In white plumage, observed for the 2nd year (probably the same individual)
Drama. These guys all normally get along pretty well, but here a squirrel decided to start something and nearly got kicked in the head as reward. Moments later they were back to munching sunflower seeds side-by-side again.
Long-eared Owl, seen near the Kit's Pond area.
You can't see it in the picture but he has a black tip on his tail.
It got really angry when I tried to move it off my cooler and did this aggressive display.
increíble espectáculo de la llegada masiva de la "mariposa blanca" a El Ejido El Águila, Cacahoatán, en la zona de influencia de la Reserva de la Biosfera Volcán Tacana
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.
A scrappy expanse of silky refuges and capture webs littered with body parts of previous victims. When preferred prey is entangled, the female spiders emerge from their 'nests' and overpower it by grabbing its extremities. In this case, a wasp https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9319446.
Presumably they inject venom because after a minute or so the prey stops struggling. Then they snip it out of the web and carry it into one of several 'nests' or refuges.
Unwanted prey, often beetles (see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9319435 ) are also killed but sometimes left in the web, uneaten. Ants, in this case, Maranoplus ( https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9319390 )scavenge around the periphery of the webs, feasting on unwanted beetles or other left-overs.
Two very similar species, sometimes the difference is obvious, sometimes not.
They can each be smooth stemmed, oval, have epiphytes, bend easily or lose their fronds.
The very best way to separate them all, but these two particularly, is by slicing the stipe.
One is usually very sticky with mucus, the other not.
The internal lozenge is quite different in each.
You need a knife, a thin section, camera in one hand, slice in the other - click.
Have fun!
I set up a bit of sugar water on an ant line.
Nice hot here today 30 deg C plus.
Some of the workers that were moving larvae were dropping them, have an energy boost then picking them up again and keep on with the house shift.
The workers are around 4 mm long.
Wasp caught in a community spider web https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9319352
Note the very long ovipositor, unsheathed.
@robberfly. note that male on her abdomen
Two pairs in tandem with females ovipositing in rotting wood.
River Trail Park,
Luling,
Caldwell Co., Texas
22 July 2016