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Crooked Jaw Termites

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

5-10mm | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

As promised in my last post, here are some termites where the soldiers are much larger than the workers. Large is relative though, since although they are twice the size of the workers, these soldiers still only measure one centimeter.

Soldiers are twice the size of workers

Based on Hogue’s Latin American Insects and subsequent web searches, I believe these are termites in the genus Neocapritermes, which he refers to in an illustration as crooked jaw termites. The name certainly fits. My first thoughts after seeing one of these soldiers was that it was deformed. read more

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Polyxenid Millipede

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

3mm | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

I don’t recall ever seeing one of these little millipedes before, but it’s probably just that I never paid attention. These small millipedes in the order Polyxenida never measure more than 4mm based on everything I’ve just read. The only reason I recognized this one was because of a recent appearance in one of Ted C. MacRae’s identification challenges. This one was found crawling around in the soil beneath a log.

Unfortunately I didn’t get as good a photo as I had hoped. Not a single one had the whole critter in focus. The head is to the right, by the way. You can make out the antennae and what look kinda like compound eyes, but are actually just a grouping of ocelli. read more

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Moss Caterpillar

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

30mm body | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

I suspect this caterpillar is closely related to similar looking nymphalid butterfly caterpillars in the genus Adelpha. Some are generally referred to as moss caterpillars because the various body projections give the appearance of moss. It may not be obvious from these photos, but check out this photo from Flickr user artour_a.

Side view

Closeup of head

I’ve encountered a similar caterpillar before in a different part of Brazil, although that one was probably an earlier instar and was shades of brown.

Reference:

[book:0674021908] read more

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Webbed Eggs

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

9mm high | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

I’m not sure what type of eggs these are, but I saw several clutches like this. I thought at first perhaps a fungus had grown over them and that might be the case. I’m more inclined to believe the webbing was added as some sort of protection by whatever is responsible for the eggs.

I suppose these could also be cocoons, but I’d be surprised if the larvae managed to align themselves so well.

Had I found these in my own backyard, I’d have kept them to see what emerged.

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Velvet Ant

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

4mm body | July 3, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Velvet ants are challenging to photograph. They always seem to know when you’re after them. They are either running so fast you can’t keep them in the frame (much less focus) or they find cover to hide under. I always just shoot like crazy and hope for the best.

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Bee Mimicking Assassin Bug

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

10mm body | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

For me, those wings are what really give this assassin bug in the family Reduviidae the appearance of a bee.

Dorsal view

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Waxy Planthopper Nymph

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

10mm wide | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

I’ve encountered odd planthopper nymphs like this before, but this might be the first time I’ve been able to get good shots showing the nymph itself .

Dorsolateral view

Dorsal view

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Parasitised Caterpillar

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

13mm | July 9, 2011 | Tupaciguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The more I observe nature, the more I realize that parasites rule.  So far this trip, I’ve accumulated dozens of photos to prove my point, including the one above.

Believe it or not, this caterpillar was still alive. The parasites, wasps presumably, are long gone.

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Ants Tending Leafhoppers

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

July 2, 2011 | Monte Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil

These ants are tending to some treehopper nymphs. Most of the ants are busy collecting honeydew, but the one on the bottom has noticed me and is on alert. I accidentally bumped the branch after this shot and all of the ants started running around looking for something to attack. I held up a leaf for a background here so that the ants would stand out.

In this next shot, I’m assuming the white areas are either treehopper eggs or a protective covering for the eggs. One of the adult treehoppers is also visible here, a darker shade of red than the nymphs. read more

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Pretty Little Moth

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

15mm | January 21, 2011 | Finca La Isla, Limon Province, Costa Rica

This pretty little moth was sitting on a leaf, imitating a bird dropping perhaps. A tortricid?

Dorsal view

 

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