View allAll Photos Tagged Insect.
a brief note on context:
i was sieving stones from the sunken guerrilla garden i'm constructing in a deep divot in the rock of a local island. the "soil" in the divot is pretty much as though someone dumped a load of random rocks in a pit (from small pebbles & flakes to a few multihundredpound lumps) an aeon orso ago that has slowly been trickle-filled with decaying matter & wormshit until it's packed solid, a network of weird roots winding through it all. "digging" in this stuff is next to impossible: almost anywhere my little handtrowel gets pushed, it's stopped about a quarter-inch in by a rock.
pulling out yet another "keystone" about a coupla feet down, these 2 tumbled out from behind.
i get that the females can dig & have ovipositors that can extend somewhat further but this pair were deep under a jumble of almost-solid stone.
i've found a lot of worms in what would seem impossible places down here, too: maybe their holes are being used by others as well?
This Checkered skipper seems to be sleeping on a flower in the community garden in Centennial (Fairmont) Park in El Cerrito.
saw this unique very small insect and found it so beautiful. it isn't easy to photograph as it keeps on moving about. it is slightly smaller than the tip of a pencil eraser. anyone can assist me identifying this insect?
As we were taking our final stretch toward leaving the nature preserve, my wife suddenly noticed this pretty Praying Mantis sitting on a leaf high above us. Similar to our past experiences with these fascinating critters, this one, also, seemed to be rather calm, and almost enjoyed walking on our arms and had when offered the opportunity. You have to love these characters, for that is exactly what they are . . . CHARACTERS! The human like head movements and the way they observe you is so amazing and amusing. I just learned that the black dots in the eyes are not pupils, but the result of some sort of refractive process taking place with the light, and the size of these dots can appear to change depending on the particular situation.
The late, Doris Duke, had left a wonderful legacy in converting her magnificent estate into a Natural Wildlife Preserve for the public’s education and enjoyment. The paths throughout the estate offer such splendid scenery. One is forever exploring, always seeing something subtly beautiful. There are always pleasant surprises, from the general scenery to the world of birds and other wildlife, including tiny insects and flowers that are quite enjoyable to observe and study. The bucolic nature of the preserve is so relaxing—akin to meditating while experiencing the landscape. The beauty of visiting Duke Farms is that so many incredible views are there simply by absorbing the surroundings.
Besides the wonderful diversity of nature’s jewels, Doris Duke has left a part of her legacy through her passion for art—well situated throughout the preserve is a collection of glorious sculptures and fabulous examples of supreme stonework and design in the bridges, old ruins of enormous barns and stables, and a variety of other structures. The old Hay Barn ruin with its fabulous sculpture garden is truly a favorite of ours, for each and every statue seems to possess a spirit and sense of life. The landscape and backdrop can alter the mood, accordingly, depending on the time of day and seasonal changes in particular. So, spotting new and fascinating wildlife (both animals and plants) and art never ceases to add to the experience.
A so-called Water Prince (Hydrobasileus brevistylus) at the Mount Coot-tha botanical gardens, Brisbane, Nov 2019.
I came inside and saw something in my peripheral vision. I took my glasses off and discovered this little fellow had hitched a ride indoors. I've never seen one with such large red eyes and white wings.
iPod Touch photo cropped in Photogene.
Mayflies or shadflies are insects belonging to the order Ephemeroptera. They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies. (From Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfly). Adults have a very brief lifespan - from a few minutes to a few days.
J'ai vu plusieurs Cicindèles hier qui se promenaient ou se posaient sur le sable du seniter au soleil... Au soleil son coprs brille comme un bijou... Un joyau, un émeraude!!
La Cicindèle champêtre est un beau coléoptère vert, parfois bleuâtre, plus rarement noirâtre. C'est un insecte chasseur redoutable d'une grande rapidité et d'un appétit féroce. Elle attrape ses proies à la course et effectue des vols courts en cas de danger. Sa larve, également carnivore, vit dans un terrier vertical où elle attend qu'une proie passe à sa portée.
This beautiful Gaillardia wildflower was a popular plant as far as these very tiny insects (Thrips - thanks Lynette!) were concerned. These large flower heads are always a joy to see, adding such bright splashes of yellow to any walk in our natural areas. I photographed this one (and a few others) in Weaselhead on 18 July 2012.
"Thrips (Order Thysanoptera) are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings (thus the scientific name, from the Greek thysanos (fringe) + pteron (wing)[citation needed]). Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, and corn lice. Thrips species feed on a large variety of sources, both plant and animal, by puncturing them and sucking up the contents. A large number of thrips species are considered pests, because they feed on plants with commercial value. Some species of thrips feed on other insects or mites and are considered beneficial, while some feed on fungal spores or pollen. So far around 5,000 species have been described. Thrips are generally tiny (1 mm long or less) and are not good flyers, although they can be carried long distances by the wind. In the right conditions, many species can exponentially increase in population size and form large swarms, making them an irritation to humans."
A lot can be determined on species ID (still waiting on exact ID), by taking photos from different perspectives of your subject. Regardless of that bit of info, I do have an affinity for taking photographs of insects from behind.
Pennsylvania, US, June 21, 2025
IMGP8499
WONDER exhibit, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Jennifer Angus (1961– )
In the Midnight Garden
2015
cochineal, various insects, and mixed media
Courtesy of Jennifer Angus
"Angus's genius is the embrace of what is wholly natural, if unexpected. Yes, the insects are real, and no, she has not altered them except to position their wings and legs. The species in this gallery are not endangered, but in fact are quite abundant, primarily in Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea, a corner of the world where Nature seems to play with greater freedom. The pink wash is derived from cochineal insect living on cacti in Mexico, where it has long been prized as the best source of the color red. By altering the context in which we encounter such species, Angus startles us into recognition of what has always been a part of our world."
Waiting impatiently for these great posers to return. Winter has been loooong this year. Pachydiplax longipennis, Libellulidae. Central IL, Summer 2012.
The grasshopper drone is an unpiloted forward attack bug. It leaps across the front lines, fires a couple of plasma bursts at the enemy, and then leaps back. Can be either remotely controlled, or pre-programmed. Unlike a real grasshopper, this drone is incapable of sustained flight - it just jumps really high.