Photo of the Week – Hidden Huntress

<p><i>Misumena vatia</i>, Thomisidae<br />
J. J. Collett Natural Area, Alberta, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
August 26, 2020</p>

Goldenrod Crab Spider - ♀

Misumena vatia, Thomisidae
J. J. Collett Natural Area, Alberta, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
August 26, 2020

Just like this goldenrod crab spider, I’m sneaking this one in under the wire for #Arachtober. Floral visitors beware, you’re in for a scare (and likely a whole lot worse)!

Photo of the Week – Finding Nemo

<p><i>Ursus arctos</i>, Ursidae<br />
Chilko River Source, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
October 10, 2020</p>

Grizzly Bear

Ursus arctos, Ursidae
Chilko River Source, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
October 10, 2020

With the help of Dave from Eagle Bear Lodge, it was pretty easy to find Nemo (this bear likes to snorkel for salmon). It was a truly great thanksgiving weekend getaway to the Chilcotin.

Photo of the Week – Gazebo Girl

<p><i>Eupeodes</i> sp., Syrphidae<br />
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
August 22, 2020</p>

Hover Fly - ♀

Eupeodes sp., Syrphidae
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
August 22, 2020

Snapped this photo in my in laws’ covered gazebo / makeshift malaise trap. It collected all sort of interesting insects. Would highly recommend it for your next socially distanced garden party.

Photo of the Week – Bathroom Bath Fly

<p><i>Clogmia</i> sp., Psychodidae<br />
Centro, Meridá, Yucatán, Mexico<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
February 2, 2020</p>

Moth Fly

Clogmia sp., Psychodidae
Centro, Meridá, Yucatán, Mexico
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
February 2, 2020

Enjoy this shot of a familiar insect from an exotic local. You can probably find these flies in a bathroom near you, no international travel required. Though they might look like tiny moths, they are actually members of the Fly suborder Nematocera (note the single pair of wings).

Photo of the Week – Moment of Stillness

<p><i>Aythya fuligula</i>, Anatidae<br />
Burnaby Lake Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
March 30, 2020</p>

Tufted Duck - ♂

Aythya fuligula, Anatidae
Burnaby Lake Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
March 30, 2020

Visited Piper Spit a month or so ago to check out the Tufted Duck that had been reported there. While not my first Tufted Duck (I’ve seen them at Iona and in Japan), it is always a nice bird to see especially in North America. I really like how the plane of focus and relative stillness of the the Tufted Duck really help isolate it from the rest of the scene.

Photo of the Week – A Spathe for Love

<p><i>Pelecomalium testaceum</i>, Staphylinidae on<br />
<i>Lysichiton americanus</i>, Araceae<br />
Burnaby Lake Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Apple iPhone 8, iPhone 8 back camera 3.99mm f/1.8<br />
April 6, 2020</p>

Rove Beetle on Western Skunk Cabbage

Pelecomalium testaceum, Staphylinidae on
Lysichiton americanus, Araceae
Burnaby Lake Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Apple iPhone 8, iPhone 8 back camera 3.99mm f/1.8
April 6, 2020

I’ve been checking the skunk cabbage during my recent walks and finally found a nice big aggregation of Pelecomalium testaceum. I initially only spotted a few because the rest we hidden by the spath. Bekka Brodie and Asim Renyard did a great study on the chemical components of skunk cabbage odor that attract these beetles.

Photo of the Week – Quarantinoween

<p>Cameron, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 35 mm f/1.8<br />
March 31, 2020</p>

Quarantinoween

Cameron, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 35 mm f/1.8
March 31, 2020

Sara went all out to celebrate Quarantinoween, sewing this striking cocktail dress. In these trying times, we all have to do whatever have to do to stay sane, whether that is sewing or decorating for a holiday for a holiday seven months early. Check out the rest of the pictures on Instagram.

<p><i>Polistes dominula</i>, Vespidae<br />
Cameron, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
March 22, 2020</p>

European Paper Wasp - ♀

Polistes dominula, Vespidae
Cameron, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
March 22, 2020

While comfortably self isolating at home, our terrible windows let in this paper wasp female, presumably looking for a warm place. I was really excited as I could add her to the Never Home Alone: The Wild Life of Homes iNaturalist project. It’s a really fun project (especially right now) cataloging the animal life of homes. She was very reluctant to fly (although reacted to looming stimuli, IE flashes) and posed nicely for several photos. We eventually gave her a meal of our homemade brown sugar syrup before sending her on her way. Thanks again for visiting, little wasp, you brightened my day! [click to continue…]

Photo of the Week – Pseudopupils

<p><i>Heliconius charithonia vazquezae</i>, Nymphalidae<br />
Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 29, 2020</p>

Zebra Longwing

Heliconius charithonia vazquezae, Nymphalidae
Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 29, 2020

This photo nicely shows off the pseudopupils (dark spots) in the compound eye. These pseudopupils vary between different groups of butterflies and provide a window into the inner structure. They can even be used to look for differences among ommatidia (Stavenga 2002). This blog post gives the best and most accesible summary about pseudopupils I’ve ever read.

Photo of the Week – Profile Pic

<p><i>Phasmomantis sumichrasti</i>, Mantidae<br />
Casa de Celeste Vida, Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico<br />
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br />
January 29, 2020</p>

Mantis

Phasmomantis sumichrasti, Mantidae
Casa de Celeste Vida, Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
January 29, 2020

I recently updated my social media profile pictures with the help of my friend here. It seemed only fair to repay the favour. We even did a #DollyPartonchallange.