PARATYPE
coll'ed by Alan R. Hardy & F. G. Andrews
spmn in the EGRC, College Station, TX
I'm somewhat sure this is mysticum since queens were flying, but I'm having trouble distinguishing from M. rogeri. The clypeus looks round enough for mysticum...
Extracted from under the bark of a dead log. Log had been pointed out to me by Fielisy "Fidel" Bemaheva, who is an extremely knowledgeable old hand at Madagascar ants.
This deep water sea star was found in the gut of a rockfish! Observation by Eric Austin Yee, who was cleaning a boat belonging to J&M Sportfishing. This species is found 150-1000’ deep according to Smithsonian echinoderm researcher Chris Mah, who stayed up late helping me with this ID. 🙏 Unfortunately the sea star was thrown overboard in 100’ water after its photo op.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7840855
And yes, it looks like a Cheez-it.
at porch light. i didn't set up any black lights because I thought it would rain.
Lots of fruiting bodies at various stages on one log
war in Ukraine
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GLB4kyiEoECLKmtF7
This Tonicella lineata (Lined Chiton) was only a bit more than 1/2" long, yet one of the prettiest I've ever seen.
Very interesting snail with shell almost covered
At light sheet. Urban wooded neighborhood - Mostly Oak/Hackberry/Elm - about 100m from a small creek.
I'm super happy with this shot. Absolutely stunning animal.
Have more pics in case there may be enough detail to key it out. Would love to put a name on this photo :)
~4mm body length
I came across a few instances of mosquitoes (I believe) hanging from a thread of silk. I haven't seen this before so will have to investigate this behavior.
Update: Turns out these are Midges hanging on spider silk waiting to mate. Thanks to all who responded below!
feeding on Symplocos cochinchinensis tree in wet sclerophyll forest, 1000m elevation
I was convinced these were wasps at the time that I photographed them -- superb mimicry!
Very tiny but exceptionally beautiful. I'd love to ID it. Thanks in advance!
I have no idea what this is. There's entire orders of tiny arthropods I'm not familiar with beyond name and general morphology, but still, it's strange to get good clean shots of a thing and still have no idea what I'm looking at.
Edit: We have a professional ID! https://bugguide.net/node/view/1977688/bgimage
Curious shot taken by my friend Vinícius Ferarezi (who's agreed with this publication) on the Kiss concert. A katydid (Phaneropterinae?) landed on the MIC hahahaha
Peculiar behaviour. Got a few quick photos before they (presumably) woke up and flew off.
Florida Bluet riding a sandwich through the inky void. This is not an altered photo, nor was this my sandwich.
Aphid of some sort but the suction cup structure beneath is what is confusing. Any ideas/information?
Flew down and landed on the screen. I quickly searched for the species so it could be with its kin ;-)
See her swinging her bolas: https://youtu.be/DKMrKwTNV5k
Some more wonderful photos of this lady by photographers much better then moi. She is quite a celebrity!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/101951926508391/permalink/4394361263934081/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/101951926508391/permalink/4397220953648112/
Taken years ago. Came out of the conch shell. Not sure if it's a night snake, but that's the closest I've seen.
What's going on here? Are the small red mites babies or parasites??
Note: I have photographed this Hexatomini at Cedar Bog in Champaign County, Ohio for at least 17 years. Always in the same area.
I've added two other observations; one from back in 2004.
Links to those observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88273567
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84762884
Here's an observation this year (2022) with better pics of wing venation. Same location.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124010854
A green chiton attached to a half crab. We observed this alien looking commensal beast while undertaking an intertidal survey on the reefs off Hawera. It made us jump when we first turned over the rock.
Presumably a parasitic plant since no leaves were observed and no plants nearby.