Favoritos de jwn

I had been in awe of beetles like this ever since I saw them in a museum tray many years ago, but suffice it to say that when I encountered this one in the field for the first time, it was..."glorious"!
Scanned from 35mm Ektachrome slide.

Yes, I went birding in the below freezing weather- it wasn't too bad as long as the wind wasn't blowing. The birds were quite active although they didn't necessarily want to stand still and pose. LLELA- Cottonwood Trail

Two male Calopteryx maculata sparring over territory

I took 30-40 shots absolutely certain I would have at least one stunning shot out of the sequence but this heavy crop was the only shot that looked like it was taken on purpose...

Tandem pair of Anax junius attempt to escape interaction with Trachemys scripta elegans

If you look closely it is possible to see the turtle has the just near or above the tarsus of the right hindleg in its mouth. The darners ended up escaping.

Male Enallagma basidens with hydrachnid mites

This male appeared out of place, as did its behavior. I watched him for a minute and he was not translocating sperm or engaging in typical grooming with his legs. He seemed to move slower than normal, almost as though the ambient temperature was much lower.

Cannot say for sure that there was an intentionality to remove the mites though it did seem the motion was there.

Though it seems obvious, I'm not sure what was going on or what the root of the behavior was.

This observation for the top damsel. The bottom one will be reported separately.

I love this image because it shows a Smoky Rubyspot male at the top and an Ebony Jewelwing male at the bottom. Great illustration of wing shape differences. I see many reports of one reported as the other and try to explain the wing shape differences to folks...this shot is a great illustration.

This is Texas, after all....

I am not one to be startled by scorpions, rattlesnakes and the like when I come across one unexpectedly, but just had a rather startling experience. I was driving a truck along a ranch road near where I am staying when suddenly a Giant Redheaded Centipede, 6+ inches long, came scampering across the dashboard right in front of me. Not a clue how it got in the vehicle but I must admit to a sudden expletive uttered. I got the vehicle stopped and opened the door and the centipede got on the inside of the driver's door while I took a few cell phone shots. I knocked him off the door and he fell to the ground and took off like a centipede out of Hell. I then continued my trip, but found myself checking the floor, the doors, the seats etc. as I drove.

I have seen lots of these but never in my car. I have never been stung but they reportedly have a very bad sting.
https://texashillcountry.com/3-facts-texas-centipedes/

I was out on my property between rain showers when I spotted this Oak Hairstreak on a milkweed. I got a couple of shots when I began to think the butterfly was being very still. Then I saw that a small yellowish crab spider had caught the hairstreak. The crab spider will be posted separately.

we had a very nice time photographing this very local species not often observed in Texas.We saw at least 4 different individuals including a pair in copula. Shots of the pair, perched on my finger, will be posted later by nancynorman and briangooding

First Luna Moth I've ever had in my yard. A real treat this morning! They are far less common here on the eastern part of the Edwards Plateau than 15 miles east in Austin, etc., which is ca 700-800 feet lower elevation.