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Caria chrysame psittacus, a type of metalmark butterfly known for its shimmery green markings. Photo credit: Kim Garwood

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Weevil, Sternuchopsis nero, Curculionidae

Found in Southeast Asia

Photos (free use) by Tiểu Bảo Trương

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Lanternfly (Pyrops candelaria), family Fulgoridae, Huay Xai, Bokeo, Laos

Photograph by Richard Ling

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made some blinkies [here]

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I gave the beebs a jelly cup as a treat and pyramidhead stepped in it and got SO upset

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A Temporary Sanctuary at Hitokotonushi Shrine Provides Fresh Water for Japan’s Honeybees

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fingerprint ant, Diacamma

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Artioposthia laingii (endemic land planarian) from our garden !! this is the second species of endemic planarian i have found under the garden pots while looking for slaters :-)

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Albino giant carnivorous Powelliphanta snail from New Zealand.

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Stinging Nettle Slug Caterpillar (Cup Moth, Limacodidae)

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The velvet worm Austroperipatus eridelos photographed by Gil Wizen!

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The Splendor of Iridescence: Structural Colors in the Animal World. Written and illustrated by Hilda Simon. 1971.

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 Swamps get a bad rap. People think of ‘swamps’ as the most ugly, mucky, gross place to be (heck, Shrek lives in one), but the word ‘swamp’ merely means a forested wetland. What are two of the most popular destinations for nature walks? Forests and wetlands, baby! Swamps are gorgeous and super vital to the ecosystem!

This beautiful destination is the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia:

Ever heard of the “Great Dismal Swamp” in Virginia? Do you imagine the most depressing, gross, scary place you’ve ever seen? It might look a bit haunting, but look how gorgeous the Great Dismal Swamp can be:

Oh yeah, did I mention that swamps are unbelievably rich in wildlife and rare plant species? For example, the Great Dismal Swamp has over 200 species of birds, over 70 species of reptiles and amphibians, and booming mammal populations (you’re very likely to see black bears and otters, for example). That doesn’t sound so dismal to me.

Speaking of wildlife, the Pantanal swamps in Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia are home to some rare and gorgeous animals like jaguars, hyacinth macaws, capybaras, caiman, giant otters, maned wolves, and more.

It’s easy to understand why swamps might get a bad reputation. They’re hard to travel on foot (many swamps now have boardwalk trails and canoe tours), and the stagnant water can smell bad and give a home to many bugs, which spread diseases. Cool animals like crocodiles and jaguars are bad news if you’re lost in the swamp and come face to face with one. But swamps are super important to the planet and are often way more beautiful than what you may be picturing! 

One cool thing swamps do is absorb excess water like sponges so the surrounding areas don’t get badly flooded. In addition to the many animals that live in swamps, swamp plants often have medicinal value or other practical purposes. And despite their reputation for being dirty, swamps actually purify water because their thick plant growth and soil absorb impurities in the water!

Anyway, don’t drain the swamps!

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text book slime mould pictures

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カプセルQミュージアム イモムシストラップコレクション イモコレ!4 (kaiyodo)

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Ribbed Pine Borer Larva, a digital painting experiment.