apsciencebydan

[apsciencebydan]

Day 21 of my 2024 favorites: a stunning (and very large) Tunneling Teddy Bear, rabbit botfly (Cuterebra buccata)

Lots of flies have a bit of a macabre life cycle and botflies certainly fall in that category, but this is a truly magnificent creature all the same. 🖤

[apsciencebydan]

Day 20 of my 2024 favorites: Tiny Ms Attidops nickersoni!

At some point I want to share a series of fun creatures I've only seen once in spite of my nearly obsessive attempts to find them again. This shy little nugget found deep in a cypress swamp certainly qualifies. 🖤

[apsciencebydan]

High quality An't 🖤

Gelis species ichneumonid wasp.

[apsciencebydan]

Day 19 of my 2024 favorites: Habronattus alachua courtship!

H. alachua is a lovely and rarely-seen species here in Florida, and they're always a treat. Spotted the red-faced male first, who was prancing for a female I noticed shortly after. Got to watch his dance, though the lass wasn't into it. ♥️

[apsciencebydan]

Tiny mandibles go clack-clack

(undescribed afaik Perilampus species)

[apsciencebydan]

Soon, these fairy moth boys still be active again and I'm ready for them 🖤

Those thangs pick up all the channels, and lady moths 👀

[apsciencebydan]

Day 18 of my 2024 favorites: Scorpion mums!

I'd seen so many of our native Centruroides hentzi scorpions over the years, but somehow hadn't seen scorpion motherhood until this pair in the fall. Invertebrate parenthood always brings joy. 🤎

[apsciencebydan]

Scolopendra viridis. One of Florida's lorgest* and prettiest myriapods, often found when peering under logs and peeling bark. Love the pale blue 💚

*I have a picture of one with my finger for scale somewhere, from last year, it's as long as my finger.

[apsciencebydan]

Say hi to the hefty handsome Hemipteran 💚

(Loxa flavicollis)

[apsciencebydan]

Day 17 of my 2024 favorites: Trabeops aurantiacus wolf spiders!

These tiny adorable Lycosids may appear deep in swampy grasses if one is rooting around (as one should). That one giant eye pair is comparable to jumping spiders in size relative to their bodies. I was delighted to learn of them. 🥹🤎

[apsciencebydan]

Day 16 of my 2024 favorites: Velvet ant mimic ant lions!

I'd seen one of the velvet ant mimicking larvae a few years ago but none since, until this silly creature showed up above ground one afternoon. ❤️ The adults are Very Long. They're delightful.

[apsciencebydan]

Just a silly little guy with a snoot - a snoot beetle, or snootle if you like*

*(you probably shouldn't like it)

[apsciencebydan]

Day 15 of my 2024 favorites: Big-headed Fly Sex

There's just something about these silly tiny creatures floating around in the air as they mate that makes me happy, and always will. ❤️

[apsciencebydan]

Day 14 of my 2024 favorites: introducing a visiting friend to this magnificent Sphodros rufipes lass

The red-legged purseweb spider is one of our native mygalomorph spiders and quite a sight if you can coax one out of their tube. I recommend delivering snacks if you do. Fair trade. 🖤

[apsciencebydan]

Mood 👀

(Zygoballus nervosus)

[apsciencebydan]

Day 13 of my 2024 favorites: Pitcheresque

My favorite local haunt has a few patches of pitcher plants in various spots and they always make me happy. On a particularly rough mental day early in the year I caught a patch blooming at sunset. They were lovely. 💛

[apsciencebydan]

Day 12 of my 2024 favorites: Longspoods 🖤

I had been aware of this Very Long species (Marpissa pikei) for a few years but somehow they eluded me (probably by looking like Grass). Finally managed to find a couple, of both sexes. They're very sweet and silly and I love them.