Ecuador mix

Images of undisturbed subjects in their natural environment. All subject types.

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pbertner
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Ecuador mix

Post by pbertner »

1. Leaf-mimicking katydid:

Image

2.Cryptic lichen stick insect (Prisoups sp.):

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3.Fly-mimicking weevil (Mnemynurus sp.). This weevil is a Mullerian mimic of a flesh fly (Sarcophaga spp.). Mullerian mimicry differs from Batesian mimicry (deception of would-be predators through the adoption of similar colouration, morphology or scent of a model species) in that the mimicry results in a propagation of both species' unpalatability. In this case, both the flesh fly, and the fly weevil mimic are agile, and fast. The more 'apparent' flesh flies there are out there, the faster such a 'message' is disseminated amongst predator populations.

Image

4.Moss-mimicking praying mantis (Pseudopogonogaster sp.):

Image

5.

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6. Moss-mimicking stick insect:

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7. Fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper):

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8. Harvestman pair tending to eggs under UV light:

Image

9. Backlit katydid:

Image

Thanks for looking and commenting,
Paul

Lou Jost
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Post by Lou Jost »

The first one is brilliant in its off-handedness. I laughed out loud when I finally spotted it.

ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

Great stuff again. :)
Link to a paper about the fly-mimicking weevil, lifted from Paul’s flickr text:
https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... ern_Brazil

Those Fer-de-lance come with a nasty reputation - was that a risky viewpoint?
Chris R

pbertner
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Post by pbertner »

Glad you liked it Lou. It is amazing just how difficult it is to spot considering how readily visible it is. Almost like a magic eye image.

Chris- It struck at me several times, never landed a bite, but it was large and very aggressive. I shot it with the a7rii and a Venus laowa 15mm attached to a tripod at full extension synced to a cell phone for live view. Only once did I get a scare when it popped over the camera during a strike.

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