Journal of the Plague Year

Carbet @ 20sec

2009-02-12T05:32:00.001-08:00

Carbet @ 20sec, originally uploaded by smccann.

Mantid

2009-02-12T05:31:00.003-08:00

Mantid, originally uploaded by smccann.

Welcome to the Jungle

2009-02-12T05:31:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the Jungle, originally uploaded by smccann.

Araneus diadematus

2008-12-10T07:30:00.001-08:00

Araneus diadematus, originally uploaded by smccann.

Burnaby BC
12/5/08

More Springtails

2008-12-03T12:44:00.001-08:00

More Springtails, originally uploaded by smccann.

Burnaby BC
12/2/08

Culiseta incidens

2008-12-03T12:43:00.001-08:00

Culiseta incidens, originally uploaded by smccann.

rick730

Run for the Cure

2008-10-28T10:23:00.001-07:00

Run for the Cure, originally uploaded by smccann.

Lions

2008-10-02T06:44:00.001-07:00

Lions
Originally uploaded by smccann

Race Rocks BC
9/28/08

Sea Lion

2008-10-02T06:43:00.003-07:00

Sea Lion, originally uploaded by smccann.

Race Rocks BC
9/28/08

Orca

2008-10-02T06:43:00.001-07:00

Orca, originally uploaded by smccann.

A whale watching trip for Onour's birthday.
Race Rocks BC
9/28/08

Flying Coyote

2008-05-26T08:34:00.001-07:00

Flying Coyote, originally uploaded by smccann.

Beetle on Dandelion

2008-05-26T08:33:00.001-07:00

Beetle on Dandelion, originally uploaded by smccann.

Everythig be Irie

2008-05-26T08:28:00.001-07:00

Everythig be Irie, originally uploaded by smccann.

Burnaby Lake Park
5/25/08
Summertime is here. Finally getting some good weather, and what better way to enjoy it than to walk around parks getting sunburned?

Spider with young

2008-05-23T09:51:00.001-07:00

Spider with young
Originally uploaded by smccann

Fly eggs

2008-05-23T09:49:00.001-07:00

Fly eggs, originally uploaded by smccann.

Fancy grassshopper

2008-04-06T17:28:00.001-07:00

Fancy grassshopper, originally uploaded by smccann.

Not much in the way of posting or taking pictures...The S2 seems to have given up the ghost in the rainforest. I should be getting a refund soon and I will get an s5.

Prism Eyes

2008-02-07T03:44:00.001-08:00

Prism Eyes, originally uploaded by smccann.

Nouragues French Guiana
2/3/08

Mischocyttarus

2008-02-07T03:42:00.001-08:00

Mischocyttarus, originally uploaded by smccann.

Larva, egg, hatching egg, pupa, adult.
Nouragues French Guiana
2/4/08

Dicyrtomina

2008-01-15T08:28:00.001-08:00

Dicyrtomina, originally uploaded by smccann.

1/13/07
Brunette Creek
Burnaby BC
Taken with lens from binoculars taped onto Raynox DCR250

Moss

2008-01-15T08:27:00.001-08:00

Moss, originally uploaded by smccann.

1/13/07
Brunette Creek
Burnaby BC
Taken with lens from binoculars taped onto Raynox DCR250

Christmas Crows

2008-01-08T08:26:00.003-08:00

Crowz, originally uploaded by smccann.

Victoria BC
12/25/07

Christmas Swallowtail

2008-01-08T08:26:00.001-08:00

Christmas Swallowtail, originally uploaded by smccann.

Found in Chinatown
Victoria BC
12/24/07

Barred Owl

2007-12-19T10:08:00.001-08:00

Barred Owl, originally uploaded by smccann.

Larrabee SP
Washington USA

Cold Heron

2007-12-19T09:14:00.001-08:00

Cold Heron 2, originally uploaded by smccann.

Here is a Heron I photographed the other day in the freezing snow...
Brunette Creek
Burnaby BC
12/2/07

Gooses

2007-12-19T09:07:00.003-08:00

Gooses, originally uploaded by smccann.

Here I am starting a new procedure that should allow me to post more frequently....I am blogging directly from flickr, which is where I keep most of my photos anyway.

Icy

2007-12-19T09:07:00.001-08:00

Icy, originally uploaded by smccann.

Dawn

2007-12-19T09:06:00.001-08:00

Dawn, originally uploaded by smccann.

Springtail

2007-12-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

Springtail, originally uploaded by smccann.

Brunette Creek BC
12/16/07

Made of Amber?

2007-12-19T08:57:00.001-08:00

Made of Amber?, originally uploaded by smccann.

Brunette Creek BC
12/16/07

2007-07-27T11:26:00.001-07:00

Back in Canada

2007-05-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Burnaby Lake Park
5/5/07

Burnaby Lake Park
5/5/07

Burnaby Lake Park
5/5/07

Payne's Prairie

2006-11-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

Coluber constrictor
Payne's Prairie SP, FL
11/12/06

Centruroides hentzi
Payne's Prairie SP, FL
11/12/06

Easy Shootin'

2006-11-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

Agapostemon splendens
Vero Beach FL
9/11/06

Blue
Vero Beach FL
9/11/06

Agapostemon splendens
Vero Beach FL
9/11/06

Polistes with Strepsipterans
Vero Beach FL
9/11/06

The cooler weather has made the insect photography both easier and more comfortable. Hopefully I will be able to keep up a reasonable amount of output in the next little while....
I will be travelling to Montreal for the Entomological Society of Canada meeting next week, and a week after that to Vancouver to check out a PhD opportunity...And a quick visit home!

Done!!!!!!!!

2006-10-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Defended successfuly!

10/19/06

Orlando

2006-10-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

Sunrise

2006-10-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

In the Dark

2006-10-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

Some kinda Crazy Megachilid Fort Pierce FL
9/26/06

Megachile Fort Pierce FL
9/26/06

Gator, Gainesville FL
10/01/06

Sunset

2006-09-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there?

2006-09-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

I have not posted in a helluva long time, and if anyone still visits this site, I apologize. I have been working like mad at writing my thesis and am now mostly done. That means 5 of the 6 chapters are written and submitted to my advisor. My defense is on the 19th of October, and after that things should be a lot less hectic. I have still been posting quite a bit to flickr, as far as photos go...So what interesting morsel can I post today? I suppose that the mantid and the Milichiids make a good story, so here goes.This is a Brunner's mantid that has captured a stinkbug. The flies are Milichiids that are attracted to the defensive compounds released by the stinkbug....

Whereupon they get in there and eat up what they can....

Hairstreaks, ant and frog

2006-08-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

Video on the Plague Year!

2006-07-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

Busy!!!

2006-07-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the eye of Sauron! Actually, it is just Osteopilus septentrionalis.
Fort Pierce FL
7/2/06

Mutilid, or Velvet Ant. Still havent tested the sting on these babies, but it is said to be wicked.
Pinelands Natural Area, St. Lucie County FL
7/1/06

Aedes albopictus ovipositing. A very pretty invasive species.
Vero Beach FL
7/3/06

Stiretrus anchorago
A stinkbug. A pretty stinkbug.
Fort Pierce FL
7/6/06

So, why title this post "Busy"? Well that describes how my life is, trying to complete my thesis, and finish my last class. I have one last (hopefully) experiment running, and then it is just analysis and writing. Should be done by December (actually the thesis needs to be done September, defended in October). Anyway, I guess I gotta get on providing that photo expedition through my project that tf23 asked me about during his visit. I won't promise it won't bore you, but I will try to keep it lively. The exciting world of insect geriatrics!
I will try to get that up and running starting Monday (bloodfeeding time)!

Predation and Wetness

2006-06-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

Phidippus regius eating a Broad Headed Bug
(Ant mimicry didn't help here!)
Fort Pierce FL
6/27/06

Wet Bee
Fort Pierce FL
6/27/06

Podisus eating a Chrysomelid larva
Fort Pierce FL
6/27/06

The past few days...

2006-06-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Agapostemon spp.
Vero Beach FL
6/19/06

Beefly (no zoom!)
Savannas Preserve SP
6/25/06

Silverfish
Savannas Preserve SP
6/25/06

Pseudomymex ant
Pinelands Natural Area
6/24/06

Purty Microlep
Fort Pierce FL
6/24/06

Aedes albopictus
Vero Beach FL
6/19/06

Hentzia palmarum
Fort Pierce FL
6/23/06

Megacephala virginica
Fort Pierce FL
6/19/06

Lotsa Bugs!

2006-06-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ambush Bugs Phymata spp.
Fort Pierce FL
6/16/06

Flower Buprestid, Acmaeodera spp.
Fort Pierce FL
6/16/06

Some kind of Alydid (Broad Headed Bug), on Necklace Pod (Sophora tomentosa)
Fort Pierce FL
6/18/06

Ant mimicking nymph of the Alydid above.
Fort Pierce FL
6/18/06

Pretty Stinky
Fort Pierce FL
6/18/06

Rambur's Forktail
For some reason in the Southeast, there are these orange females flying around.
Fort Pierce FL
6/18/06

Payne's Prairie

2006-06-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

Thiodina spp.
on Bugguide here.
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

Thiodina spp.
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

I like the lighting effect of fill flash on a backlit subject.
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star Tick)
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

Cicindela scutellaris unicolor
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

Coquilletidia perturbans
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

Atlides halesus (Purple Hairstreak)
Payne's Prairie SP
6/10/06

Savannas on the weekend

2006-06-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

Zebra Swallowtail
Eurytides marcellus
Savannas Preserve SP
6/4/06

Celithemis eponina
Savannas Preserve SP
6/4/06

Savannas Preserve SP
6/4/06

Savannas Preserve SP
6/4/06

Microtomus purcis
Savannas Preserve SP
6/4/06

Gainesville-St. Augustine-Fort Pierce

2006-06-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria
Gainesville FL
5/28/06
Ya' gotta view this large!
These girls are sure impressive, and a little creepy with how fast they run and climb.

Egret intent on fishing
St. Augustine FL
5/28/06
He finally did catch a small minnow. This shot was taken with a circular polarizer fitted. I am not sure whether the strange reflections in the water are a result of that or not.

Oak
Payne's Prairie FL
5/27/06
It is really tough to capture the magesty of the big live oaks you see in the forest. They are just so massive!

Hubble Space Telescope?
Nah, just fireworks with the S2IS
St. Augustine FL
5/28/06

Damselflies mating
Payne's Prairie FL
5/27/06

Hippodrome Theater
Gainesville FL
5/26/06
One of my favorite places in Gainesville that is not a natural area. Also one of the only places where you can see a decent movie.

Ichneumonid Wasp (dead)
Fort Pierce FL
5/30/06
I'm not too sure what killed this, although the thread-like things suggest a spider.

Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) with young
Fort Pierce FL
5/31/06
If you view this large, you can see the reflection of my homemade flash diffuser in the eyes. Other than that, I am happy with how these shots work.

Sumac Flea Beetles
Blepharida rhois
Indrio Savannas
5/31/06
They sure are purty! They jump quite well with those big ol' rear legs.

Cicadellids are real Purty

2006-05-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Oncometopia orbona
Blue Sharpshooter
Fort Pierce FL
5/25/06

The awesomer power of S2IS and Raynox DCR250!

2006-05-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here is my bad boy all loaded down with adapter, macro conversion lens, and tripod.I didn't show my flash diffuser, beacause it is just a styrofoam plate.

A Calliphorid, fresh from the chickenshit pile.
Vero Beach FL
5/25/06

Leafhopper, genus Xyphon
Fort Pierce FL
5/24/06

Muscid
Vero Beach FL
5/25/06

Megachilid
Vero Beach FL
5/25/06

Vero Beach FL
5/24/06
Three-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus).

Blarghhghh!
Vero Beach FL
5/24/06

This macro adapter is powerful stuff. It is somewhat difficult to use, but the details that it can capture are amazing.
Stay tuned for more.

Heavy on images, light on words

2006-05-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

Glenurus gratus (An antlion)
Vero Beach FL
5/23/06

Diogmites spp.
Fort Pierce FL
5/22/06

Graphocephala coccinea
Pinelands Natural Area
5/20/06

Does anyone know what type this is?
Vero Beach FL
5/22/06

Marsh Rabbit
Pinelands Natural Area
5/20/06

Thamnophis sirtalis
Pinelands Natural Area
5/20/06

Ormenaria rufifascia
Pinelands Natural Area 5/20/06

Acmaeodera spp.
Pinelands Natural Area 5/20/06

Cicindela hirtilabris
Indrio Savannas, FL
5/19/06

More S2 IS power!

2006-05-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

Actenodes auronotata

Coluber constrictor
After taking these 2 shots, I realized that I had some file compression on. I was wondering why a 5MP camera would take a picture of only a meg or so. I have adjusted the compression accordingly, and now my 256MB card will give me 96 images or so. I think I will get another to supplement.

Feel the awesome power of the S2 IS!

2006-05-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

I came into some money (Thanks to dad and the IRS) , so I finally got myself a better camera; the Canon Powershot S2 IS. This is Canon's long-zoom model (12X optical), so I am really excited to see what it can do.

The first thing is, macro is no problem. This camera can focus on something actually touching the lens. Here it is in UltraMacro with autofocus on a Honeybee.

This green anole is washed out, but it shows the macro capability and the camera (sort of).

Here is a Pierid in macro mode. Autofocus.

Here is a Gulf Fritillary in Macro...Just kidding! This is at full zoom, handheld!

And to my surprise, the zoom came in handy when I saw this rat. This shot is manually focused, with a nice feature the camera has that automatically brackets the shot with 2 more offset a specified distance, shooting at 2.4fps (by the way, this shot is my initial focus).
Any idea what species it is?
In summary I am pretty darn happy with this lovely new camera. What do y'all think?

Mother's Day

2006-05-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Mothers carry you around on their backs...

Lay you in rotting wood...

No butterfly/mother connections...

No butterfly/mother connections...

Watch over you

Bring you roadkill....
Crested Caracaras
Route 70, near Fort Pierce

Drink blood to nourish you....

And hop around?
Happy Mothers Day!

Euphoric start to the weekend

2006-05-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Euphoria fulgida, the Emerald Euphoria. These were common as stink today, landing on Oak and Grape and whatnot, and apparently doing nothing.
Vero Beach FL
5/13/06

Plecia. Another common sight hereabouts this time of year.
One interesting thing I saw today is that dragonflies will investigate these, but neglect to eat them. They fly up and look, but, do not catch. I suppose that aposematic coloration works!
Fort Pierce FL
5/13/06

As of yet I know not what this gecko may be. Perhaps Hemidactylus mabouia?
Fort Pierce FL
5/13/06

Baby Mockingbirds outside my place.
Fort Pierce FL
5/13/06

A displaying Brown Anole at the lab.
Vero Beach FL
5/12/06

Burial

2006-05-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

Bicyrtes Digger Wasp with Coreid Prey
Vero Beach FL
5/12/06

Taming of the Plague Year '06

2006-05-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

The following being a photographic account from my end of a joint expedition to Savannas Preserve SP with Thingfish23. This was only possible after assuring our significant others that neither one of us was a murderer or another woman (Which would be worse?).
The photos are presented in no particular order:

Pseudomyrmex. The only perfect Communists.

Some kind of Merocoris (Coreidae) gettin it on.

Lubber Nymph. Common as stink, and taste like crap, but ain't they pretty?

TF23 (the optimist) thought this might be a Water Bug. "Nah, it's an assassin" I told him, after he shook it off his hand. Probably would have hurt a bit more than a water bug had it bit. Then again without human subjects, how will we ever know?
Apiomerus spissipes, the Bee Assassin.

We're thinking Gray Hairstreak, but a rather drab specimen.

TF23 in action. Note intense concentration, essential when photographing subjects that move.

A spider found under a log.

Overall, tf23's visit was a fun time. I showed him around the ol' lab (which does smell like an elementary school with mold thrown in), and he gave me some pointers on cameras and life in general. With some reservations, I do pledge to document some of my thesis work to present to the public at large (if they are ready to have their worlds rocked).
Another thing I plan on doing is visiting the old band-aid. It was right interesting comparing notes on society in general, photography, lost souls in the woods, blogging, and Johnny Cash.
If you want to get a better accounting of the trip and see some better pictures from a different perspective, be sure to visit the band-aid yourself. I am sure the post will be up sooner than you think.

"Don't even act like I didn't get that donut. I got the proof right here!"

Couple introduced species

2006-05-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

This being Delta rendalli, a Eumenine wasp originally from Africa, mon. It was found in Jamaica in 1979, and showed up in Dade (stay too long, you'll be dade*) County FL in 1981. I found this a couple weeks ago, and had it identified by Jim Wiley at FDACS in Gainesville. I guess he should have the specimen now, but it was positively ID'ed from the photo. It should be a new county record for St. Lucie.
On a related topic, I found another introduced species, this time a type of spider, caled Selenops submaculosus, introduced from the Bahamas, and previously recorded from Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties. It would look something like this one:

I just got the PDF of a notice that this too is a new county record (Indian River). Pretty cool. So if you live north of here, they are coming for you!

*More Dade expressions:
1)"We fry 'em gooood down hereabouts!"
2) "Get the coke, Tubbs!"
3)"Come on, shake your body baby,do the conga,
I know you can't control yourself any longa"

2006-04-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hippopsis lemniscata
Thingfish23 Posted this same beetle today from the deep southwest of Floor Duh. Amazing coincidence? Simultaneous emergence? Who can say?

Antlion
Vero Beach FL
4/25/06

A sketch

2006-04-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

That I did not do of a pig skull....
This is the first thing I have done in photoshop that I dont think is hideous..

Tough 4/20

2006-04-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

American Redstart
4/20/06 Vero Beach FL
Bashed into a window (or something) He eventually flew away.

....

2006-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

OK, time to change the commenting to word verification. The spammers have found me again!
I am not sure which company might think spamming is a good way to find customers, but here is a news break: Screw Off!

More Porn

2006-04-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Carmenta texana
Vero Beach FL
4/14/06

Pseudoscorpion

2006-04-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

Pseudoscorpion
Found under pine bark
Fort Pierce FL
4/14/06

Extra special additions

2006-04-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

Trichiotinus rufobrunneus
Indrio Savannas FL
4/10/06

Grumman Mallard
This is the same thing that crashed off Miami Beach in December, although that was a turboprop version. This one had the good old radials that are loud as hell.

Pornfest

2006-04-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

Mating Flower Scarabs
Trichiotinus lunulatus
http://bugguide.net/node/view/47511
Vero Beach FL
4/11/06

Mating Anthophorine Bees
Vero Beach FL
4/11/06

Mating Pierids
Vero Beach FL
4/10/06

Mating Soldierflies, Hemetia illucens
Vero Beach FL
4/8/06

Grab Bag from Pinelands Natural Area

2006-04-09T15:07:00.000-07:00

Centruroides hentzi

Robberfly
St. Lucie County
4/9/06

Phyciodes phaon
St. Luicie County FL
4/9/06

If you take these kinds of pictures.....

2006-04-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

You have to be ready....

For the female to take flight...

And then come at you with her stinger!
(Unfortunately I have no shots of the last stage, as I was running away...)
Zeta argillaceum
Vero Beach FL
4/6/06

2006-04-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so this is how this goes. I got this caterpillar from a friend and was wondering what it was. So I stuck it in a cage with soem Oak leaves and lett'er rip. A few days later there was a cocoon, then a few weeks after that this nice little moth. I am pretty sure it is a Dot-lined White, or Artace cribraria. What do you think?
Vero Beach FL
3/20/06-4/6/06

SORRY EVERYONE!

2006-04-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Ok. I am an idiot. Officially and without any caveats. Here is the story. I thought my silly little blog had no attention whatsoever, with no comments and very little hits. What happened was that I had left "comment moderation" on, which means that I have to approve what folks say before it gets published. I didn't have an email address typed in, so I never knew when a comment came in, and I never thought to check. I suppose I thought that once I added word verification on nobody bothered to leave a comment. I am so sorry about that. I will try to respond to the 40 comments that I have left after computer trimming of my comment inbox. Anyway, shee it! I feel like a fool, but that ain't nuthin' new.

Mangrove Skipper

2006-04-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

Phocides pigmalion
Vero Beach FL
4/5/06
There she be in all her glory. I get pretty excited when I get a shot of a new beast, especially one that has been taunting me for a couple weeks.
These apparently feed on Red Mangrove (Rhisophora mangle), in contrast to the Mangrove
Buckeye:

which feeds on Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans).

White Peacock

2006-03-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

Anartia jatrophae
Vero Beach FL
3/29/06

Polyphemus Moth

2006-03-24T07:38:00.000-08:00

Antheraea polyphemus
Posted to Bugguide here.
Vero Beach FL
3/21/06

Mystery Coreid

2006-03-24T07:34:00.000-08:00

Corecoris
Vero Beach FL
Posted on Bugguide here.
3/21/06

White M Hairstreak

2006-03-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

Parrhasius m-album
Vero Beach FL
3/23/06

Green Anole and Leucauge

2006-03-20T17:29:00.000-08:00

Anolis carolinensis
Vero Beach FL
3/20/06
Right after this was taken, the anole grabbed the spider and took off into the bush. I suppose he was balancing out the reward (the spider) with the threat (me).

Broad Headed Skink

2006-03-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

Eumeces laticeps
Vero Beach FL
3/14/06

America

2006-03-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

.40 cal? Found this in my parking lot, about 20 feet from my window. My guess is some dickhead was trying to shoot out the lights, or maybe trying to do nothing. Who knows. I'm just glad a person was not in the way. Stupid yankees. Then again I have seen similar stupidity in Canada as well. Maybe just "stupid rednecks". F-you all. You suck.

Bird Turd Moth (Pearly Wood Nymph)

2006-03-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

Eudryas unio
Vero beach FL
3/6/06

Conopid

2006-03-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

Physocephala spp.
Vero Beach FL
3/2/06
http://bugguide.ent.iastate.edu/node/view/43967/bgimage

Potter Wasp

2006-03-03T10:54:00.000-08:00

Some kida Eumenine.
Vero Beach FL
3/2/06

Florida Crowned Snake

2006-03-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

Tantilla relicta pamlica
Vero Beach FL
2/28/06
Wow. It isn't very often that I find a new species of snake. This little guy was underneath a piece of plywood that I check fairly often. It burrows very quickly and was quite small.

2006-02-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

Vanessa atalanta
Vero Beach FL
2/23/06

Long-tailed mealybug
Vero Beach FL
2/24/06

Odontomyia spp. (Stratiomyidae)
Vero Beach FL
2/22/06

Vanessa atalanta
Vero Beach FL
2/24/06

So?

2006-02-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae
Finally got some half-decent shots of these.
Vero Beach FL, 2/21/06

Here is another Carmenta texana
Vero Beach FL 2/21/06
So? What can I say? I dunno. Sometimes life in the human world is a disappointing experience, Somtimes a day in the field is a disappointment. Some days are great, though, and you just forget the shit and carry on. Maybe you will see a Black Racer chase an Anole up a tree (I did), sometimes you get a shot at some cool Leps. Sometimes you just want to hide in a cave and pretend that there is no such thing as Homo sapiens. (This is me every day. ) Anyway, hope the 3 people who manage to find this page enjoy the photos. I enjoyed taking them.

Synanthedon sapygaeformis

2006-02-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

A beautiful little Sesiid that I found yesterday near FMEL. It was about 12 mm in length. Went looking today, but no sign of it. It is interesting to compare with Carmenta texana:, which I also found in the same area.
2/16/06
Vero Beach FL

2006-02-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

2/15/06 Vero Beach FL
Red Banded Hairstreak
Calycopis cecrops

Dolichopodid
Vero Beach FL
2/14/06

2006-02-14T08:33:00.000-08:00

Heliconius charitonius
Vero Beach FL
2/14/06

Dolichopodid

2006-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

Fort Pierce FL
2/12/06
This is the best Dolichopodid shot I have ever taken which isn't saying much, but whatever.
I was just remarking to a fellow on Bugguide that I wish these things were slower...Then I went out into the back of the dorm and found this little beauty immobilized by cold. Great luck, or divine intervention (which was not that good a Slayer album anyhow)?

Some kinda Coccinelid

2006-02-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

2/12/06 Ft. Pierce FL
A cold day in Southern Florida, and this dude was hanging out with another ladybug and a small orbwever.

Grab Bag

2006-02-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Xylocopa micans, male.
Check it, yo'.
I had no real idea what it was I was seeing here, just that it was a Xylocopa, and it was pretty. Jeff Hollenbeck sugested it might be a X. micans male, so I looked it up. Sure enough that is what it seems to be. We have only 2 species in this genus in Florida, and this is the only one with a greenish-blue abdomen. I am quite pleased with this picture, and I hope to see some more of these soon.
Anyway, I am wondering what the heck the differrent colours are for. How do they mate? How long lived are the males? Where is my million dollars?
Vero Beach FL 2/11/06

Junonia evarete, The Mangrove Buckeye
Vero Beach FL
2/11/06

Xylocopa micans
Vero Beach FL 2/11/06

Otter in the Mangroves

2006-02-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

Lutra canadensis
Vero Beach FL
2/10/06
Saw this guy swimming down a channel. He saw me and stretched up to take a closer look. I can't quite describe the sound he was making, but it was something like "Pfft! Pffft!". I suppose it is strange to have some dude taking your picture while you are swimming around a mangrove swamp.

Zeta argillaceum

2006-02-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

Zeta argillaceum
Vero Beach FL
2/10/06

2006-02-10T07:21:00.000-08:00

Diaprepes abbreviatus
Vero Beach FL 2/9/06

Megachile spp.
Fort Pierce FL
2/7/06

Trichechus manatus
Fort Pierce FL
2/7/06

Zebra Longwing

2006-02-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

Heliconius charitonius
Vero Beach FL
2/9/06
Finally I have got a decent image of this butterfly! There were so many flying around today, but it was a bit cool, and thus they were less wary.

2006-02-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

Vanessa atalanta
Vero Beach FL
2/08/06
Here is a Red Admiral. The back wing is a little torn, but this gives it character. Spend your lifetime munching leaves, getting fat, molting occaisionally, then WHAM! you are a flying creature looking for nectar and mates and that is it man. If ou survive a few weeks, you are lucky. If you survive 5 months, you are a Monarch. How dorky is that? Anyway those are my thoughts on Lepidoptera. No message here, and the photo is never gonna win any prizes, but I sure like taking pictures of them.

Flyin' Halictid

2006-02-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

Northbound departure
Vero Beach FL
2/1/06
Here is what I would call a failed shot of a halictid bee. But on second thought, it has a distinctive charm of its own. The pollen on the leg hairs has taken on a curious golden appearance, and the metallic colouration of the cuticle remains intact. This is what these guys do most of the time anyhow, so it an accurate representation of behaviour.

Crablike Spiny Orbweaver

2006-02-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

Gasteracantha cancriformis
Vero Beach FL
1/27/06
Can you guess what the spines are for? That's right, kids, because Jesus put them there to remind everyone of his spiny crown! (I think I read that one in Nature last week. )

Spring Fishfly

2006-02-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

Chauliodes rastricornis
Vero beach FL
1/31/06
You little ripper! This is a Fishfly! These little beauties live in streams and otha fresh bodies of wata! Crikey! This lil bugga is tryin' a boit me!

(That is my best impression of Steve Irwin. Too bad I don't have audio. )
Anyway, isn't this male fishfly quite beautiful? I found him on a wall just above a nimber of antlion burrows, ao at first I thought that is what this was. I have yet to see a live adult antlion, but I have seen an Owlfly. Neuroptera are weird...

Monarch

2006-01-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

Danaus plexippus
Vero Beach FL
1/25/06
What can I really say about Monarchs? Well, some of them are quite wary, never allowing approach, and others less so. This is one that is less so. I think they are quite pretty insects, and I am glad that I can see them almost every day.

Shiny

2006-01-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

Ornidia obesa
Vero Beach FL
1/25/06
Another shiny Ornidia obesa. I cannot resist metallic insects. The only reason I do not have many Calliphorids is that they are so wary. Plus this particular syrphid is a lot prettier. It is also larger, allowing me to get better shots with easier focus.
So what can I say about these guys that hasn't already been said? Nothing. I know nothing about them except first-hand observations of their behaviour. Since I do not keep a field notebook, these will vanish into obscurity. Anyway, what I know about them is that they are big, heavy flies, and will weigh down a small flower such as Bidens alba (which is the best flower I have found for both pollen and nectar-feeding insects in this area. Hence, many of the shots I get are of the front of the fly's face. These guys are very similar to Copestylum mexicana , to which they are closely related.
Here is a link to what Bugguide has to say on the subject: (not much).