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Scale Insects

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

July 5, 2011 | Victorio Siqueroli Park, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

I assume these are scale insects. When I saw them I remembered the mysterious sign I spotted earlier in the year in Costa Rica. After seeing this, I think scales were probably responsible for that.

Note how they’re arranged along the central leaf vein. They’re undoubtedly taking plant juices through that midvein.

Click on the photo for a larger version and see if you scan spot a small mite (an “easter egg” I didn’t know about when I took the photo). Then see if you can find its recently cast off skin! read more

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Crypsis Challenge #14 Reveal: Bark Mantis

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

Did you rise to the latest crypsis challenge and spot the bark mantis in the photo? If not, take another look with the help of my crude outlining skills.

July 5, 2011 | Victorio Siqueroli Park, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Mantis Position Revealed

This bark mantis was the first thing I photographed on my first visit to Victorio Siqueroli Park. It was difficult trying to get some natural light photos that showed off its camouflage. It’s head down in the shot above, but it moved around during the shoot and ended up in various positions. Here’s some more shots with the aid of flash. read more

Posted in Crypsis Challenges | 2 Comments

Crypsis Challenge #14

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

July 5, 2011 | Victorio Siqueroli Park, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Can you spot the camouflaged critter in this image?

Posted in Crypsis Challenges | 12 Comments

Victorio Siquieroli City Park

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Troy Bartlett

Park Entrance

In July I spent a few weeks at our condo in Uberlândia, Brazil. Unable to take the time for any side trips, I sought out nearby locations for nature photography. I was pleasantly surprised by Parque Municipal Victório Siquieroli (Victorio Siquieroli City Park).

The park is a little slice of cerrado (Brazilian tropical savanna) nestled in the northern part of the city. The park comprises an area of about 23 hectares (57 acres) and promotes environmental consciousness. There’s even a small museum that gives visitors a look at the biodiversity of the cerrado. The park is named after Victório Siquieroli whose wife convinced him in 1996 to donate the land to the city for the construction of the park. read more

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