Masterclass Camouflage - _TNY_5535
This alder moth (Acronicta alni) from the Mjällådalen nature reserve is an interesting one.
This is the second to last instar and a seriously impressive mimicry of bird poop to avoid birds and other predators.
After the next (and final) moult, this one will turn into a really cool-looking caterpillar in black with intensely yellow transverse stripes and long black hairs pointing out. Hopefully, I'll have one of those to show you eventually.
In the instar stage here, this one is rarely photographed - much because the mimicty is so good, but for me, there was an additional reason I spotted it. The Mjällådalen nature reserve is based on the Mjällån river which is an unregulated water through sandy ground which has made it into this wonderfully meandering waterway which has eaten itself deep down and created a valley.
Well, when leaving, you have to climb out of said valley and at that point it becomes very apparent that I am 48 and my son is 14. He just bounces up the steep incline while I'm considerably slower.
I told him that I might as well look extra hard for some final bug finds so I could walk slower - and that's when I spotted this one.
I took a photo with my phone as well of this one together with my finger for scale here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53114074934/
Masterclass Camouflage - _TNY_5535
This alder moth (Acronicta alni) from the Mjällådalen nature reserve is an interesting one.
This is the second to last instar and a seriously impressive mimicry of bird poop to avoid birds and other predators.
After the next (and final) moult, this one will turn into a really cool-looking caterpillar in black with intensely yellow transverse stripes and long black hairs pointing out. Hopefully, I'll have one of those to show you eventually.
In the instar stage here, this one is rarely photographed - much because the mimicty is so good, but for me, there was an additional reason I spotted it. The Mjällådalen nature reserve is based on the Mjällån river which is an unregulated water through sandy ground which has made it into this wonderfully meandering waterway which has eaten itself deep down and created a valley.
Well, when leaving, you have to climb out of said valley and at that point it becomes very apparent that I am 48 and my son is 14. He just bounces up the steep incline while I'm considerably slower.
I told him that I might as well look extra hard for some final bug finds so I could walk slower - and that's when I spotted this one.
I took a photo with my phone as well of this one together with my finger for scale here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53114074934/