flutterby

I took this yesterday! That’s a lie, it’s totally January in New Jersey. But remember when…?

 

shed

Bug molts lying around don’t gross me out as much as they could, mostly because I’ve had hermit crabs for about 15 years, and they molt 1-2 times per year, so I’m used to seeing hairy disembodied exoskeletons lying around. (but not for long, ‘cos the crabs eat the exoskeletons shortly after molting to reabsorb the chitin.)

…I mean, don’t get me wrong, even after 15 years, I find that picking up a disembodied hairy leg is still kind of gross… but it’s probably significantly less gross than it would be if I HADN’T been exposed to it for 15 years.

 

fireflies!

You may or may not be able to see, but this nightscape is full of FIREFLIES! (Or whatever you call them. I grew up calling ‘em “lightning bugs” but slipped into calling them “fireflies” at some point. Either term is acceptable around here.)

Some of those fireflies might be the same ones, as this photo is actually a composite (of like 10 of the FOUR THOUSAND PHOTOS–okay, more like 40– that I took. I’ve been trying to photograph these guys for a few days now, but my camera’s longest shutter speed is 4 seconds [and highest decent ISO is 200], which… just wasn’t enough. Google confirmed that this is a supremely tricky task that’s virtually impossible with a shutter less than 60 seconds. So I gave up and cheated).

 

ANTS

Ah, summer is in the air! The birds are singing, the rainshowers are unpredictable, and… the ants are swarming.

 

lay, lady[bug], lay

A ladybug paid me a visit the other day! He/she didn’t enjoy being outside in NJ January weather.

(See OTDP for another view)

 

my name is ringo

I read the definition for lead room after I composed this shot, so… dang. But these beetles, which are almost as big as the first two joints of your pinkie, have been crawling around Joe Palaia Park for several weeks. Judging by their prominence, they must be some sort of invasive pest, but I’m not entirely sure of the species.

Edit: I think it’s a rove beetle.

 

whirled wide web

In recognition of Halloween, we have BORIS THE SPIDER! Hello Boris! Happy Halloween to you!

(I know I’ve put this in the insect category, and I fully understand that spiders are arachnids, not insects, but otherwise I need to make a new category just for Boris, and I don’t quite feel up to it.)

 

not my photo

I didn’t take this photograph.

My technologically impaired mother did, on her first time out with my camera.

I’m kind of proud of her.