKplO7-62WQ05ZWEMElALhyEFrt26RR2x743PjfbOURIrnzrvOQxcA7hETJ_62h2jxKD8J9JYPHLR-An9RUcq2Gi4VPCXFrpIUUZ_xx9Td4kNm7Z_zZFp9CY477Q5m5OAevRffg/s1600/photo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLTe_gsKplO7-62WQ05ZWEMElALhyEFrt26RR2x743PjfbOURIrnzrvOQxcA7hETJ_62h2jxKD8J9JYPHLR-An9RUcq2Gi4VPCXFrpIUUZ_xx9Td4kNm7Z_zZFp9CY477Q5m5OAevRffg/s640/photo.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stink bugs were hung by the chimney with care...</td></tr>
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Not sure what to do with all those dead stink bugs? Baking them up for the office cookie exchange might be frowned upon, but everybody loves a festive BMSB garland! Am I wrong? Move over mistletoe, it's not a holiday party without a string of deceased invasive pentatomids.<br />
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Thanks to Joe Tropp for decorating our lab's creative Christmas tree, and for starting what I am sure is soon to be a nationwide trend.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JrQX_lR1MmX_-8tHFk8Zg03Ja8TINXo9SXYC5H8lEF1LlkkzZGcqHRatfF8BUl_0yLUXAnW2501_inpyO3i7KA631AO80srcJNaEju19VP5IrUr7GN0y0kS0bucrgHpxiOzptGy2MPw4/s1600/tree.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JrQX_lR1MmX_-8tHFk8Zg03Ja8TINXo9SXYC5H8lEF1LlkkzZGcqHRatfF8BUl_0yLUXAnW2501_inpyO3i7KA631AO80srcJNaEju19VP5IrUr7GN0y0kS0bucrgHpxiOzptGy2MPw4/s640/tree.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-90801697164103110992012-11-21T00:01:00.001-05:002012-11-21T00:02:32.816-05:00Pandorus Sphinx<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v1vhUEgOa1ckLHcV98oUDZTI6nw4_ZbgRgquXKWrnyDYcJ6ArfjOL2XXSlc6VoZXj4jsOBWjcjICqQ1CbwswNGwlhnQ8AefdBgWDAFf87gIsLW3lUoloxZ1nNecP-ZIhLi2exaU4kcuL/s1600/pandoras+sphinx+101.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7v1vhUEgOa1ckLHcV98oUDZTI6nw4_ZbgRgquXKWrnyDYcJ6ArfjOL2XXSlc6VoZXj4jsOBWjcjICqQ1CbwswNGwlhnQ8AefdBgWDAFf87gIsLW3lUoloxZ1nNecP-ZIhLi2exaU4kcuL/s640/pandoras+sphinx+101.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eumorpha pandorus</i></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-89033949531335675792012-10-31T19:36:00.001-04:002012-10-31T19:36:30.989-04:00Brown Marmorated Halloween<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoDLh2h6HjxfzvBukdizlEichvRTya8wbDO7njtcVVI2qLD_6r-3kBpLOAtfVzQUp9iPiMenAkFWQe9P0nVlyXh1BPGOEgmYZiCNx-XvWuabw6XN5-SxpRVfmdk-iGi1mJtdGKLLkmz0Q/s1600/Net-casting+spider+093+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoDLh2h6HjxfzvBukdizlEichvRTya8wbDO7njtcVVI2qLD_6r-3kBpLOAtfVzQUp9iPiMenAkFWQe9P0nVlyXh1BPGOEgmYZiCNx-XvWuabw6XN5-SxpRVfmdk-iGi1mJtdGKLLkmz0Q/s640/Net-casting+spider+093+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even pumpkins are safe! A true creepy critter: the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug was accidentally introduced from Asia and damages a huge range of plant species. </td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-41838235535857822102012-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:002012-10-31T08:00:14.209-04:00Happy Halloween!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg80oIAeuop1JbGzVWCrboTjA2NiRy7uyLiVqvWPL8ovuP0t5vZo6zphWmhVmnDPmrM1dH0Io-k5HXPdpIBYWPUdGGdDUTsXXyHn8CYIHlao8JicnCZZ3EV1GyMwxTst0ThONhLnuhjBC/s1600/black+widow+090.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg80oIAeuop1JbGzVWCrboTjA2NiRy7uyLiVqvWPL8ovuP0t5vZo6zphWmhVmnDPmrM1dH0Io-k5HXPdpIBYWPUdGGdDUTsXXyHn8CYIHlao8JicnCZZ3EV1GyMwxTst0ThONhLnuhjBC/s640/black+widow+090.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The well-known hourglass marking of <i>Latrodectus mactans, </i>the black widow spider.</td></tr>
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Happy Halloween! Just for ringing the doorbell, I'm presenting you
with these eight-legged treats! Spooky you say? I suppose it is a
matter of perception, I think they are all lovely! The black widow
above has a potent neurotoxic venom, but her bites are rarely fatal for
humans. For insects that blunder into her web however, it is a
different story.<br />
<br />
The bolas spider below employs a different strategy. She does not capture prey in a web, but rather forms her silk into a sticky blob on the end of a strand. She swings this blob at moths that fly near enough to her. To entice her quarry, she secretes a chemical that emulates
pheromones that the moths use to attract mates. She can even change the
chemical signal to match the species of moths that are around. I've
never been able to decide which was cooler: the rodeo style hunt, or
the complicated chemical mimicry.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VpNkq54pX_6YXpLC4TCmCW1S2LLp6dyDvqRgJcV0VGu8DV83uwl73Ot0e8MFktfC9Y1B1vMnbV3fA-4APU4tGo9os-csBNV2VNDWuM7xh7HmbWwXOfLFlV2tyZOwbtZpekGPSHqW4SXK/s1600/bolas+spider+091.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VpNkq54pX_6YXpLC4TCmCW1S2LLp6dyDvqRgJcV0VGu8DV83uwl73Ot0e8MFktfC9Y1B1vMnbV3fA-4APU4tGo9os-csBNV2VNDWuM7xh7HmbWwXOfLFlV2tyZOwbtZpekGPSHqW4SXK/s640/bolas+spider+091.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Mastophora </i>species Bolas Spider hunts with a sticky blob on a silk strand.</td></tr>
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The bolas spider isn't the only spider with a unique method for capturing prey. The net-casting spider spins a web that is not sticky but has a wooly texture which entangles insects. It holds the web with its legs, and throws it down on unsuspecting critters that venture too close.<br />
<br />
The wolf spider does not hunt with a web at all, rather they stalk their prey and pounce upon them. Female wolf spiders carry their eggs with them, and when the young hatch, they continue to ride around on mom for a while. Wolf spiders are frequent visitors in basements, where they eat many other arthropods that may be less welcome. While a ball of baby spiders may sound like something out of a horror film, I find this parental care to be fascinating. I'd even go out on an entomological limb and say that it's kinda cute!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTChJTpFm63UXoDjAPWqPVDFvbNZCHVoL4kNKCqVPmOty3J4ZS6cSVZH9jShy_VIaw678rIwNpHSZhWINqidhq6ARYZlanK2H2zNsUaSPdstfARdC9HsbDpR1oT0px48X6HvWhRE_Fegvv/s1600/wolf+spider+with+spiderlings+092.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTChJTpFm63UXoDjAPWqPVDFvbNZCHVoL4kNKCqVPmOty3J4ZS6cSVZH9jShy_VIaw678rIwNpHSZhWINqidhq6ARYZlanK2H2zNsUaSPdstfARdC9HsbDpR1oT0px48X6HvWhRE_Fegvv/s400/wolf+spider+with+spiderlings+092.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) carry their young.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRlPA5gq71n27LYJZ7iK9scRGHTnVXF2Ckebgo-Bbu4rGpVhkfH8BxtWHRTfjSPvOGgogB1mjydM_MrBXnFogENRgsQpKUGF3XjQwt1T3olE3RlmhSEglaalECbmEcpjjU2eHP4PmLE6a/s1600/Net-casting+spider+093.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRlPA5gq71n27LYJZ7iK9scRGHTnVXF2Ckebgo-Bbu4rGpVhkfH8BxtWHRTfjSPvOGgogB1mjydM_MrBXnFogENRgsQpKUGF3XjQwt1T3olE3RlmhSEglaalECbmEcpjjU2eHP4PmLE6a/s400/Net-casting+spider+093.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Costa Rican net-casting spider in the family Deinopidae.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-56012204239691677602012-10-08T08:11:00.001-04:002012-10-08T08:11:38.525-04:00Costa Rican Anole<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPz9N3T-vOsGhyyOVY_ReX40s1hwLUGDGRc0PB1UFwCi20nLRfQPJWEtKcWqvssaJkxTOQmJEka-s76AaVSU2BbBekgJorxTnSI189tHGTLlaNW_7IDPaRTMQjqlIIB9C1qpj7loZpQQI/s1600/anole+CR+080.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPz9N3T-vOsGhyyOVY_ReX40s1hwLUGDGRc0PB1UFwCi20nLRfQPJWEtKcWqvssaJkxTOQmJEka-s76AaVSU2BbBekgJorxTnSI189tHGTLlaNW_7IDPaRTMQjqlIIB9C1qpj7loZpQQI/s640/anole+CR+080.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anole La Selva, Costa Rica</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-79965223151989058642012-09-27T00:34:00.001-04:002012-09-27T02:14:06.404-04:00When insect photography goes bad<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHQMM3_N0AvcIwDg6K2Z0IoMiy0ejPD1iVR-cUpjUtrhgrFMZ6WDgisihq6gZ4HZ_fTuHC1SywPHx1nR_982nKqSfyE0GDzyRHAcBaX2S4lMLsq_yRJHYZ_DpBVGdZIiUBFzYvAnL9QL-/s1600/dead+Trichopoda+080.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHQMM3_N0AvcIwDg6K2Z0IoMiy0ejPD1iVR-cUpjUtrhgrFMZ6WDgisihq6gZ4HZ_fTuHC1SywPHx1nR_982nKqSfyE0GDzyRHAcBaX2S4lMLsq_yRJHYZ_DpBVGdZIiUBFzYvAnL9QL-/s640/dead+Trichopoda+080.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful tachinid fly <i>Trichopoda pennipes</i>, cooked medium-rare a la torchiere</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Trichopoda pennipes</i> is a parasitic fly that attacks true bugs, and is the particular dipteran responsible for '<a href="http://www.briancutting.com/2012/07/death-by-maggot.html">death by maggot</a>'. In addition to devouring leaf-footed bugs from the inside, this Halloween-colored insect also attacks stink bugs, and has been used as a biological control agent for some species in Europe. For some time now I've been wanting to get a picture of these 'feather-legged flies' laying eggs on stink bugs, and so was delighted to catch a mating pair this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, <i>Trichopoda</i> like
many insects exhibits a behavior that entomologists call "positive
phototaxis." This is the same behavior that draws a moth to a flame,
or as it were, a pair of flies to a 300-watt halogen floor lamp. As soon as I opened the container both flies
spiraled upward with Icarus-like disregard, achieving results comparable to the myth. Alas, rather than the
oviposition action shot I had hoped for, we are left with this photo of another
upside-down insect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Her mate, I am afraid, fared even worse
and could not be salvaged at all.
Consequently, it smells of charbroiled death in here, and I am inspired
to retire for the evening.</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-21382418991676321912012-09-17T22:45:00.002-04:002012-09-17T22:45:39.109-04:00In memory of Louis the lizard<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis the lizard, a companion of mine for 14 years, helps out with some computer work.</td></tr>
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My pet bearded dragon Louis died today. We had been watching each other grow for half of my lifetime. When I first met Louis he could curl up with everything from his head to his tail in the palm of my hand - not that he was likely to stay there; he was a feisty little guy. I still remember the day when he darted off my hand and ran under a bookshelf. After removing all the books from the shelf to retrieve my pet, I vowed to keep a better watch on him.<br />
<br />
Louis munched on kale and crickets and grew quickly to nearly 2 feet. He watched me graduate from high school (and eventually graduate again, and again). He waited patiently during a period when I became more interested in girls than in him, I think knowing all the while that I would soon discover that he was something of a chick magnet. Louis may have helped me woo my herpetologically inclined wife, and he adjusted easily to sharing me with her when we all became one family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGoz7sIhwFGk8NplkDDw85VgbIbW7moc0AL1pQyW51oPBX8x1G_JuRgGYndVCfmNHCQZqk7elaYa8R0m3pls4pQie67KBZM14Go9T8qf00Eb5Bwm6gp-hmSxISJwPGZHVqWx1A8zv5Xvm/s1600/DSC09990.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGoz7sIhwFGk8NplkDDw85VgbIbW7moc0AL1pQyW51oPBX8x1G_JuRgGYndVCfmNHCQZqk7elaYa8R0m3pls4pQie67KBZM14Go9T8qf00Eb5Bwm6gp-hmSxISJwPGZHVqWx1A8zv5Xvm/s400/DSC09990.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bearded dragon Louis watches me grow <i>my</i> first beard, perhaps with some amusement.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As Louis grew older he still enjoyed plodding around our home, but became increasingly fond of finding bizarre places to take a nap. On several occasions we found him snoozing with his head stuffed into a shoe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_bdKxUN1Pk27Qp6RCx18JFkFofe6YbYjrJ0Yhb7jlJRRUtlVo2gsRi6HD4wXe79LSulccp3fSvRaRPkjI41AM6fVOmyK0IRxFmMOAk5PrPHkL9alLMOl0rudBLeBc6R87RxHKovODloz/s400/100_2685.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, doesn't get much more comfortable than this does it?</td></tr>
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Even in old age, Louis would be jolted back into his youth by the sight of a dandelion flower, or by a bath in an overturned frisbee filled with warm water. Even when he could no longer catch crickets (or even immobile vegetable food) he could still spot a dandelion from across the room.</div>
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Louis was more than a pet - he was a patient ambassador to countless people, both kids and adults who had never met a reptile up close before. While sometimes daunting at first, this gentle reptile waited while humans mustered the courage to feel the texture of his rough back, hard head, smooth belly, or spiky yet yielding beard. His beautiful soft eyes even won quite a few hearts from fear over the years, and encouraged people to engage nature in new ways.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr44blMXG_rIbxtQQVgHd2cPE3g-dXEL-QmZ4K3_nRNqthn2FDCIzvndc6u_HERTlMGWptDkGehbPBFFU3K70OqEBhhY3rel8twdv0B6KoBZ37NNrTo4wiHuStZTR35aNZbtohjyk8orxj/s1600/DSC01867.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr44blMXG_rIbxtQQVgHd2cPE3g-dXEL-QmZ4K3_nRNqthn2FDCIzvndc6u_HERTlMGWptDkGehbPBFFU3K70OqEBhhY3rel8twdv0B6KoBZ37NNrTo4wiHuStZTR35aNZbtohjyk8orxj/s400/DSC01867.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis has a snooze in his favorite cave, which Kiri and I built as a 'date' in our early days.</td></tr>
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I've come across quite a few bearded dragons over the years, but none that I have liked as much as Louis. Over more than a decade he has been there for the biggest challenges, and most joyful successes of my life, and I'll never forget this special pet:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4VD5gOhLOLwj4-n4aQvcfpQ4mvT-fXOq9dy8J63tW34STWitRjW1jZl1BlwKgYFyrk-MwdF9_JiOQum5UE4WDNdnJ_qqL_zFJFk9QcBBcr3U5I1TnZxiO3Lrj9jyFrrePUJUjOmtmDhi/s1600/louis+080.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4VD5gOhLOLwj4-n4aQvcfpQ4mvT-fXOq9dy8J63tW34STWitRjW1jZl1BlwKgYFyrk-MwdF9_JiOQum5UE4WDNdnJ_qqL_zFJFk9QcBBcr3U5I1TnZxiO3Lrj9jyFrrePUJUjOmtmDhi/s640/louis+080.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll miss you Louis!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-75669449914441934252012-09-11T17:56:00.001-04:002012-09-11T17:57:39.752-04:00The martha of all butterflies<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Live your wildest dreams with Martha - that is if you, like me, dream of B.O.U.S.s (Butterflies of unusual size)</td></tr>
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Want to bring all the splendor of a summer meadow into your bedroom? Well apparently you can with the new...GADZOOKS THOSE ARE HUGE!<br />
<br />
I doubt very much that Martha consulted her entomologist before publishing this advertisement. Not only do mutated butterflies adorn the wall, but also multiple size variants of what looks like <i>Urania ripheus - </i>a cool day flying moth from Madagascar. The scene recalls to mind the classic tabloid headline: <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=kO0DAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false">"Farmer shoots 6-ft. butterfly!"</a><br />
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Thanks to my grandmother for thoughtfully putting this advert aside for me!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-67532430838304513922012-08-30T21:31:00.000-04:002012-08-30T21:31:58.038-04:00Way to go...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqelT_EmHRiP2AulqWfVrtQ9xxKt07bzUM5edrI1sX9D49VM7gBIf_32CHbj8MT9GtxC_0mZCu0YBPUGjQV9Wbl_HP83WsY-zu-3snJQPvdxr0p50YXUi5OW2J7Q08FCsCLyz4N7fz5MRs/s1600/necrophilia+anchor+SB+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqelT_EmHRiP2AulqWfVrtQ9xxKt07bzUM5edrI1sX9D49VM7gBIf_32CHbj8MT9GtxC_0mZCu0YBPUGjQV9Wbl_HP83WsY-zu-3snJQPvdxr0p50YXUi5OW2J7Q08FCsCLyz4N7fz5MRs/s640/necrophilia+anchor+SB+080.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stiretrus anchorago</i> the Anchor Stink Bug, in copula, with a twist.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The anchor stink bug is a predatory pentatomid species that is found in Delaware, but looks very little like a stink bug at first glance. While taking care of a lab colony of these bugs this mating pair caught my attention. I was soon amazed to see that the female was <a href="http://escsecblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/esc-caption-c1-p220090429.jpg">upside down</a>, or I suppose she was right side up depending on your perspective. I soon realized the cause of this bizarre mating arrangement:</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4gsqHYEx3K2UrV6fg07dwMzUAKnxxMSSOvpC4im1BQKGCO4Qr9Q2HVJuZD-ObnNW3AzyfhSRIz5_mMepH2y9sG-sDej81f7dnElVTEbMIoUVDS4DnHZd05upSy7Kj7awwvonLLcZd9mc/s1600/necrophilia+anchor+SB+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4gsqHYEx3K2UrV6fg07dwMzUAKnxxMSSOvpC4im1BQKGCO4Qr9Q2HVJuZD-ObnNW3AzyfhSRIz5_mMepH2y9sG-sDej81f7dnElVTEbMIoUVDS4DnHZd05upSy7Kj7awwvonLLcZd9mc/s640/necrophilia+anchor+SB+081.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">um, was it good for you?</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
That's right - I'm not sure this was a consensual act, or perhaps accepting this male was the female's last earthly act. Either way, this is the first incidence of insect necrophilia that I have ever witnessed. I suppose that wont do much for the male's reproductive success - especially if this is indicative of his mate preferences in the future.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-18253753191829524372012-08-26T22:19:00.002-04:002012-08-26T22:27:58.761-04:00Why hiking with me takes patience...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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I know that the blog header says 'photography by Brian Cutting,' but today that is a lie. I took none of these, and it won't take you long to figure out why:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIm_xl8Mm-HdFPilAmM-HhD2Wb2A25ttdaTVXk96YhR57xLG4A8m9zVBNT0qLHlG1sI5kD9oSeilYwS6Aa7VERuYh7uoEMAj-Ep1u76E01FlBwovPiY3O4bJPnAMNAxk4QrjyAkr6NZ6J/s1600/costa+rica+2012+26.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIm_xl8Mm-HdFPilAmM-HhD2Wb2A25ttdaTVXk96YhR57xLG4A8m9zVBNT0qLHlG1sI5kD9oSeilYwS6Aa7VERuYh7uoEMAj-Ep1u76E01FlBwovPiY3O4bJPnAMNAxk4QrjyAkr6NZ6J/s640/costa+rica+2012+26.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C'est moi. When lizards are everywhere, why shoot the one on the ugly plastic bag? I think maybe the hat is a bit too tight.</td></tr>
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That's right, the perspective has been flipped and today I'm highlighting fashion in wildlife photography:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2QfO54R6IZtwsPMuGEHcdTNuXyvHoVnWZGaBLB3SBW-77hO2OBfPwm7s6R0CbOLszjlkSeSL9vxvZxSLQ_vHkdlXIz67Sd3LOLJ5YiYYFmbyQIJUlKuaOwWSFw8qIWpMkARVYkcoF7Yi/s1600/417327_10150668907112565_577597564_11516787_1727950079_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2QfO54R6IZtwsPMuGEHcdTNuXyvHoVnWZGaBLB3SBW-77hO2OBfPwm7s6R0CbOLszjlkSeSL9vxvZxSLQ_vHkdlXIz67Sd3LOLJ5YiYYFmbyQIJUlKuaOwWSFw8qIWpMkARVYkcoF7Yi/s640/417327_10150668907112565_577597564_11516787_1727950079_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With most of my insect photos, I find that a pleasing natural background is critical. Khakis are great for an image that makes you think 'what was I thinking?'</td></tr>
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I try to have my camera within reach as often as possible, and have lugged my photo rig along on some great trips I've been able to take in the last year. I would hate to be caught sans-camera and miss cool shooting opportunities, but I think sometimes I require quite a bit of patience from those I travel with:<br />
<br />
"Just a few more shots and we can go - I may never see this again"<br />
"Would you mind holding my flash?"<br />
"Blast! It's blown out" <br />
"Can you please pull that blade of grass out of the way?"<br />
"Argh, underexposed" <br />
"You guys can hike ahead, I'll catch up" (unlikely with 10 extra pounds of photo gear in my pack)<br />
"Just a few more and you can make it stop biting you"<br />
"Shucks, lens cap" <br />
"Oh, sorry! I should have warned you that the flash was about to go off in your face"<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, a few people still go on adventures with me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm94KZVi3EQrSgHZHckGnPcu0-gtPKVU5xcFjWfkgUTR3WQT_LQndk825cMLI5MDjta-5HGURwao4jJblHZpxqVE-gkwK0PHZFiVKu1TZLZj3FuWteQKuviDUpHTMouw0X6LRydbimpyE5/s1600/424255_10150759064325884_830490883_12442601_517629253_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm94KZVi3EQrSgHZHckGnPcu0-gtPKVU5xcFjWfkgUTR3WQT_LQndk825cMLI5MDjta-5HGURwao4jJblHZpxqVE-gkwK0PHZFiVKu1TZLZj3FuWteQKuviDUpHTMouw0X6LRydbimpyE5/s640/424255_10150759064325884_830490883_12442601_517629253_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creeping in the bushes in Costa Rica</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIXRQo0t6edXxA_zsIWkNEGTtpytmYgUrjHVgA-9EIEzVuBe4IYD2nfNnA85DCE-EOR7kQgh3mqeh3X4mHmMfHdLoF2MwLx04efRs4SMr47rKZ_0AUZ4ivLtFV7peAg6UIra9aJEEhAzU/s1600/310434_10100203791896314_960674565_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIXRQo0t6edXxA_zsIWkNEGTtpytmYgUrjHVgA-9EIEzVuBe4IYD2nfNnA85DCE-EOR7kQgh3mqeh3X4mHmMfHdLoF2MwLx04efRs4SMr47rKZ_0AUZ4ivLtFV7peAg6UIra9aJEEhAzU/s640/310434_10100203791896314_960674565_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chunks of lava make questionable knee pads, Kona, Hawaii</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCrdCz1KdaOSZWlhlvnLpw3py3a0OowAdieBOOulKfBJ7mcLwCoPu1YT8A6zMJLCLz2TzcVZhrGV3kCyaDzwflZENdhVs4e4RE6rB5TmKKoqKi257G94Ykm6_1zQwMpRZJMwFUhK_pw0j/s1600/578208_2122521198854_660073906_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCrdCz1KdaOSZWlhlvnLpw3py3a0OowAdieBOOulKfBJ7mcLwCoPu1YT8A6zMJLCLz2TzcVZhrGV3kCyaDzwflZENdhVs4e4RE6rB5TmKKoqKi257G94Ykm6_1zQwMpRZJMwFUhK_pw0j/s640/578208_2122521198854_660073906_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salamanders in the rain, Shenandoah, Virginia. Let's face it, there is no way to look cool while doing this.</td></tr>
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The above photo demonstrates one of the greatest assets to my photographic endeavors; my beautiful wife who is both good at finding critters, and also willing to hold them for the duration of the ensuing photo shoot.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Aliesha Shutte, Jeff Smith, Noelle Diana, Doug Tallamy, and Kiri Cutting for the photos and for being such endlessly patient fellow travelers. Your night vision will recover in an hour or so...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-45226155984688681402012-08-19T22:04:00.001-04:002012-08-19T22:05:44.644-04:00Flower Ninjas<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlYPQu1dqyav05Frj4JKGqegZ3saKgPYBydlXDv5ddec0GdI-_bOjdjvX-biyx8XHdWC7BbygEy5Cvl_QsTSj5Eiq6-xSiUaSiMCwP3-6PP35SOlUQCxIGm77QCOZT-JwBAd3aGDbemLp/s1600/Phymatinae+082.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlYPQu1dqyav05Frj4JKGqegZ3saKgPYBydlXDv5ddec0GdI-_bOjdjvX-biyx8XHdWC7BbygEy5Cvl_QsTSj5Eiq6-xSiUaSiMCwP3-6PP35SOlUQCxIGm77QCOZT-JwBAd3aGDbemLp/s640/Phymatinae+082.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambush bugs blend in on yarrow flowers</td></tr>
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I am fascinated by animal camouflage, and Assassin bugs in the subfamily Phymatinae blend in with the best of them. A different look at the yarrow flowers pictured above reveals a much more dangerous bouquet (if you are a small insect): </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya1GGHFCdMOi5yuLnPz2HqnW8L1CwdKGyH70Mai8sa7049TCQ8nlyEP32wPMuFFS7QSsoChHxhAmm9Ze-0lE1toyZGXEXlIq1cx6AX1rKge-T1YuYuKL3DJMPIPf7Zaaf48QvzkEsPV2Q/s1600/Phymatinae+081.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya1GGHFCdMOi5yuLnPz2HqnW8L1CwdKGyH70Mai8sa7049TCQ8nlyEP32wPMuFFS7QSsoChHxhAmm9Ze-0lE1toyZGXEXlIq1cx6AX1rKge-T1YuYuKL3DJMPIPf7Zaaf48QvzkEsPV2Q/s640/Phymatinae+081.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
While many insects use camouflage as a means of not being eaten, for ambush bugs stealth also means lunch. Equipped with raptorial front legs for grabbing prey, these insects can make short work of any flower visitor who doesn't spot them first.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlda0L_8cC1bWZ7B5uUZeTBOizeTaLhbbGIm-7scCznzdsKSRMc0qc9S9q_TOXxlr9Z728FykQQSzgvLy-9Bvr8gLRSkXapFqn4ZAf7qpV2-xzB0t8T7VXMh8tZsXbFJMN22CjywivkKeP/s1600/Phymatinae+083.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlda0L_8cC1bWZ7B5uUZeTBOizeTaLhbbGIm-7scCznzdsKSRMc0qc9S9q_TOXxlr9Z728FykQQSzgvLy-9Bvr8gLRSkXapFqn4ZAf7qpV2-xzB0t8T7VXMh8tZsXbFJMN22CjywivkKeP/s640/Phymatinae+083.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ambush bug's raptorial front legs</td></tr>
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After grabbing an insect, the bug uses it's straw-like beak and drinks the insides of it's unwilling meal:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylafjNvcM5Z-IBaNzjAEWStgSkF-d1kjUdotNwgyBmYBo7M19HvPlwE8nS595C4CgxIt5E6R7khaA61e3HitGQwH0vXIwBQaoW8T9ifKumr2KKZK1-agOaCeW4yfyzb7NskvliRMA3Fpt/s1600/Phymatinae+080.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylafjNvcM5Z-IBaNzjAEWStgSkF-d1kjUdotNwgyBmYBo7M19HvPlwE8nS595C4CgxIt5E6R7khaA61e3HitGQwH0vXIwBQaoW8T9ifKumr2KKZK1-agOaCeW4yfyzb7NskvliRMA3Fpt/s640/Phymatinae+080.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
In Delaware, I commonly find these bugs on yarrow or Queen Anne's Lace, but it takes a bit of practice to be able to regularly spot them!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-65913679449391527952012-08-16T16:42:00.001-04:002012-08-16T16:43:07.543-04:00I like... birds<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLoVhJtQGRSc4lgu143wWY7SZiIjUInK6eu7i8P3DSRsbmg77VaKMBIwGh0Afn1QrKmOhzJap8jn6J45aIoA1V3jzUf89aNY9ED3nhjMrE1tAynV-nq3cGZQc1Klxd08qv7e5MhnGc2cP/s1600/hummingbird+079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLoVhJtQGRSc4lgu143wWY7SZiIjUInK6eu7i8P3DSRsbmg77VaKMBIwGh0Afn1QrKmOhzJap8jn6J45aIoA1V3jzUf89aNY9ED3nhjMrE1tAynV-nq3cGZQc1Klxd08qv7e5MhnGc2cP/s640/hummingbird+079.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green violet-ear hummingbird, Costa Rica</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-699591192151349162012-08-12T22:00:00.001-04:002012-08-18T12:38:05.523-04:00Nothing says "I love you" like a maggot.<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-24qh2WHWcopmuK-PLxSJIjY5bSQWPwjTqP1iHY-m2DC96CWfsh9SOZT5aojPpttPfSW6H6h47kDfH08dYOYB_y5nm3_ln3n2oau_cbagRmOTkWkZ3p4h6yru9p-Qu04EPm1Yxhhu9L9U/s1600/adopt+a+maggot+072.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-24qh2WHWcopmuK-PLxSJIjY5bSQWPwjTqP1iHY-m2DC96CWfsh9SOZT5aojPpttPfSW6H6h47kDfH08dYOYB_y5nm3_ln3n2oau_cbagRmOTkWkZ3p4h6yru9p-Qu04EPm1Yxhhu9L9U/s400/adopt+a+maggot+072.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-84511164080688946632012-07-29T19:53:00.002-04:002012-07-29T19:53:45.408-04:00NMW: The Exploding Moth<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS6iPFAbSkxDNrWU30Fm7QkkC_f8j1JYFHtNv6TktHuajwA-_cUJilz28VmFy-UL5raUPtHv_Phy0SUoMwYDq58tS_nq3ALiqM_LeCjlCH6SUBWdY5xRu9IA0Qghco_g5Uh5heF8dX0k1/s1600/exploding+moth+044.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS6iPFAbSkxDNrWU30Fm7QkkC_f8j1JYFHtNv6TktHuajwA-_cUJilz28VmFy-UL5raUPtHv_Phy0SUoMwYDq58tS_nq3ALiqM_LeCjlCH6SUBWdY5xRu9IA0Qghco_g5Uh5heF8dX0k1/s640/exploding+moth+044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a pretty cool looking ctenuchine moth...</td></tr>
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Finishing up a splendid <a href="http://nationalmothweek.org/blog/">National Moth Week</a>, I give you 'the exploding moth!' It may not compare to fireworks or the <a href="http://insects.about.com/od/antsbeeswasps/qt/Honey-Bee-Mating.htm">exploding genitalia of male honeybees</a>, but it is still pretty impressive. When a student first grabbed one in Costa Rica, he was startled to find his hand covered with a sticky foam-like material.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVpKrGT_BoxlVyny6SboSG5yBdGn0KkqVL6ykkknXzGtXOKo03JSZfsGQJaEQIh-i2bDE_qg0QG7N7tUqDTTiv3gCVVB8ENxxNnwWZ7UVxePpoLei1B0QqViSFDr7VpqZ34dn-UXRLvFL/s1600/exploding+moth+043.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVpKrGT_BoxlVyny6SboSG5yBdGn0KkqVL6ykkknXzGtXOKo03JSZfsGQJaEQIh-i2bDE_qg0QG7N7tUqDTTiv3gCVVB8ENxxNnwWZ7UVxePpoLei1B0QqViSFDr7VpqZ34dn-UXRLvFL/s640/exploding+moth+043.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... with an even cooler behavior</td></tr>
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The 'foam' is actually a mass of filaments that are laced with toxic chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The male moth collects these chemicals from the surface of plants that produce them and in doing so it incurs protection from spiders and other predators. These filmaents (collectively called flocculent) are very light and it seems that even the slightest puff of air scatters it everywhere:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZFO9ie6L6nxGH7XZXWfAVS9AQp7OAM8BCiWPTfGozelwkalKFoNtF3D4kUku0H6BY31TmqOOtmsDaNs2dOtTwR7GGrL_tFfXJIVhCL8Sz5uaG4uusIA9mr-vBlvxxk-3VLJAHx50I7qP/s1600/exploding+moth+042.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZFO9ie6L6nxGH7XZXWfAVS9AQp7OAM8BCiWPTfGozelwkalKFoNtF3D4kUku0H6BY31TmqOOtmsDaNs2dOtTwR7GGrL_tFfXJIVhCL8Sz5uaG4uusIA9mr-vBlvxxk-3VLJAHx50I7qP/s640/exploding+moth+042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flocculent containing toxic chemicals deters predators</td></tr>
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Perhaps most interestingly, the male moth releases filaments as part of courtship and covers his mate with the flocculent, providing her (and her eggs) with chemical defense against predators.<br />
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Thanks to Anthony Deczynski for pointing out this unique behavior to me.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-3762023877726705832012-07-26T06:45:00.001-04:002012-07-26T06:51:35.776-04:00NMW: Saddleback Caterpillar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMzh-s3zQLx8uVhp1Y2CU91TUIyAgdSLJ9T7Y4k3nVSJr_1fDRT2C1TpYm9HN0lIYkIrNp7ddDhB-906vw2PTZAReOGNdAMTpHoju60u3xXahWd3jAwUpE2Fvh5XHq2WTDG68FeLqtn8Y/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMzh-s3zQLx8uVhp1Y2CU91TUIyAgdSLJ9T7Y4k3nVSJr_1fDRT2C1TpYm9HN0lIYkIrNp7ddDhB-906vw2PTZAReOGNdAMTpHoju60u3xXahWd3jAwUpE2Fvh5XHq2WTDG68FeLqtn8Y/s640/DSC_0389.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Acharia stimulea</i> the saddleback caterpillar, Delaware</td></tr>
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There are two methods for finding the saddleback caterpillar. The first is careful searching of a variety of its plant hosts, looking for evidence of feeding and flipping leaves over to see the larvae. The second method is to put on a pair of shorts from 1982 and stride confidently through shrubby vegetation until you <i>feel</i> the caterpillar. Like many other species in the family Limacodidae, the saddleback's spines will deliver a painful sting - I have (accidentally) encountered many of them this way.</div>
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The Limacodidae are called the 'slug caterpillars' because their prolegs (the grippy legs at the rear) are modified into one big pad. Members of this group also have turtle-style retractable heads, which I think contribute to their exotic appearance. This video might show you what I mean:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/psOQfpo8o0o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131088267392450362.post-16361278996850134622012-07-25T16:00:00.000-04:002012-07-25T16:00:01.062-04:00NMW: Masters of Disguise<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecFTleM0S2yrxcY65jHS3lsSJj-vI_wRxkTQACqA_HPxJYSk2UKZOu6deV2DrW3VIZxgecsgRud6gt3xzAuyk2HhhszwoJ4cJeCZG7NsKrwMwm10TnmnIA6WPcpJPs5iaafdDQTWZeGBm/s1600/camo+looper+054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecFTleM0S2yrxcY65jHS3lsSJj-vI_wRxkTQACqA_HPxJYSk2UKZOu6deV2DrW3VIZxgecsgRud6gt3xzAuyk2HhhszwoJ4cJeCZG7NsKrwMwm10TnmnIA6WPcpJPs5iaafdDQTWZeGBm/s640/camo+looper+054.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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Do you see anything unusual on these blazing star flowers?</div>
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How about now?</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yaOD1Ti8MKPhwPJ83I_kfZcat9zf371VG6jvlfS7LdXSt_MqGEeo157N3DgZ3DuPCnFVlaf_aMl6PiT4FTemivySmlDSNJ1IOo5EqibeDo-RptcjSsAUhVOkmPfNFwXxhAGhXeOyX3T8/s1600/camo+looper+053.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yaOD1Ti8MKPhwPJ83I_kfZcat9zf371VG6jvlfS7LdXSt_MqGEeo157N3DgZ3DuPCnFVlaf_aMl6PiT4FTemivySmlDSNJ1IOo5EqibeDo-RptcjSsAUhVOkmPfNFwXxhAGhXeOyX3T8/s640/camo+looper+053.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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For most caterpillars, life is about 4 things:<br />
eat<br />
poop<br />
grow<br />
don't get eaten.<br />
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That last one is a doozy - caterpillars make up a huge portion of the diet of most songbirds. There is a lot of pressure to not be seen. Nothing does 'I'm not here' better than the Camouflaged Looper, <i>Synchlora aerata.</i><br />
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Theses little loopers are quite common, but it took me years of looking to finally see one. The larva snips off pieces of the plant that it is eating and uses silk to attach tiny bouquets to its back, taking on the very color and texture of its host plant. As generalists, they feed on a wide variety of host plants and therefore come in a rainbow of colors, I have featured them in <a href="http://www.briancutting.com/2010/08/insects.html">orange</a>, <a href="http://www.briancutting.com/2011/12/best-of-2011.html">green</a>, and <a href="http://www.briancutting.com/2010/09/green-frog-rana-clamitans-and-duckweed.html">purple</a>, and they have become a favorite of mine to photograph. The adult is a delightful emerald moth: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI8xZrsOSZKGqCkLVKG2jt63e9dvAbcIPPtUOwjxf1cXqOtYh7OKd7hr30awUEwTfFxCtssljqZM9nT3V7B2O7wS_0DWoXXIi1wjXsqv6KaMHGDKWCre7Sa-ocTccK2covDdVvu7ai35o/s1600/emerald+moth+061.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI8xZrsOSZKGqCkLVKG2jt63e9dvAbcIPPtUOwjxf1cXqOtYh7OKd7hr30awUEwTfFxCtssljqZM9nT3V7B2O7wS_0DWoXXIi1wjXsqv6KaMHGDKWCre7Sa-ocTccK2covDdVvu7ai35o/s640/emerald+moth+061.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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As with so many things; patience is the secret for finding these guys. I find flowers on known host plants and simply stare at them from different angles until one of the blossoms wiggles or poops. It happens more often than you might imagine!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649523556789484339noreply@blogger.com0