#Cute bugs

[damiankirby99]

This is for you, @onenicebugperday! ^^

Found a big moth, probably one of the few big moths I have seen so far, and I think it is a sphinx moth. It is so cute :D

(Note: these pictures were taken by a nice employee who works at the post office)

[sceera1]

It looks like a caramel or roasted nut. It's cool, though!

Phobetron hipparchia

[midwestkingdom]

I am absolutely enamored by this harvestman! This is my first ever clear close-up shot of any opiliones. I love these pics so much.

[definitely-not-several-bugs]

Sniffle... ermmm.. whimper.... bleah.. sob.....

[mushrooms-and-millipedes]

[mimieux0u0]

squishy little fellas 🐛

[petsemataries]

source

[maggotmuncher0]

💫

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Brenthia Moths: these moths can mimic the appearance and mannerisms of a jumping spider so convincingly that actual jumping spiders will sometimes attempt to court them

The markings, posture, and movements of a Brenthia moth (genus Brenthia, also known as a metalmark moth) all contribute to its disguise; the moths move around in short, jerky motions that mimic the movements of a jumping spider, and their hindwings are covered in black-and-white bands that strongly resemble the tucked-in legs of a salticiid spider, especially when the moth displays its unique wing position. The disguise serves as a defensive strategy, enabling the moth to avoid being preyed upon by actual jumping spiders.

In some cases, that disguise may work a little too well, as jumping spiders may actually mistake the moth for a potential mate and then attempt to engage it in a courtship/mating dance (which must be a pretty awkward and bizarre experience for the moth, tbh).

The resemblance between a Brenthia moth and a jumping spider may not seem terribly convincing to us, as human beings, but as this article explains:

When discussing animals mimicking their predator, it is important to remember that we humans are not the target audience. This means that the imitator may not look too convincing in its mimicry to us, but still manages to trigger a desired response from said predator.

Jumping spiders have also been known to respond to Brenthia moths by exhibiting a territorial display, which is yet another behavior that the spiders generally reserve for other spiders.

This study expands on the adaptive benefits of the moth's disguise:

In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey.

The illustration below shows the basic/general resemblance between a Brenthia moth and a jumping spider:

Sources & More Info:

New Scientist: Moth's Disguise is so Good, Spiders Love it Instead of Eating it

Animal Behaviour: Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Science: This Moth Could Pass for a Spider

PLOS ONE Journal: Metalmark Moths Mimic their Jumping Spider Predators

Gil Wizen: Jumping Spider Mimicry in Brenthia Moths

Moths of North Carolina: Brenthia pavonacella

[lycomorpha]

Poplar hawkmoth, I repeat, poplar hawkmoth. The Poplar hawkmoths have landed. 🦋🐾

Sometimes the world feels bleak, but moths keep me going.

I've been a bit remiss with my moth posting lately, I'll try and share some more to make things a tiny, fluffy speck better.

[the-amethyst-artist]

Very different post of mine but recently I made some old teaching specimens into a art piece for my department!

[halfawillowtree]

insects

[naturalist-journal]

[heyhoneyfox]

Hey, don't cry. Little snail, ok?

[definitely-not-several-bugs]

Do you think we could use him as a lock pick

I bet we could

[futurebird]

Wasps so tiny you will question everything.

Imagine being so teeny tiny that you are an endoparasite on *leafhoppers* Leafhoppers are already in the "so small they go unnoticed" category, and you're just a little pest on a minuscule thing.

Of course the group that's most likely to choose this life? The wasps Wasps are some of the smallest insects. There are "fairy flies" that are parasites of the eggs of certain insects.

They are so small that air is "thick" to them and their wings have feathered edges are are oar shaped.

Some fairly flies are so tiny that their neurons are cells without nuclei. They got rid of them to save space. They can still think though... presumably the tiniest little thoughts.

Photo by Alexey Polilov, 2012

They lay their eggs inside of the eggs of 1-2mm long crop pests.

And... read the article to see what the males are like... they are even smaller somehow, but it's ... disturbing.