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today my mom found this one

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European stag beetle males, Lucanus cervus, Lucanidae

Photographed by Frank Deschandol // Instagram

Shared with permission; do not remove credit or re-post!

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She doesn’t just protect — she parents.

What you're seeing isn’t just a pretty bug. This is a mother shield bug (family Pentatomidae), standing guard over her newly hatched nymphs — and yes, it’s 100% real.

While many insects abandon their eggs to fate, she stays. Her vibrant armor isn’t just camouflage — it’s a warning. Predators beware: come too close, and she’ll stand her ground for the helpless swarm beneath her.

The deep crimson of her young isn't just striking — it's evolutionary strategy. As they grow, they'll shed their skins several times (called instars) until they take on her full armored form.

Scientists call this behavior subsocial parenting — when mothers protect but don’t feed their offspring. And in a world where most bugs lay and leave, that’s extraordinary.

She’s not here to run. She’s here to raise a legion.

#WildLife #ShieldBug #insects #Nature #Photography

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Balacra rubrostriata

@hispaatra, @zick-the-fairy, @the-ellia-west, @thegalacticidiot. Another one thank you. Another thank you. Another one... jk jk jk but yeah, another short post because there is too little research :(( But, eitherway, I hope you like it :DDD

Balacra rubrostriata is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was first described in 1898. It occurs in tropical Africa, where it inhabits Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

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Image sources:

1.

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/79299802

2.

https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/544992-Balacra-rubrostriata

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Text references:

1.

https://www.jungledragon.com/specie/26165/balacra_rubrostriata_.html

2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balacra_rubrostriata

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Agricultural pest? Destroyer of trees?? This silly little thing???

Look at this little menace to society cleaning herself like a kitty. Amazing

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This is for you, @onenicebugperday! ^^

Found a big moth, probably one of the few big moths I have seen so far, and I think it is a sphinx moth. It is so cute :D

(Note: these pictures were taken by a nice employee who works at the post office)

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[PHOTOS TAKEN: JUNE 8TH, 2025 | Image IDs: Eight photos of a reddish-brown stag beetle, in six of which it's standing on a human hand, while in the latter two it's walking across a bunch of brown leaf litter /End IDs.]

The nefarious pincherrr 💥 Lucanus capreolus, the reddish-brown stag beetle!

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mark your calendars...

display at my local library!!

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Magnificent Grapevine beetle friend I encountered today

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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

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Saved this critter from the web of a spider that was way too small to actually eat it, but then it wouldn't get off of me. Those spikey feet feel a lot like getting a tattoo, but gently

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[PHOTOS TAKEN: JUNE 2ND, 2025 | Image IDs: Four photos of a spotted black and white giant leopard moth perching on the side of a brown wooden post /End IDs.]

Hypercompe scribonia, the giant leopard moth!

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wedding weevil 930

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