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jaybug-jabbers · 4 years

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Flick’s Complete Bug Guide

Hi, all! Do you feel a wave of disappointment whenever you bring Blathers a bug and he spends all his time berating the poor creatures? Want to learn more about the buggy friends you find in Animal Crossing without all the snide remarks?

Look no further– this is Flick’s Complete Bug Guide! Learn about these amazing creatures from the perspective of a true bug fan!

You’re encouraged to visit every time you capture a new bug so you can learn more about it!

This guide is written in the theoretical universe where you can approach Flick during a day he is visiting and there is a dialogue option “Tell me about this!”

Upon being asked to tell you about a bug, Flick would say:

“Oh my gosh! A <name of bug>! I can hardly even gaze upon its sheer beauty and magnificence!”

“Ahem. I-I mean, um … thank you for bringing this to me!”

He would then tell you about the bug, and finish his speech with the following:

“It has been an honor to spend time in the presence of your <name of bug>. I hope you enjoyed hearing what wisdom I could share about it!”

Now, onward to the bug guide!

Common Butterfly (Pieris rapae)

The Common Butterfly, also known as the Cabbage Butterfly or the White Butterfly, is a widespread species of butterfly with pretty white wings and black spots. A large reason this species has grown so widespread is because its caterpillars love to eat plants in the cabbage family, including kale, broccoli and bok choy, plants that humans grow plenty of. While these caterpillars are considered serious crop pests, it’s interesting to note that these little grubs will move around a lot when feeding, avoiding damaging any single part of the plant too much. This may be to avoid predators from easily spotting the caterpillars, but they also might be trying to share the crops with us! With that in mind, maybe we can learn to share our crops with the butterflies, too.

Yellow Butterfly (Colias erate)

Ever wonder about a butterfly’s wing? Such delicate, beautiful structures? Well, the scientific name for the family of butterflies and moths is ‘Lepidoptera,’ which means 'scale wing.’ Butterfly wings are coated in thousands of teeny, tiny scales made of chitin. These scales help insulate a butterfly, as well as allow butterfly wings to get their coloration through pigments or iridescence. The scales also allow for a very neat trick– if a butterfly gets captured in a spider’s web, there’s a good chance some of the scales on their wings will detach, allowing the butterfly to slip away. That’s why if you handle a butterfly, sometimes you hands are covered in a fine powdery substance. That powder is some of the butterfly’s scales rubbing off on you. I have to admit, I envy butterfly scales a little. They seem much more beautiful and functional than my own lizardy scales.

Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon)

This vibrant black-and-blue insect is a type of swallowtail butterfly, and lives in tropical rainforests as well as some drier, subtropical environments. Like most butterflies, they feed on flower nectar, but Bluebottles are also commonly seen drinking from mud puddles. This helps them take in salts and minerals from the ground. In search of nutrients, Bluebottles may even occasionally feed from animal droppings or dead animals! Although this may change your image of butterflies as sweet, lovely insects, it’s actually a really smart move for the butterflies. Good things can come even from wastes!

Tiger Butterfly (Papilio machaon)

The Tiger Butterfly is named for its dramatic yellow and black-striped coloration. It’s also sometimes called a Yellow Swallowtail, because of the long tails on its hindwings that resemble the tails of swallows. When Tiger Butterflies are caterpillars, they are covered in brown, white and black spots– ingeniously camouflaged as bird droppings! As the caterpillars get older, their colors change to a lovely green with black and orange markings. They also gain a new defense against predators, called the osmeterium. This is a forked, retractable organ that the caterpillar can inflate when feeling threatened. The osmeterium releases a foul odor, warding off ants and other predatory insects. As you can see, caterpillars have all sorts of tricks to avoid being eaten– which is a good thing, because that means more beautiful butterflies!

Agrias Butterfly(Agrias claudina)

This superb little butterfly is considered one of the most beautiful species to exist, and with its iridescent pink and violet set on a black background, I find it hard to argue. The glorious colors you’re witnessing are thanks to the teeny, tiny scales that coat the butterflies’ wings. Male Agrias Butterflies also have small yellow patches of scales on their hindwings, and these patches are special. They’re actually made of something called androconial scales. These scales help release pheromones for attracting a mate. Butterflies communicate with each other through these pheromones, as well as those colorful, glittering wings. Of course, with such eye-catching looks, these butterflies may gain the unwanted attention of predators, too, but they’re in luck: Agrias Butterflies are incredibly swift and agile fliers. It takes a lot to get ahold of one of these little gems!

Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae)

Oh, wow! You caught a Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing? Those are rare– they’re an endangered species! They live in rainforests, but habitat destruction from oil palm plantations has really damaged their populations. (It didn’t help that a volcano erupted around the 50s, destroying much of their habitat as well.) These days, it’s illegal to trade this species worldwide. Hopefully, with habitat protection and captive breeding programs, the species will make a comeback. It’s a really special species– did you know it’s the largest butterfly in the world? Its wingspan can reach up to 9 inches or larger! The females are the larger of the species, while males are smaller but more brightly colored. They love to fly quite high up, and have few natural predators due to their size. That fact gives me hope! I want to see these birdwings thrive once more.

Emperor Butterfly (Morpho menelaus)

The charismatic Emperor Butterfly– also commonly known as the Blue Morpho– is a wonderful example of iridescence. The shimmering cerulean shades of this species do not come from pigment but instead from wing scales that have a special microstructure, reflecting the light in a special way to produce the color. As the butterfly flies, you get flashes of bright blue, and other times see the dark wing undersides. It makes for quite the dazzling display. This butterfly’s wings don’t only look lovely, but also are able to repel water. As a result, it’s one of the few butterflies that will fly in the rain! Because of its beauty, the Emperor is popular with collectors, but over collection and habitat destruction threatens this species. It’s essential that we protect and preserve nature and its incredible insects, so future generations can enjoy them as well!

Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana)

The regal Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing is the national butterfly of Malaysia, and it’s easy to see why. This butterfly makes for an impressive sight; it has a wingspan over 7 inches long and has shimmering, electric-green and black wings. It dwells on rainforested islands where it feeds from flowers such as orchid trees. Interestingly, the males love to gather at hot mineral springs to sip the water, while the drabber-colored females are seen far less often, living a more mysterious life in the trees. The caterpillars of this species are white and brown, covered in defensive spines called tubercles. These larvae feed on the poisonous leaves of vines, storing the poison in their bodies so they are toxic to predators that try to eat them. Laws have been made to protect this popular species, attempting to limit the trade and export of these butterflies. Unfortunately, people sometimes still try to smuggle this species to sell to collectors. It’s an important reminder that we need to protect and respect these beautiful creatures, and not let collecting get out of hand.

Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda)

The Great Purple Emperor is Japan’s proud national butterfly, due to their refined beauty and their wide distribution across Japan. They are black or brown butterflies speckled in white and yellow, with the males covered in a gorgeous purple sheen. They like to dwell in the upper canopy of trees but will come down to feed, sipping up tree sap and occasionally seeking minerals from animal droppings or animal carcasses. They are quick, strong flyers and are said to look like birds when they fly. The caterpillars of this species are adorable green larvae with a pair of horns that I think makes them look absolutely charming. These caterpillars enjoy the leaves of hackberry trees, and when winter comes, the fellows will turn a brown color and crawl to the ground and hide among the roots and fallen leaves. When spring arrives, they immerge from hiding and continue to feed until they are ready to pupate and become adults in the summer. Then they take flight with their strong wing beats– truly the kings of the summer forest!

Paper Kite Butterfly (Idea leuconoe)

The Paper Kite Butterfly is known for its slow, graceful flight, looking much like a handkerchief drifting in the breeze. With their silvery white wings, decorated in dramatic black stripes and spots, it only adds to the loveliness of the picture. However, it’s important to note this species is not simply beautiful; it’s also highly poisonous. The caterpillars of Paper Kites feed on a number of toxic vines, and store the poisons in their bodies as they eat. This poison remains when they transform into adults, so any birds that happen by and try to eat this butterfly are in for a nasty surprise. The bird usually survives these encounters but learns a valuable lesson– avoid snacking on these elegant creatures!

Peacock Butterfly (Papilio bianor)

The Peacock Butterfly is a type of swallowtail butterfly, which means its hindwings have extensions that look very much like the tails of swallows. These colorful 'tails’ are actually great defensive mechanisms. If a bird tries to attack the Peacock Butterfly, it may focus instead on the eye-catching tail. This may end up with a bird grabbing a chunk of wing, but the butterfly’s vital body parts are still intact, and it can escape. Next time you’re admiring the gorgeous sparkling tails of the Peacock Butterfly, you can appreciate they aren’t simply for show but can also help protect these insects!

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

This particular butterfly is well-known for its epic migrations. Because Monarchs do not tolerate the cold, each year when winter begins to approach, they migrate en masse southward to Mexico, where they overwinter. They do this by taking advantage of air currents and thermals, traveling amazing distances in the process– sometimes up to 3,000 miles! During this migration, when the butterflies are resting, they gather together in large groups to roost on trees, huddled for warmth. A group of migrating monarchs is a truly incredible sight to behold; the air thick with fluttering wings, the trees absolutely covered in bright black and orange. Once winter has passed, the monarchs begin a return migration, but this one is different, as it spans multiple generations. The butterflies that eventually return northward in the spring are the grandchildren of the ones that left in the winter– in fact, it takes 3-4 generations for the monarchs to return to their northern territories again! Their journeys are truly inspiring.

Moth (Order Lepidoptera)

Time for a little lesson! Want to know the difference between butterflies and moths? A lot of people might think the difference is that moths are nocturnal and rather duly-colored, while butterflies are colorful and active during the day. But the truth is, there are actually a lot of daytime-flying moths, and many of those species are extremely colorful! A better way to tell them apart is to look at their antenna; generally, butterfly antenna are thin with 'clubs’ at the end, while moth antenna are fuzzy or feathery and lack clubs. Also, you can look at their wings when they’re at rest: butterflies usually like to hold their wings closed when they rest, while moths usually hold their wings flat. However, these are just rules of thumb, and there are exceptions. Ultimately, they’re both very closely related insects in the order Lepidoptera, and both equally enjoyable creatures.

Madagascan Sunset Moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus)

It is positively euphoric to gaze upon the Madagascan Sunset Moth, with its wide wingspan of 3 to 3 and a half inches, its eye-catching tails, and its glittering kaleidoscopic colors of red, green, blue and black. This day-flying moth species sips nectar and flits about the forests of Madagascar. Their caterpillars, white larvae clad in black spots and stripes, like to feed upon highly toxic shrubs, and then store the poison in their bodies. When they metamorphose into adults, they retain their toxicity, so predators quickly learn to avoid these dazzling insects. This species is considered one of the most beautiful moth or butterfly species in the world, prized among collectors and sometimes used in the making of jewelry. Of course, I feel the best way of appreciating this moth is the same way you appreciate a sunset; just be present for the moment you’re living in. Thank you for sharing this moment with us, Sunset moth.

Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas)

What a beautiful creature! The Atlas moth is one of the largest moths in the world. Do you see how its wings are massive compared to its little body? And here, the tips of its wings have these large extensions that look like the head of a snake! When potential predators disturb this moth, it flaps its wings and uses these false snake heads to try and spook animals away. It’s a clever tactic, because the Atlas moth must be careful about conserving its energy– it cannot afford to fly great distances. Why? Because it has no mouth. Adult moths simply never eat and live off of the fat reserves they built up when they were feeding as caterpillars. Like the bloom of a flower, the life of the Atlas Moth does not last long, but our worlds are all the richer for having them in it.

Rice Grasshopper (Oxya japonica)

The Rice Grasshopper is considered by people to be an agricultural pest, because it loves to eat crops, especially rice crops. However, the Rice Grasshopper is also considered by people to be, um … a very tasty snack. I have a sad story about Rice Grasshoppers. I was a pretty young hatchling at the time, and I was playing outside. I had been chasing a grasshopper for over an hour. When I finally captured it, I was so excited and proud! It was a beautiful Rice Grasshopper, probably a female, since it was quite large. I brought it back home to show my father. I … I gave it to him so he could look at it, and . . . he ate it in one gulp… . I cried a long time after that. He hadn’t realized I wanted to keep it. But, um … yeah. We don’t always get along so well. I can’t possibly imagine wanting to eat such beautiful, amazing creatures.

Long Locust (Acrida cinerea)

This fantastic-looking grasshopper has an incredibly long, triangular head, with two long antenna on top. They also have amazingly long hind legs, which they use to bound away from predators. They feed upon various grasses and especially have a taste for rice plants. The females of the Long Locust are much larger than the males, and can often be mistaken as a separate species. In Japan, these grasshoppers are known as Shouryou-batta, or “Spirit Grasshopper.” Because the grasshoppers appear in summer and autumn, around the time of the Bon Festival, and the grasshoppers’ bodies are boat-shaped, they remind people of the boats used during the festival to carry the souls of the departed. Quite an honorable reputation for this little locust!

Grasshopper (Infraorder Acrididea)

Grasshoppers come from a family of insects that have ancient roots, all the way back to the Triassic period. They have been chomping away on grasses and other plants for a very long time! They have powerful hind legs they use to spring into the air in order to evade predators. In the moment they leap, they may also flash their brightly-colored wings to startle their enemies. Since you’ve captured this grasshopper, I’m sure you know how surprisingly far and fast they can jump. Actually, if you and I could jump as well as a grasshopper, we could leap the length of a football field! Grasshoppers are also known for their chirping, which they produce by rubbing their powerful hind legs against their wings. Those impressive legs are thus useful for a variety of purposes. To be honest, our legs are pretty boring in comparison.

Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria)

Locusts are a type of grasshopper that can engage in an absolutely fascinating event: locust swarms. Normally, locusts live a solitary, humble life; green insects that slowly creep about, calmly feeding on grasses and generally avoiding fellow locusts. However, if locust populations start to become too crowded, especially due to high rainfall increasing the food supply, then locusts change rapidly. Their appearances change and they gain bright, colorful markings; also, their behavior switches to being highly gregarious, which means they are drawn to each other in large crowds and they start to act as a single group. They begin to reproduce rapidly and eat voraciously, and will travel over long distances, stripping the land of vegetation. These swarms are sometimes called locust plagues, because they can devastate farmer’s crops and even cause famine! There is some consolation, though … locusts are a good, protein-packed food for people to eat.

Cricket (Family Gryllidae)

The soothing, relaxing song of crickets is produced when crickets rub their textured wings together– this is called stridulation. They sing to attract mates and to mark their territories, and some crickets even have a specific tune they sing after a successful mating. These musical insects are also affected by temperatures; most crickets chirp faster as the temperature increases, and they can be so reliable that if you count the number of chirps, you can estimate the temperature. The language of crickets is actually quite complex and compelling! Crickets hear each other through ears located on their front legs, just below their 'knees.’ Cricket hearing is very sophisticated, actually, and may even rival our own hearing. The next time you hear that gentle chirping in the night, you should stop to really listen to it. Who knows what secrets they could be whispering to you!

Bell Cricket (Homoeogryllus japonicus)

Like most insects, the Bell Cricket has two pairs of wings; the hindwings are membranous and meant for flight, while the front wings are leathery and protective. Bell Crickets make a beautiful chirp by rubbing their front wings together, and many people liken the sound to the chiming of bells. These crickets can change the sound of their songs by vibrating their bodies as they chirp, making the sound of each cricket unique. These lovely musicians are popular pets, traditionally kept in bamboo cages. What’s more, there’s actually a Buddhist temple that raises thousands of Bell Crickets each year, so that people can go there to meditate to the melodious sound of Bell Cricket chirps. It sounds divine to me!

Mole Cricket (Family Gryllotalpidae)

Mole crickets are remarkable little critters, adapted perfectly to a life underground. They use their powerful shovel-like front legs to dig rapidly in the dirt, excavating tunnels in search of food such as roots, grasses and worms. The males will construct horn-shaped tunnels and then chirp inside them, so the tunnels resonate the sound of the chirping. This means while you may never have seen a mole cricket before, you’ve likely heard one without realizing! Mole crickets do occasionally leave the earth, however, and can fly or even swim, if needed. Generally they come to the surface at night, so if you’re particularly lucky, you may get to see one!

Mantis (Order Mantodea)

The mantis is a mighty ambush predator, stalking their prey before seizing them with their spiked, raptorial forelegs, using lightning-speed reflexes. They have huge compound eyes, and their heads can turn 180 degrees as they survey the world for food. They feed upon many insects, and can even take down hummingbirds and rodents! Their hunger will sometimes even extend to eating their own kind; it’s not unheard of for female mantises to consume the heads of the males after mating. This is perhaps not as terrible as it sounds; the male’s sacrifice helps provide nourishment for his future offspring. Still, I must admit, if I am to be reborn as a mantis in the next life, I’d probably prefer to be born a female mantis.

Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)

This resplendent mantis is perfectly disguised as a white and pink flower, down to the very petal shape itself! The camouflage helps protect it from predators as well as draw in potential prey. The mantis lies in wait among the bushes and flowers for an unsuspecting butterfly or other insect to wander by, and then snatches it up. Such deadly beauty– a clever mistress of blossoms! These mantises are so skilled at disguise, they can even gradually change color to reflect their environment. To be honest, I feel a certain kinship with the orchid mantis’ camouflaging ways. Perhaps someday I will master the art of flower mimicry, just as they have!

Honey Bee (Genus Apis)

The humble honeybee, a hard-working partner of ours for thousands of years. Cave paintings up to 10,000 years old show people eating honey, and beekeeping in clay pots began around 9,000 years ago in Africa. Because of this long-term relationship, we know quite a lot about our buzzing friends. For example, bees communicate with each other through the medium of dance! When a worker bee finds a great patch of flowers and wishes to tell her sisters about it, she returns to the hive and performs a waggle dance. The dance tells the bees the direction of the flower patch and its distance from the hive. As an artist, I can empathize with the bees. Words often pale in comparison with other methods of expression. Truly, the bees are not only diligent workers but brilliant performance artists.

Wasp (Polistes rothneyi)

Wasps! One of the most misunderstood and amazing families of insects to exist! Did you know there are over 30,000 species of wasps? They come in all shapes and sizes, from the fairy wasps that are around the size of an amoeba to the massive asian giant hornets that are almost two inches long. While some are well-known for constructing papery or mud nests and living in hives, many other species are solitary and live in single, tiny burrows. As a whole, wasps tend to be predatory, preying on a wide range of insects, including many species considered harmful to crops. Wasps also dine upon nectar, however, and can be important plant pollinators. It’s difficult to try and summarize the sheer variety and glory of wasps, but know that they play vital roles in the ecosystem and are truly wondrous creatures!

Robust Cicada (Hyalessa maculaticollis)

Aaaah, the sweet, sonorous cicada. Nothing quite says “summer” like the hypnotic sound of cicadas singing. Cicadas are well-known for their loud, rhythmic songs, but how do they make these sounds? The answer is the tymbals– drum-like organs in the abdomen that males flex back and forth. The sound then reverberates throughout the cicada’s abdomen, magnifying the sound. Robust Cicadas in particular are known for their especially loud chirps. I find these musicians to be deeply inspiring, and it’s always a transcending experience to hold witness to one of their performances!

Gaint Cicada (Cryptotympana holsti)

Did you know that cicadas are seen as symbols of rebirth and immortality in Chinese lore? Just as the cicada lives underground for many, many years and then rises, reborn from the dirt, we hope to emulate such glory. Cicadas were also seen as creatures of high status, as they subsist on dew and perch upon their thrones in the treetops. Because of this symbolism, Chinese royalty has borrowed fashion ideas from the great cicada. Even their crowns were decorated with the image of a cicada, eyes shining bright! A fitting homage to this noble bug.

Brown Cicada (Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata)

While most cicadas have transparent wings, the Brown Cicada sports opaque, brown wings, so it’s pretty easy to recognize. Another recognizable trait is their cry, which is often compared to the sound of hot oil sizzling. These bugs are fond of sipping the sap of trees, including fruit trees. As a result, some people consider the Brown Cicada a pest. Hah! Imagine having the audacity to call these little marvels a pest! The cicadas are only doing what comes natural to any of us– eating to survive. I’ll gladly share the fruit trees with my insect brethren for that.

Evening Cicada (Tanna japonensis)

The males of Evening Cicadas sing a mournful song in the mornings, at dusk, or when the weather turns cool or cloudy. Among the many different cicadas, the sorrowful song of the Evening Cicada is possibly my favorite. But why do cicadas sing? Are they expressing some deep-felt sentiment? Actually, yes. They are expressing perhaps one of the most deep-felt sentiments there can be; loneliness. Evening Cicadas, as well as their cicada relatives, are calling for a mate. Males usually pack into rather large groups and call together, creating quite a large collective sound. Females can hear these calls from around a mile away! It’s a nice thought that because of their mournful cries, the Evening Cicadas are able to happily unite with each other.

Walker Cicada (Meimuna opalifera)

While some cicadas are associated with summer, the song of the Walker Cicada traditionally marks the end of summer and the start of autumn. It has a very characteristic cry, which in Japan is heard as “Tsukutsuku … boushi!” However, the song of this species actually differs depending on the region it is in. That’s right– insects have dialects! Speaking of dialects, the Walker Cicada is actually native to China, but it’s believed it hitched a ride on wooden brooms and was imported to Japan. Now it’s widespread in both countries, in addition to Korea and Taiwan. I wonder what a Walker Cicada would sound like with an Australian dialect? Or an Indian one?

Cicada Shell

This is truly a treasure– a perfectly intact cicada shell! These shells are proof of a wondrous transformation that cicadas undergo. You see, it all begins when a female deposits an egg in a little groove on a tree. The young feed on the fluids of the tree for a while before dropping to the ground and digging their way to safety. They then spend years underground, exploring the depths and dining on roots. Eventually, the young rise from the soil, finally seeing daylight once more, and climb the trunk of a tree. There, they shed their skins, emerging as glorious, winged adults! This shell represents their touching life journey. I hope that it might inspire you, as it does for me.

Darner Dragonfly (Anax parthenope)

Dragonflies are one of my favorite species! Did you know dragonflies were some of the very first winged insects to evolve and have been around for millions of years? Ancient dragonflies had wingspans of up to two feet long! The Darner Dragonfly isn’t that large, of course, but it’s still an impressive creature. They’re powerful predators, capturing their prey mid-flight, kind of making them the hawks of the insect world. Their flying skills are fantastic, and they can fly in all directions, hover, and even fly backwards, so they have unparalleled agility. Because they hunt by sight, they also have amazing eyes, among the best in the insect kingdom; they have up to 30,000 lenses in those enormous compound eyes pointing in all directions, and can detect light in color spectrums well beyond what we can see. If you want to have some fun, just sit back and watch the dragonflies hunt for a while!

Red Dragonfly (Sympetrum frequens)

Ever wonder why dragonflies are usually found near water? They love to hunt in these environments, snatching up and devouring midges, mosquitoes, moths and many others. But dragonflies are also fond of ponds and lakes because those are their breeding grounds. You see, dragonfly larvae are aquatic. The female lays her eggs on plants near the water or will skim the surface of the water with her abdomen, dropping eggs into the water. The nymphs that hatch are active, hungry hunters, devouring mosquito larvae, other aquatic insects or worms, and even tadpoles and small fish. The nymphs enjoy their aquatic lifestyle for a long time, up to five years, occasionally climbing onto a reed to shed their old skins and grow, before eventually molting one last time into a winged adult. Because of their reliance on these ecosystems, dragonflies are great indicators of the health of our wetlands!

Banded Dragonfly (Anotogaster sieboldii)

There has been a very wide range of associations with dragonflies among different cultures. European cultures have historically viewed dragonflies in a very negative light; some have called them “devil’s darning needles” and folklore casts them in villainous roles. Fortunately, other cultures view dragonflies in a very positive way. They are celebrated in some Native American crafts and may symbolize pure water or swiftness; in Japan, dragonflies are strong symbols of courage, luck and happiness, as well as signs of autumn’s arrival. Dragonflies have been used in traditional medicine as well as for food, so some cultures simply associate them with a meal. It’s actually really hard to summarize the many different ways people view dragonflies. Personally, I admire dragonflies’ incredible flying and hunting talents, their sheer beauty, and their tenacious spirits. What do dragonflies mean to you?

Damselfly(Ischnura senegalensis)

The Damselfly is a close relative to the dragonfly, but damselflies tend to be smaller, thinner, and hold their wings along their body at rest. You can also tell by looking at their eyes; damselfly eyes are always separated while most dragonfly eyes are touching. Like the dragonfly, damselflies are talented predators, nabbing flies, mosquitoes, moths and others right out of the air or plucking them off of plants. Males display elaborate courtship dances to impress females. If the male is successful, the damselflies will mate in a complex shape called a mating heart or mating wheel– which is the shape their abdomens make when they curl around each other. The female then lays eggs along the stems of underwater plants. The young that hatch live under water, breathing through feathery gills on their abdomens and feeding on aquatic insects, sometimes molting so they can grow larger. When they’re ready, they immerge from the water and cast off their old skin to immerge as graceful, lithe adults. The coloration of dragonflies and damselflies can range from just about every color of the rainbow, and they often shimmer beautifully in the sun. The next time you’re by a pond or marsh, keep an eye out for these quick, flittering gems!

Firefly (Family Lampyridae)

Fireflies are appealing little beetles with an extraordinary ability: a beautiful bioluminescence located on their backsides. The lights that fireflies produce are chemical reactions that take place inside their transparent abdomens. This light is cool to the touch and is yellow-green in color. Fireflies control their luminescence at will, and will flicker their lights in rhythmic patterns that are unique to each species. This helps males and females locate each other for mating. While many fireflies feed on pollen and nectar, some are carnivorous. Sometimes, females of these carnivorous fireflies will use light signals to their advantage, mimicking the patterns of particular firefly species simply to lure them in so they can eat them. These are femme fatale fireflies, so males need to be careful of them– the mesmerizing displays of fireflies can be a complicated language!

Pondskater (Family Gerridae)

This graceful bug skates effortlessly across the surface of the water, a magnificent feat that us silly vertebrates can only dream of. The pondskater’s body is carefully built to transfer their weight perfectly across their long, slender legs, which are lined with hairs that help repel water. The insects will row across the water with their middle legs and steer with their back legs. Their front legs are shorter and have claws, to help them seize insects that have fallen into the water. They pierce their prey with a proboscis to feed– all while staying on the surface of the water! Pondskaters do pretty much everything on top of the water, even mating. They communicate with other pondskaters by creating ripples in the water; some ripple frequencies are threatening signals while others are mating signals. They are truly masters of their craft. I’d prefer to watch the pondskaters’ dances rather than an ice skater any time!

Giant Water Bug (Family Belostomatidae)

The Giant Water Bug is indeed very large– the largest true bug, which can grow to be around four inches long! They have flattened, oval bodies, with oarlike back legs for swimming and raptorial front legs that are designed for seizing prey. They also have tubes on their abdomen that they breathe through, much like a snorkel. Water Bugs stalk and capture a wide variety of prey, including fish, frogs, and insects, and may even grab turtles and snakes! Once they capture something, they inject it with venomous saliva, then wait for their food to digest before sucking up the liquefied remains. Although these bugs are efficient and aggressive predators, they’re also caring parents; in some species, the female will lay her eggs on the back of the male, and the father will carry them about until they hatch! It’s nice to see father insects taking an active role in parenting as well.

Diving Beetle (Family Dytiscidae)

Diving Beetles are sleek, flat beetles that cruise through the water with ease, using their powerful, hairy back legs to paddle. Although they’re aquatic they still need to breathe air, and actually store air bubbles under their wing cases before diving, breathing the air through tubes in their abdomens. The Diving Beetle is an active predator, hunting a wide variety of prey including insects, tadpoles and fish. The young of Diving Beetles are also carnivorous predators, and are sometimes called Water Tigers. When the larvae are ready, they bury themselves in the mud to pupate, and immerge as adults. Adult Diving Beetles are surprisingly very capable fliers, and will take off at night in search of new watery habitats. They search for the bright reflection of moonlight bouncing off of bodies of water to help guide them. If you ever find Diving Beetles in a small pond or puddle and wonder how they got there, that’s how!

Stink Bug (Family Pentatomidae)

Aww, a Stink Bug! I love these fellahs. Stink Bugs are a great example of true bugs. Technically speaking, a lot of things we call bugs aren’t really bugs. All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs! So what makes a true bug? Well, true bugs like Stink Bugs have beaklike mouthparts called proboscises. They use them to pierce plants (or animals!) and suck up their food. Unlike butterfly or honeybee mouthparts, true bugs can’t roll up their proboscises. True bugs also often produce a pungent defensive spray, like Stink Bugs! People argue over what stink bug spray actually smells like– some say it’s very earthy, others call it woody or oily, and some say it’s bitter and fruity. Although it’s designed to ward off predators, I have to admit I’ve grown quite fond of the smell.

Man-Faced Stink Bug (Catacanthus incarnatus)

The markings of the Man-Faced Stink Bug are bright and colorful, and some people think these markings look like a face. With such an appealing, dramatic appearance, you’d expect these bugs to be popular pets, but actually, people have had a little difficulty raising them in captivity. The challenge is in raising the nymphs. What exactly are nymphs? Well, some insects undergo what’s called complete metamorphosis– for example, butterflies first hatch as caterpillars, then transform into pupae before immerging as adults. Other insects, such as stink bugs, undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Their young are not grubs, but instead are nymphs, which are basically miniature versions of the adults. Our hope is to eventually raise these baby Man-Faced Stink Bugs to full adulthood. If we succeed, we can share the joy of stink bugs with more people!

Ladybug (Family Coccinellidae)

These bright red little beetles actually come in a variety of colors with a variety of spots or stripes. Many cultures consider the ladybug a symbol of good luck, and if one lands upon you, good fortune is sure to find you. Part of the reason they are seen as lucky may be because of their voracious appetites for aphids. You see, aphids are tiny little bugs that love to eat people’s crops, but ladybugs eat aphids by the hundreds and help keep crops safe. Thus, some cultures consider ladybugs to be a divine gift. Next time a ladybug lands upon you, try making a wish. Whether you get the wish or not, you’ll be blessed by the presence of this charming little friend!

Tiger Beetle (Subfamily Cicindelinae)

Tiger Beetles are named because they are powerful predators of the beetle world. But it might be more accurate to call them Cheetah Beetles! The fastest Tiger Beetle can run 5 miles per hour, or 120 body lengths per second. A Cheetah, in comparison, can only run 16 body lengths per second– so when you really think about it, Tiger Beetles are the clear winners. In fact, Tiger Beetles move so fast they have to stop in the middle of running several times to reorient their vision before running again. Even when stopping in the middle of a chase, the beetles have no problem capturing their prey!

Citrus Long-Horned Beetle (Anoplophora chinensis)

The Citrus Long-Horned Beetle has a glossy black body with white spots, and has an impressively long pair of antenna. You’re likely to find it hanging out among the trees, as it’s fond of dining upon the leaves, stems and bark of a wide range of tree species, including citrus and hardwood trees. The females will drill little holes into the bark of a tree to carefully deposit her eggs, one at a time. When the eggs hatch, the larvae will dig into the tree, feeding on the nutritious inner bark. To be truthful, the Citrus Long-Horned Beetle is not very popular among a lot of people, because it’s capable of killing many healthy trees when it feeds and reproduces. Of course, there are natural enemies of these beetles that can help keep populations in check, such as parasites, ants and fungi. Nature does try to keep things in balance!

Violin Beetle (Mormolyce phyllodes)

This elegant beetle has a very narrow neck and head, a wide, flat body and marvelously curved wings, looking very much like a tiny violin. In truth, it is probably not imitating a violin but a brown leaf, which helps it blend in with its environment and avoid predators. Its flat body also helps it slip in between layers of mushrooms and tree bark, where it actively hunts for other insects, especially larvae. If startled, this beetle can release toxic fluid as a defense. This is likely to deter anything that tries to stuff it into their mouths! The Violin Beetle lives in tropical rainforests in Malaysia and other islands, and is threatened by the destruction of its habitat. We must strive to preserve our rainforests so precious creatures such as the Violin Beetle can thrive.

Jewel Beetle (Chrysochroa fulgidissima)

This dazzling little beetle is named after the splendid jewel-like shine to its exoskeleton. This coloration is known as iridescence, and the colors shift depending on how you look at them. Like little drops of sunlight, Jewel Beetles are so prized among people that their shells have been used in jewelry and other crafts. There is also an expression in Japan, tamamushi-iro, that refers to the ever-shifting colors of the Jewel Beetle, and the term can also refer to language that can be interpreted in multiple ways. Personally, I draw a great amount of artistic inspiration from the Jewel Beetle, and from my efforts to capture their ever-changing rainbows of power and vitality!

Rosalia Batesi Beetle (Rosalia batesi)

This enchanting long-horned beetle is a beautiful shade of blue, is covered in black polka dots and sports an impressive pair of antenna that can be almost twice as long as its body. Its entire body is also covered in a velvety, fine hair, including cute little tufts of hair on the antenna. The adults enjoy eating pollen, fruits and sap, while the larvae rely on dead wood for food. While Rosalia Batesi bothers some people because it may feed on crops, many people adore this beetle for its attractive appearance, and it’s commonly featured on stamps and other designs. I think if we all learn to share the land and its bounties, then we can be very happy to share the world with this sprightly spirit of the forest.

Blue Weevil Beetle (Genus Eupholus)

The Blue Weevil Beetle comes in many stunning shades of blue and green, and are so bright and beautiful that some people will use them for jewelry. But beware! These sparkling hues are actually warning signals! The Blue Weevil uses its long beak to bore into leaves, and builds up toxins in its body as it feeds. Anyone who’s hoping to chow down on these effervescent insects will end up getting poisoned. It’s far better to respect and admire the Blue Weevil than to eat it!

Dung Beetle (Familes Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae)

Dung Beetles come from a number of insect groups, including the earth-boring dung beetles, the scarab beetles, and the small dung beetles. What they all have in common is that they feed upon dung! This is an incredibly important job, believe it or not. Without dung beetles and other feces-feeding insects, we might be buried up to our necks in animal droppings! The Dung Beetles break down these wastes and return nutrients back to the earth, recycling these materials. Many of them do this by shaping dung into a carefully compacted ball, balancing on top of it, and rolling it away to a safe place so they can feed. Dung Beetles like to roll in straight lines with their balls, and they use the sun and moon to help them navigate– and even the bright stripe of the Milky Way! It’s no wonder many cultures respect and even revere this talented beetle.

Earth-Boring Dung Beetle (Family Geotrupidae)

Like some of their scarab brethren, the Earth-Boring Dung Beetle has a glittering, jewel-like luster to its exoskeleton. This is a very special kind of color! Unlike most colors in the animal kingdom, called pigments, the shells of Earth-Boring Dung Beetles are colored by iridescence, or teeny, tiny structures that bounce light in a particular pattern. The result is stunning to gaze upon! As these beetles spend much time burrowing into the soil, spotting them is truly like finding buried treasure.

Scarab Beetle (Family Scarabaeidae)

The sacred scarab! Truly, you are fortunate to have come upon one of these little deities. You see, scarab beetles were revered by the ancient Egyptians. When the scarabs rolled balls of dung for their precious young to feast upon, the Egyptians saw them as symbolically pushing the orb of the sun across the sky. In fact, the Egyptian sun God, Ra, was believed to have taken the form of a scarab beetle, named Khepri, and pushed the sun across the sky just like a ball of dung. The Egyptians even placed amulets shaped like scarab beetles over the hearts of mummies to protect them in the afterlife. Scarabs are protectors, bringers of light and of life itself!

Drone Beetle (Pseudotorynorrhina japonica)

These handsome creatures are a type of scarab beetle, a powerful group of beetles revered by the ancient Egyptians as sacred. The antennae of scarabs are special, and can be folded out gracefully like a fan to better detect odors, or folded back up into a club shape to serve as a weapon! We can only dream of possessing appendages so adaptable and so magnificent in design!

Goliath Beetle (Genus Goliathus)

This mighty beetle is named after the legendary giant Goliath, and it’s easy to see why. This beetle can grow over four inches long, making it one of the largest beetles in the world! It also can weigh over three ounces when it’s a larva, although the adults are only around half that weight. The reason for the difference is because the larvae gorge themselves on decayed leaves, wood and proteins, preparing for their metamorphosis. As adults, they enjoy a lighter diet of tree sap, fruit juices and other sugary substances. To help with foraging, each of this beetle’s legs ends in a pair of hooked claws that are great for climbing and clinging to trees. If one of these beetles happens to attach itself to you with these feet, you’ll need to gently guide them off. If you just grab and pull, the claws might remain attached, and we don’t want their little feetsies to get hurt!

Horned Elephant (Megasoma elephas)

This hefty beast is absolutely gigantic when compared to most beetles– in fact, it’s one of the heaviest beetles in the world. Males have big horns on their heads, which they use mainly to battle with other males for mating privileges. Another feature you might have missed is that their bodies are covered in fine, delicate hairs, making the beetles appear yellow in color. Sometimes, when I’m feeling anxious, I, uh … I pet the Horned Elephant beetles. It’s very soothing. You should try it sometime!

Horned Dynastid (Allomyrina dichotoma)

These proud warriors have heads shaped like a samurai helmet, and make good use of those horns for battle and for digging. While embroiled in territory disputes, a male Dynastid can actually launch its competitor straight into the air! When they aren’t fighting, they can be found calmly hanging out on trees, sipping sap or drinking from ripe fruits. Their young live underground, eat rotting wood, and take a long time to mature– around a year. Then they immerge, as a fresh new batch of warriors of the woods!

Horned Atlas (Chalcosoma atlas)

The Atlas Beetle is named after a titan from Greek Mythology who held up the heavens on his shoulders. The comparison to a Greek God is appropriate, as the Horned Atlas can reach sizes of up to five inches long and can carry hundreds of times its own weight. That makes it one of the strongest animals on the planet, for its size! Personally, it would not surprise me if we found out that a great celestial Atlas Beetle has been holding up the skies all of this time.

Horned Hercules (Dynastes hercules)

The Hercules beetle is named in honor of the roman god Hercules, famed for his great strength and heroic feats. I can think of no greater name for this heroic beetle. The Horned Hercules can carry up to 850 times its own weight, and can grow to be 7 inches in length, making it the longest species of beetle in the whole world. A lot of that length is in its massive horn, which males use to challenge each other to win the affections of female beetles. Once they have mated, these massive beetles produce, as you could guess, massive babies. In fact, the young of Hercules beetles are probably the largest larvae in the world!

Rainbow Stag (Phalacrognathus muelleri)

Oh! My eyes have been blessed, to be allowed to gaze upon the splendor of the Rainbow Stag. This beetle appears to change color depending on the angle you view it, shifting from emerald greens to ruby reds to glittering gold, all with a luscious metallic sheen. This magnificent color fades when the beetle dies, just as a rainbow will fade in the sky. I like to think the Rainbow Stag reminds us of the ephemeral nature of beauty and life, and teaches us to value things while we can.

Golden Stag (Allotopus rosenbergi)

The Golden Stag’s exoskeleton is a breathtaking, metallic gold, making it highly prized by bug lovers and collectors. The shimmering beetles live in tropical jungles at high altitudes, using their short, sturdy mandibles to dig into wood and dine upon tree sap. Collectors have struggled to breed this stag in captivity, as it’s sensitive to temperatures and the young have strict dietary requirements. However, in recent times, there has been more success with captive breeding. Personally, I derive deep joy and satisfaction simply basking in this creature’s presence, regardless of how long it lasts. Come. Let us enjoy this golden moment together.

Cyclommatus Stag (Genus Cyclommatus)

The mandibles of this stag beetle are staggering, often as long as their body. These amazing jaws are used to mine tree sap as well as fight other stag beetles for the right to mate. In fact, males will often throw each other off of trees in their competitions! However, do not be too intimidated by the Cyclommatus Stag; it can be tender as well. They chew through decaying wood to lovingly craft a home for their young. I’ve actually been considering taking inspiration from this stag and adding more rotting wood to my bedroom. I think it would give it a cozy touch.

Miyama Stag (Lucanus maculifemoratus)

This handsome stag has a thick, bumpy exoskeleton and powerful-looking mandibles. However, despite its tough appearance, the Miyama is a gentle beast. In truth, you can easily injure one if you mishandle it, so care should be taken when interacting with this delicate soul. Miyamas are popular with children, and are widespread in their native lands, in both mountainous places as well as plains. Actually, one of my very first friends was a Miyama Stag. They helped me learn the deep and mysterious art of communication with insectkind. Thus, I will always have a soft spot for these gentle giants.

Saw Stag (Prosopocoilus inclinatus)

Saw Stags are popular pets in their homeland, and it’s easy to see why. Those handsome reddish brown shells, those magnificent saw-like mandibles, those curious little eyes, those hook-like claws! As they grow, that pair of jaws grows along with them, gaining more teeth and a larger curve. You needn’t fear, though; this beetle is unlikely to bite you unless you stick your finger directly into its mouth. In fact, when this beetle feels vibrations, it may freeze and feign death as a defense mechanism. They clearly prefer to avoid a fight unless it’s necessary. The Saw Stags that I take care of certainly will never have a reason to fight– I spoil them rotten with all the bananas and beetle jelly they could possibly want!

Giant Stag (Dorcus Hopei Binodulosus)

The Giant Stag is probably the most popular stag to keep as a pet! They’re very large, docile, easy to breed, and live quite long for a stag beetle, up to five years! People also find their mandibles to be very appealing, which have a single tooth on either side. They will rarely use these jaws to bite, unless you go out of your way to bother them. In fact, these are shy beetles, and they will spend a lot of their time just hiding away in holes inside of trees. They will peacefully sip tree saps and fruits, and prefer to be active at night. In the wild, Giant Stag populations have decreased due to over collection, although fortunately people are turning more and more to breeding in order to keep wild populations safe. This serves as an important reminder– bugs need to be treated with care and respect, even when we’re acting out of love!

*Giaraffe Stag

Walking Stick (Order Phasmatodea)

Walking Sticks are excellent examples of the art of camouflage in its purest form. Not only do they mimic twigs and branches, all the way down to the very knots in the wood, but as they walk, they mimic the sway of branches in the breeze. They have truly become one with their environment. I hope to achieve this level of focus in my own life someday, as I surround myself with all that is arthropod.

Walking Leaf (Family Phylliidae)

These incredible insects have taken camouflage to the next level. Their bodies so closely resemble leaves that they include the veins and even nibble-marks on leaves, and they can even fool leaf-eating insects! As they walk, they sway back and forth, imitating a leaf blowing in the breeze. They enjoy munching on leaves, because the Walking Leaf not only disguises itself as leaves, but eats them as well. They are truly immersed in leafhood.

Bagworm (Family Psychidae)

Bagworms are not really worms, but are the caterpillars of a special kind of moth. These charming little larvae construct themselves beautiful 'bags’ made out of silk and bits of things they find in the environment– twigs, leaves, lichens, sand, and even bits of plastic! They wear these protective bags as disguises as they crawl about and feed on leaves or lichens. When they’re ready to pupate, the bags serve as the perfect cocoon! Males will immerge from the case and spread their wings and fly away. Females, however, are a different story. Bagworm females often are wingless, and may spend the rest of their lives inside their childhood casings. Males will visit the females in their bags to breed. Imagine being so attached to your mobile home that you never leave! Considering how artistic some of these bags are, I guess I can’t blame them.

Ant (Family Formicidae)

The extraordinary ant, a species that has existed for millions of years and currently lives in all corners of the globe. These creatures form complex colonies, often made up of hundreds or thousands of individuals, and have a division of labor: worker ants, soldier ants, fertile male drones, and an egg-laying queen ant. It would be erroneous to think of ants in individual terms, as really, individual ants come together to form a super-organism, the ant colony. They always cooperate for the wellbeing of the colony as a whole. Individual ants are marvelously talented in the ways of chemical communication, and they produce all kinds of scents to help communicate with their sisters; signals to signify food, warnings signals for enemies, and so forth. This is how ants are able to act together as a group. With this kind of communal power, ants can accomplish amazing things. They’ve been known to build bridges with their own bodies for their sisters to cross; some species will create and tend to underground fungus gardens; other species will herd and tend to honeydew-producing aphids as if they were tending cattle! Ants teach is something very important– the power of cooperation.

Hermit Crab (Superfamily Paguroidea)

O-oh! It’s a Hermit Crab! These aren’t insects, but they are arthropods. What defines an arthropod is that they are invertebrates with segmented bodies and jointed limbs, as well as a chitinous exoskeleton. That means Hermit Crabs and insects are relatives! And they’re very charming relatives, too. Hermit Crabs have ten legs, inquisitive stalk eyes, and soft bodies protected by a shell. But these crabs don’t grow their own shells! Instead, they borrow empty shells they happens to find, which are often sea snail shells. As this type of crab ages and grows larger, it must find new, larger shells to borrow. Sometimes, when a Hermit Crab is looking for a new shell, and finds one that’s too large, it will sit and wait by the large shell. Other hermit crabs will pass by and join the first, waiting in an orderly line. Then, when a Hermit Crab passes by that is a perfect fit for the shell, all the crabs will quickly exchange shells in sequence! All that shell-trading may be a lot of work, but in the end, it’s worth it for such a cozy home.

Fly (Musca domestica)

Aah, the common house fly. While this species of insect is rarely adored by people, the fly still has plenty of things to admire. This little scavenger plays an important role in breaking down wastes and organic matter, returning them to the earth. But the fly feeds on liquids, so how does it eat feces, carrion and rotting fruits or vegetation? Well, it regurgitates saliva from its stomach, which helps dissolve the food, and then sucks it up! You might also have observed that flies like to wander around a piece of food quite a bit before feeding. They’re likely tasting the food with their feet! This is also why you can often see flies carefully cleaning their feet. They need to stay tidy so their taste and tactile receptors work well. True, the fly can transfer diseases to human food by landing on something contaminated and then landing on human food. Yet there’s no denying they still play an important role in waste disposal– not to mention a vital role in the food web, as they’re food for many, many animals!

Mosquito (Family Culicidae)

Little mosquito, oh how your reputation precedes you. This tiny fly is known for being a blood-sucker, but did you know only the females suck blood? The males feed upon nectar. The females seek a blood meal so they can produce eggs. Female mosquitoes are able to narrow in on a person or animal by detecting body heat and the carbon dioxide of their breath. The mosquito then lands, inserts her long proboscis, and injects saliva into her target to help with blood flow, and feeds until she’s all filled up. The itchy bite that she leaves behind is actually because of the mosquito’s saliva. Now, mosquitoes can transmit some bad diseases when they bite people, there’s no denying. But mosquitoes are also very useful to scientists, who study the germs that can live inside mosquitoes. By studying them, we can learn to better control the diseases that they can cause.

Flea (Order Siphonaptera)

Fleas are teeny, tiny parasites that hunger for a blood meal. They have smooth, flattened bodies that help them move through fur or feathers with ease, hooked claws to help them cling to their hosts, and extremely powerful hind legs for jumping. A flea’s jump is incredible, and they can propel themselves around 200 times their own body length, making them one of the best jumpers in the world. While many flea species are very picky about their hosts, some fleas are generalists and may feed upon a variety of animals. Females will lay their eggs on the skin or the bedding of their host animals, and they will produce hundreds to thousands of eggs in their lifetime. The eggs hatch into little wiggling larvae that feed upon organic matter and their parents’ feces. When they mature into adults and take a blood meal, they can mate and begin the cycle anew. I can understand why people wouldn’t be terribly fond of fleas feeding on them, but luckily for me, fleas don’t care for reptile blood.

Snail (Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda)

Our slithering, slime-coated companions are not actually insects! Instead, snails are mollusks, close relatives of clams, oysters and other shellfish. They have soft, mucous-coated bodies– the underside of the snail is actually one big 'foot’ of sorts that pulses rhythmically to propel the snail forward. The slime that coats a snail helps it glide efficiently along the ground, and also stick to surfaces. Additionally, this slime helps protect snails from a number of hazards, such as harsh sunlight, sharp objects, and even bacteria! I’m actually a little jealous. Being coated in slime has an awful lot of benefits, as it turns out!

Pill Bug (Order Isopoda, family Armadillidiidae)

Oh yes, the Pill Bug is something special! They’re actually not bugs at all but land-dwelling crustaceans– related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They still retain their fondness for damp environments, so you’ll often see them under rocks or in tree stumps. In these wonderfully wet and dark places, they go about their business, eating decaying plant material and playing a vital role in decomposition and returning nutrients to our great earth. If you try to pick one up, it’s likely to roll into a ball– its plated armor allows it to curl into this protective posture. Wait a little while, and the Pill Bug may stop feeling shy and uncurl again, and you might get the chance to feel its many little legs walking in a gentle rhythm. It kind of tickles!

Wharf Roach(Ligia exotica)

Wharf Roaches are not actually cockroaches– they’re not even insects, but instead are isopods, relatives of crabs and lobsters. They love to wander along rocky coastlines and harbor walls, and scavenge organic debris and algaes, acting as little beach cleaners. You might already be familiar with a close cousin of the Wharf Roach, the Pill Bug. There are some quick and easy ways to tell them apart, though. The Wharf Roach doesn’t roll into a ball, and the Wharf Roach has large, bulging eyes and lovely, long antenna. Another fun fact about Wharf Roaches is that often, the females will carry around their eggs, holding onto them with specialized egg-carrying appendages. If you have appendages custom-made for parental care, you know you’re gonna be good with children!

Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes)

My multilegged little marcher! The name 'centipede’ means '100 legs,’ but a centipede doesn’t actually have exactly 100 legs. Instead, it has anywhere from 30 to 354 legs, with one pair of legs per body segment. But because they always have an odd number of leg pairs, they never reach 100 exactly. Centipedes also have a pair of modified legs on their heads called forcipules, which inject venom into their prey. Be careful when interacting with centipedes, though! The centipede may bite more than just prey– it can bite anyone that it feels may be threatening them. This bite isn’t usually fatal, just painful, but it does mean you should respect the centipede’s boundaries, as with any creature. While centipedes can be aggressive, they can also be very kind; a large number of centipedes are very attentive mothers, wrapping their bodies around their eggs and remaining until they hatch. That tender, maternal embrace … those baby centipedes are very lucky to grow up so loved!

Spider (Order Araneae)

The bewitching arachnid! With their eight legs and eight eyes, their fang-tipped chelicerae and their wriggling pedipalps, how could you not fall in love? Spiders can produce silk, an amazing substance that’s flexible yet strong, and very versatile– they often use it to weave wondrous webs they wander like wizards, detecting the faintest vibrations when an insect has been captured. Other spiders are ambush predators, and can chase prey down at great speeds. Whatever method a spider chooses, they are truly masters of the hunt.

Scorpion (Order Scorpiones)

Behold, the scorpion! This dapper predator is an arachnid, which means it has eight legs and two body segments. Scorpions also have pinchers for grabbing prey and tails with venomous stingers. Fear not, however! Of the 2,000 or so scorpion species, while all are venomous, only a handful of about 25 or so have venom that is any real danger to humans. Even with those species, if you treat them with care, you should be safe and sound. The truth is, scorpions simply want to go about their lives, roaming around at night and finding insects to eat. They’re excellent hunters, and also excellent eaters! They can eat a great deal in one sitting and store food, so they can survive for long periods without food if needed. Scorpions are also caring parents. The females give live birth, carefully cradle their newborns, and then carry their babies on their backs. It’s honestly adorable.

Tarantula (Family Theraphosidae)

I’m told that a lot of people fear this sublime arachnid, due to its imposing size and its many legs. But tarantulas are actually very gentle, easygoing spiders, overall. While they do have venomous bites, those bites usually aren’t any worse than a bee sting. In fact, you should be more careful about their urticating hairs– that is, itchy hairs on their abdomens that they will fling at predators that frighten them. If you don’t give the tarantula a reason to fear, though, then they will leave you alone too. Actually, quite a few people keep tarantulas as pets. They like to dine upon insects, although they’ll occasionally eat larger things, like frogs, mice and even birds. Tarantulas are very good at sneaking up on their prey because each of their legs are tipped with furry, adorable little paws, which help them climb and sense their prey. Eight little fluffy paws! That’s four times the adorableness that cats and dogs have!

This is a repost on a new blog. The original post was on Aug 13, 2020.

#bugs #animal crossing #flick #acnh #animal crossing new horizons #insects #spiders #scorpions #the anti-blathers #long post #mycontent #video game discussions #real animals that inspire games

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magic-is-something-we-create · 4 years

Photo

I’m still in the process of making the intros for the rest, but I thought I’d put all the portraits together in one post, sans presentation! (badum tsss)

Jokes aside, I still really like how these turned out! In case you don’t know, from left to right, top to bottom, we’ve got: Ember Timber, Nimbus Timber, Gabbro Meywin, Iceberg Corona, Emerald Corona, and Xavi NoFather

Their WIP is called Firebreathers, and the first appearance of these portraits was here - it’s the official WIP intro, but its also a comic sans slideshow, so there’s a lot of jokes!

Image descriptions are under the cut!

Top Left: A front-facing portrait of a person with deep brown skin, a smattering of even darker freckles, and vaguely leaf-shaped ears. Their dark green dreadlocks are up in a messy ponytail, the bottom of which barely reaches the nape of their neck, and they have a small, cocky smile on their face. Their off-white shirt is missing the top button, and looks well lived in. They are looking to the right of the viewer.

Top Right: Another portrait, this time of a young man with the same dark skin as the last, but with fewer freckles and a rounder face. His ears are longer and more perky, and the one on the viewer’s left is folded back, like he’s listening to someone to his right. His hair is short and afro-textured, and is a light, powdery blue. His smile is subtle. He looks to be wearing a grey cardigan with a light blue shirt underneath, and the strap of a messenger bag hangs over one shoulder. He is looking to the left of the viewer.

Middle Left: This portrait is of a young man with messy black hair and sharp, double-winged eyeliner. His skin is a light, sandy brown, and a couple large freckles dot his cheekbones. His ears are leaf-shaped, like the others, but more narrow and sharp. He seems to be wearing a light color to his lips, which rest in a small pout. He is shirtless, and looking to the right of the viewer.

Middle Right: Another young man looks out from the image, his skin a similar shade to the last, but with warmer undertones, making his skin slightly darker. This time, his ears are shaped like an ocean wave, each with a small silver earring. The one on the viewer’s right has a small notch in the swoop at the top. His face is longer than the others, and there are several small scars visible, including one on his jaw, nose, and one partially obscured by his red turtleneck. His hair is silvery and long, with two small braids hanging just behind his ears, while the rest flows off-camera. He is looking slightly to the right of the viewer.

Bottom Left: A middle-aged man, who looks similar to the last. His ears are more streamlined, and poke out from between layers of his lengthy pink hair. His head is at a three-quarters angle, facing slightly towards the left of the viewer. He’s wearing a red coat with a stiff, cylindrical collar, and a white frill collar is barely visible. His cheekbones are prominent, made more so by the austere purse to his lips, which sucks his cheeks in slightly. He is glancing towards the right of the viewer, eyebrow quirked in question.

Bottom Right: Another young man, this time looking to be in his late twenties. He is pale, and his portrait has him facing to the right in a profile view. His hair is shoulder-length, indigo, and messy, swooping out from his head like he’s just woken up. The ear we can see is long and relatively floppy, like a rabbit’s. He’s wearing a dark cloak that’s a bit too big for him, and a scoop-necked grey shirt. His expression is neutral as he looks directly ahead.

21 notes · View notes

decembercamiecherries · 5 years

Text

intensely beautiful

IT’S KILLUGON DAYYYYYYYYYYY :D and who would I be if I didn’t have a fic to post on the day of my best and most wonderful otp~?

I actually wrote this like two months ago lol. It was inspired by this lovely killugon kiss by @cazzart over on her twitter! It’s a college au ^-^ Pls enjoy!

(title is inspired by the word ceraunophilia which is defined as a deep love of thunder and lightning. It also connotes the idea of finding both intensely beautiful)

-o0o-

Gon had never seen snow before.

Not this much, at least, and it had never snowed for this long. He watched with quiet awe as layers upon layers of snow fell from the sky, coating the campus in a light coating of powdery white. It had never really been cold enough to snow back at his hometown in Whale Island. The first and last time it happened was when he was only three, wide eyed and enchanted at witnessing something he’d only seen in books or movies.

“It’s snow,” Aunt Mito had told him kindly, standing beside him as he gazed out the window early that morning. “It’s pretty, don’t you think?”

It had been pretty, in a surreal way. Gon had been fascinated with how the snowflakes melted in his palm but stuck hard to the stone walkway leading to their small hut. He’d even tried to keep some, carrying a handful of snow inside only to cry when it started melting.

And that was the problem with Whale Island and snow. It couldn’t last. By the next day the blinding sun has returned, bringing with it the heat and humidity that was much more familiar to Gon than the cold and grey skies. Within hours, all the snow had gone.

But it was different here.

“It’s really coming down hard, huh?” Killua asked and Gon glanced up at him. Killua’s nose was scrunched up, a light dusting of pink spread across the sharp angles his cheeks and the tips of ears. He had complained and whined when Gon had first asked him if he wanted to go outside—Killua had never exactly liked the cold, exactly.

But Gon had asked him anyway, because even if the snow meant it was cold outside, it was still beautiful. And if Gon was going to experience something amazing, he wanted to do it with his best friend at his side.

“Hmm,” Gon hummed, holding on tighter to Killua’s arm and resting his head on Killua’s shoulder. His head was jostled slightly with every step, but he didn’t let it bother him. “Yeah, it is. But I like it.”

Killua scoffed. “You would like it. Everything is gross and wet and slippery…” He frowned down at Gon. “Have you ever even seen snow before?”

“A while ago. It snowed once back on Whale Island when I was really little.”

Killua quirked an eyebrow. “Really? I would’ve thought it was too hot for that. Whale Island is way further south than here, right?”

“Yeah, well, it only happened once.”

Gon let his gaze wander from Killua’s pale face to the snow covered grounds. Hunter College looked nearly unrecognizable after the gift from Mother Nature. Silvery white had hidden the dead grass, the bare branches of the trees were decorated with puffs of white that almost looked like clouds. It was even devoid of the students that usually mulled across the lawn between classes, with no one in sight but him and Killua.

Most of the other students had gone home for winter break. But Killua didn’t want that—he didn’t like his family’s empty mansion, or equally empty family members. There was a history there, a reason why Killua had chosen to attend college so far away from everything he had ever known. Gon had never pushed him on it—Killua was Killua, no matter what shadows lurked in his past—and he wasn’t about to now.

So when Killua has told him he planned on staying for the month-long break, Gon had stubbornly decided to stay, too. Killua didn’t deserve to be alone for so long, and besides, Gon didn’t want to leave Killua alone.

It didn’t matter how tempting the memory of Aunt Mito’s warm pies or his familiar bed. If Killua was here, that’s where Gon wanted to be.

“Did it ever snow back at your house?” Gon asked curiously, still staring at the blinding whiteness around them.

He didn’t have to look up to hear the scowl in Killua’s answer. “Ugh, yeah. It snowed a little too much for my liking.”

Gon laughed quietly and squeezed Killua’s arm. “You really, really don’t like the cold, huh?”

“Gee, I wonder what gave you that idea?”

Gon grinned. “I dunno, it’s just a feeling I had.”

Killua snorted and Gon’s grin grew even wider. “You’re so stupid,” Killua said, but the insult had no bite. His tone was warm, so full of soft fondness, that Gon had to look up. Even Killua’s eyes—bright as the sky or a bluejay’s wing, deep as a sapphire or the ocean, blue as Gon’s favorite color—grew tender as they gazed back at Gon.

Gon’s heart squeezed. Killua’s eyes were one of Gon’s favorite things about him, and there were lots of things that Gon liked about Killua. But today his eyes looked especially pretty against the dull grey backdrop of the sky and the empty whiteness surrounding them.

“You didn’t have to come out here, you know,” Gon said softly. The snow crunched under their boots with every step, creating a strange but steady thump-ing sound. “You don’t like the cold but you came out here anyway.”

You came out here for me, he added silently as he watched Killua squirm under his gaze.

“Yeah, well…” Killua huffed, his breath fogging up into a cloud. “Don’t let it get to your head, okay. I know what you’re thinking and if I get sick, I’m blaming you.”

“You won’t get sick from being cold, Killua. That’s just silly.”

“You would be surprised how many times I’ve gotten sick from just ‘being cold’, Gon. And who are you to know, anyway? You’re not a science major!”

Gon laughed again and the sound was boisterous enough to echo across the clearing and bounce off the nearby trees. It shattered the peaceful silence created by the snow and gon heard Killua grumble something about being too loud, but he couldn’t help himself. Killua made him laugh so easily, almost as easily as breathing.

“M-Maybe not,” Gon admitted, still giggling. “But if you do—do get sick, I promise nurse you back to health and everything!”

“You better,” Killua grumbled as his cheeks pinkened. “This is all your fault.”

“You said that already, Ki-llu-a.”

“That d-doesn’t make it not t-true!”

Killua shivered violently, teeth chattering. Gon frowned and rubbed his arm. It wasn’t enough to warm Killua up much—the heavy winter jacket and hat atop his head should already be doing that—but Gon hoped the action was comforting to his best fried all the same.

“Do you really want to go back?” he asked, concerned. He’d wanted to see the snow, to breathe in the fresh air and feel the snowflakes melting on his cheeks. Despite all their teasing, he didn’t really want Killua freeze badly enough to get sick. He just wanted to share this special moment with the most special person he knew.

To his surprise, Killua shook his head. “N-No...I’m just not used to it. I usually try to stay inside when it’s snowing like this.”

Gon slowed down, a suggestive but very fun idea hitting him. “Maybe you just need to warm up a little?” he asked slyly.

Killua slowed to match his pace, giving Gon a suspicious look. Gon didn’t blame him—Killua knew him extremely well after four years of being best friend college buddies and two years of being...well, of being more. Killua knew him better than Gon himself some days. And he definitely knew that tone of Gon’s meant trouble.

“What are you saying?” Killua asked with narrowed blue eyes. Gon hummed thoughtfully before releasing Killua’s arm. He twisted around swiftly to plant himself in front of Killua’s path, forcing the Zoldyck to stop in his tracks.

“I’m saying...you need something to warm you up,” Gon said simply and Killua’s eyes light up.

“Oh, yeah?” Killua shoved his hands into his pockets, looking amused. “And you think you have that something?”

“I might,” Gon admits casually. “But I dunno if you’ll like my idea…”

“Why don’t you try me, and I’ll let you know?”

“Hmm. Well, it might involve me getting in your personal space.”

“Might?” Killua echoed. He was giving Gon all of his attention now, all one-hundred percent of that intense blue gaze was locked onto Gon’s face, and a shiver raced down Gon’s spine—a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. “When have you ever respected personal space before?”

Gon grinned. “You never seemed to mind it,” he whispered as he leaned in ever so slowly. He could see his reflection in Killua’s eyes, the way his pupils grew large and his breath stuttered as Gon grew near.

“Hard to mind something you get used to,” Killua whispered back and Gon’s toes curled in his boots.

“You saying I grew on you?” he asked quietly. He let his hands drift forward to carefully graze Killua’s gloved fingers. Killua bit his lip at the contact—a sight that caused a thrill of satisfaction to rush through Gon. It wasn’t hard to see the struggle in Killua’s face, how he was forcing himself not to grab Gon’s hand and tangle their fingers together as they had so many times before.

“Yeah,” Killua breathed. “You did. Like a wart.”

The answer was so unexpected—so, so Killua—that Gon threw his head back and laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed. He laughed until he was gasping for air, eyes watering and cheeks aching from being stretched too far.

“Ki-Killua,” he wheezed. “You’re—You’re funny.”

Killua rolled his eyes. “I’m not funny. You’re just stupid.”

Gon snickered, not at all minding the insult. Killua’s insults were more like terms of endearment when applied to Gon. He never really meant them.

“You like me anyway,” he reminded Killua in a teasing tone, finally taking Killua’s hands in his and squeezing them. Killua flushed darkly, a pretty blush that had absolutely nothing to do with the cold coloring his normally pale features.

“I unfortunately do,” he muttered and Gon’s heart fluttered. Killua looked so cute just then, pouting with pink cheeks and looking anywhere but at the person of his affection.

“No need to look so embarrassed, Ki-llu-a,” Gon said with a bright grin. “I like you, too.”

Killua down bit his lip. “You do?”

“You know I do.”

“...you’re making fun of me, aren’t you?”

Gon’s smile widened. “Maybe just a little. But I can’t help it! You look so cute when you get all flustered.”

Killua opened his mouth, looking like he was about to argue, and that’s when Gon moved. He rushed forward and pressed his lips to Killua’s, still smiling as their mouths touched.

For a moment, Killua didn’t move. He stayed stiff as wood against Gon—out of surprise more than anything, Gon was sure—but then he melted into Gon’s embrace, leaning against the shorter student as he kissed Gon soundly back.

Killua’s lips were warm, Gon noted. They were warm and soft and tasted faintly of the hot chocolate Gon had made for him just hours earlier. They were familiar and good and Gon hummed happily before tilting his head to get an even deeper kiss. Killua responded by winding his arms around Gon’s middle, squeezing his waist hard enough as if he could keep Gon here in this moment with just his strength alone.

Which, he really didn’t need to do. Because Gon wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world than here with Killua, sharing this moment with him as the snowflakes collected on their shoulders and in their hair.

Gon didn’t know how or why, but everything felt right when he was with Killua. Killua had a way of making the world brighter, his problems lighter, his challenges easier. Even when the world was already so beautiful with the snow falling from the sky and the icicles decorating the trees, nothing could ever really compare to the beauty that was Killua.

Gon pulled back and Killua’s eyelashes fluttered. Hazy blue eyes gazed back at him and something hot twisted in Gon’s gut.

“Feeling warmer?” Gon asked, voice hoarse, and Killua sucked in a shuddering breath.

“A little,” he said, cheeks stained red. “But I don’t think I’m entirely warmed up yet.”

Gon tilted his head as he tried to hold back the smile fighting its way onto his face. “Really?”

Killua nodded. “Really.”

Gon grinned. He threw his arms around Killua’s shoulders and pulled Killua in for another kiss, this time holding Killua to him as his boyfriend once more melted into his embrace.

#dc writes #killugon #hunterxhunter #killua zoldyck #gon freecss #kissing #modern au #college au #aged up au #winter #snow

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honestsycrets · 6 years

Text

What She Really Wants

Thank you @bonniebird for the moodboard!

❛ request | Hi, for the Hvitty weekend could you do prompts #2:"go away and stay away" and #12:"if you didn't want me, you shouldn't have said yes" from your angst list? In the way you think it's best. Thanks!

❛ word count | 1759

❛ genre | multichaptered piece

❛ summary | hvitserk is back. He doesn’t intend to lose this time.

❛ warnings | manipulation, wife selling, some minimal violence, shitty fiances, dark!hvitserk (slightly)

How he lost her, he truly couldn’t say.

It was all a blur of medicine cocktails and tequila with whiskey after she left him. As he moved on… well, things only intensified for Hvitserk Ragnarsson. He fell down the tunnel that was his father’s life; picking up bitches to box up and ship off, take care of debtors and… yeah, brief jail stints. Nothing he couldn’t pay a judge to bury.

That Friday night was spent with one of his girls. One of many little spoiled bitches that he had been fucking on his down time. He lazily stuffed his hands into his warm little joggers. It had easily been fifteen fucking years since high school. Most of his so called classmates were married, cheating and divorced. Shit, not him.

He had that dream once upon a time, man. He dreamed all about stuffing her with his seed. Giving her his babies. Letting her bring them up in the way only she could. His little powdery pink haired princess could have brought them up on k-dramas, cute stupid dances and traveled the god damn world if she would have just stayed.

“Da-adddddyyyy, look at the flower ring!”

God this blonde bitch was annoying. He really needed to replace her already. When she spoke it was like his pin of pigs squealing for their next dinner. Hvitserk snorts, looking into the display case at the ring.

“That is apart of our Enchanted Disney series.” A barrel chested, fat gutted man ambles in his grey suit. His blonde haired, blue eyed fuck lights up like a Christmas tree, cooing his name while the man goes into the specifics of the garnet set into blah blah blah. He digs into his pocket for a cherry lollipop. He’d need his god damn sugar to deal with this bitch today.

“Oh… Mikkel look at it.”

Wait…

Hvitserk’s head shoots up from the glass casing, cast with a silvery lining to another in the same lane. A sweet little pop up reads Aurora. He leans back, his neck extending to the girl standing there.

“I know you like it, (Y/N) but… we don’t have the nineteen thousand for that.”

(Y/N). It was you.

“Daddy are you listening?” The bimbo-- what was her name, Freja, that’s right. He digs into his wallet, pulling free a bill.

“Do me a favor and get the fuck lost.” He leaves her side, walking to where the couple was. He doesn’t bother tapping your shoulder, cloaked by your rose gold ombre hair. Instead he leans in, hands in his pockets.

“Hey babe.” He smoothes with a voice silkier than the rich chocolate ice cream you buy on the weekends. “What’re you looking at?”

On your finger, you had been holding up a lovely ring. An oval morganite is clustered by an arrangement of clear, genuine diamonds. It’s set into a golden band over your ring and god damn, you deserve more than that shit.

“Hvitserk?” You jerk back, tilting your head away from him. He can’t tell if its fear or distrust. “Oh! Hvitserk Ragnarsson!”

“Sup babe.” He moves in between you and your male friend. Friend because he had better be a motherfucking friend, taking your fingers in his hand. His thick… arm pulls you forward. Damn, did he always look like that? He knows you’re thinking just that. “What are you looking at?”

“Look at this shiiit.” He hums. “Aurora, huh? You always liked pink.”

Your friend begins to clear his throat.

“Hvitserk.” Right, shit, manners. Hvitserk tilts the ring, glittering on your fingertips. He looks to the round barreled man, consoling his abandoned date. Or whatever she was meant to be at one point.

“Hey.” He snaps his fingers, pointing down to the ring. “My girl wants this ring. You gonna ring me up or what?”

“No! I mean, no no, Hvitserk that is really… too much. We havent even seen each other in--”

“Fifteen years, yeah, noted.” Hvitserk snorts.

The man you stand with comes around Hvitserk, standing obnoxiously in his way. Shit he was cute, he guessed. He had this undercut around the lightest of honey brown hair, flopping over his narrowed baby blue eyes.

“That’s my wife you’re talking to. She doesn’t need a shiny ring to make her happy.” Mikkel’s voice isn’t nearly as deep as his. He knows how fond you are of his when you’re on your knees, sucking his cock like it was one of the very lollipops in his mouth. Hvitserk clacks his cherry lollipop around the roof of his mouth.

“You really know her?” Hvitserk laughs. “She might say she doesn’t. But she wants it. She always wants it.”

Is it still a ring he’s talking about?

“Listen, asshole.” Mikkel starts-- but lucky for him, you set your hand to Mikkel’s chest to force him to stop.

“A gift would be lovely, Hvitserk. Mikkel, he’s a good man.”

Game, set, match. After all these years, you thought that he would learn. Mikkel looks down upon you like he was about to start some shit… but in a room full of people shrieking: oh that’s so sweet and the bimbo bitch running off in other humiliation, what was he gonna say? What was anyone really going to say?

He pays in cash while you coo at his side. It’s an unnatural high that he feels only with you. You were the one… the only one. Mikkel brews behind you, his chest raising and falling in that toned t-shirt he wears. He can fuck off. The store manager instructs you on the ring while Hvitserk stands back, arms folded triumphantly over one another.

“Go away and stay away.” Mikkel whispers against his grit teeth. “You lost. She’s mine.”

Oh this fucker was going to be a fun one to run off. Hvitserk cocks his flat eyebrow up at him, swaying in place.

“I don’t think so.”

Before your fiance can respond, you turn back to Hvitserk. He hardly expects anything. His payment is in the sugar sweet smile you bring to the table. God, it’s like being a fourteen year old shit head again. He always was but-- gazing across the class at you as you babble on about some physics bullshit he wasn’t nothing to do about. Bending back to see your skirt flip up when you ran up the stairs. Shit, he loved it all. Without so much as a prompt, you tippy toe up and land a kiss square on his cheek.

“Thank you Hvit. It’s gorgeous. You should come to dinner at our house next week. What’s your number?”

NO! Mikkel’s eyes shout. Oh but that’s just too delicious to resist. Placing this useless fuck in an uncomfortable situation sounded good enough… but knowing that you would dress up and it wouldn’t be for this fuck, even better. He pulls his phone out of his pocket.

“She invited him over to the house tomorrow. So I’m giving Mads the keys.”

Mikkel was a terribly predictable young man. He would babble on his phone as he walked out of his car. Each day he worked a six to six graveyard shift. Which was uh, funny, because he didn’t see no god damn reason for him to be doing it when he had a delicious fucking wife at home waiting to be stuffed with his--

Right, Hvitserk didn’t want that.

He didn’t want any part of this man in his wife to be.

“Well she shouldn’t have fucking said yes if she didn’t want me.”

Granted, she probably did fuck this loser. It wasn’t as if she was particularly difficult. He both loves and hates that about her. It was perfect when her legs would spread open, welcoming his dick into her warmth. Yeah, nothing like sliding into you at the end of a long day. But… well, Mikkel? This khaki wearing loser didn’t deserve you.

Not one inch on your immaculate body was made for Mikkel. It was made for Hvitserk. So that’s why he had to do this, he had to! You could always forgive him. After all, didn’t you forgive him with Magnus? It wouldn’t be such a stretch.

I can’t marry someone I don’t trust, Hvit. I’m sorry.

No! No shake off those awful memories.

“Yeah, I know he’s dangerous but she insists he’s gonna be different.” Mikkel rounds about his car, walking into the warehouse. Had he been paying attention, he would have noticed the shards of glass from the cameras his steel toed boots cracked over.

He’s never different.

Hvitserk never professed to be either.

“It’s fine.” He says. But oh, oh, oh… it would be far from that. “I’ll catch ya later Magnus.”

He should have just left it as sex back then. But… he wanted more and more. It wasn’t his fault Magnus got in the way. Magnus never did learn.

Neither did Mikkel, because as he scouted out cracked glass at long last, it comes with a baseball bat to the face. Then another just when he was down on the cold, dusky ground. Hvitserk pins Mikkel down by his pasty wrist onto the ground with his boot, lifting the bat just one more time.

“Hey, Mikkel.” He digs his boot in. Mikkel flinches, expecting the bat to come swinging down upon his shoulder. Instead of that, Hvitserk lazily rests the bat over his shoulder. “What’re you doing, baby? Did you slip?”

“Are you fucking crazy?!”

“I think you’re the crazy one here, Mikkel.” Hvitserk grinds his boot into the man’s wrist, shoving him into the jagged edges of the glass. “Went through all this trouble just to hurt yourself.”

“What are you talking about!?” Mikkel barks out. “You hit me in the face!”

“Didn’t do shit.” Hvitserk answers, watching as Mikkel struggled under his boot and caused the glass to shift. Hvitserk grinds his foot down into him. “You’re tryin’ to get away from your wife. Running into poles and shit.”

After a while, it all comes together. Of course he was doing this… there were always rumors on Magnus’s tongue about how in high school, you caught the eye of a Ragnarsson. The very same one who shoves the bat against his sternum, looking down at him with that cocky smile that just sold confidence in his skills.

“Listen. I’ll do you a favour. 20 grand and I’ll take her off your hands.”

Magnus was right. Hvitserk Ragnarsson was definitely insane. But money was money.

“Sold.”

@igetcarriedawaywithyou, @kylobien, @titty-teetee, @breathlessouls, @nejijjeoroo, @bcat1291, @readsalot73, @mslothbrok, @romanchronicles, @captstefanbrandt, @ailucascen, @michaeliskindahot, @cbouvier23, @naaladareia, @cbouvier23, @the-geeky-engineer, @dorned, @lisinfleur, @funmadnessandbadassvikings, @tephi101, @akamaiden, @ethereallysimple, @venusloviing, @happylittlepuppydog, @beyond-the-ashes, @slutforrpg, @hipsternoionlylikeunicorns, @mixedwiththemoon, @sparklemichele, @alicedopey, @lif3snotouttogetyou, @rubyquartzshades, @noregretsandyeteveryregret, @dangerous-like-a-loaded-pistol, @deathbyarabbit, @unacceptabletatertots, @beyond-the-ashes (no sig), @babypink224221, @ivarandersen, @queen-see-ya-in-valhalla, @moose-squirrel-asstiel, @icarus-fell-in-spring, @end-of-night, @gruffle1, @lol-haha-joke@arses21434, @smileyparrots, @Moosemittens13, @miss-artemis-wild, @two-unbeatable-beaters, @wonderwoman292, @wish-i-was-a-mermaid, @fangirls94, @mcuimxgine, @killerb00sdeath, @heartbeats-wildly, @boo20017, @acacheofstrange, @shaelyn102, @astoryoffireandlight, @smokealone, @shaelyn102 @laketaj24

#hvitserk x reader #hvitserk/reader #hvitty/reader #hvitty x reader #vikings imagines #modern!hvitserk #dark!hvitserk #Hvitty imagines #5cw: hvitserk

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thegreenexpert-blog · 7 years

Photo

Diseases and pests on fababeans

Creative way to diagnose plant diseases by photo -No need an Agronomist anymore

ASCOCHYTA LEAF, STEM AND POD SPOT of fababean

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

This is the disease that holds the potential to cause large yield loss due to the nature of its fast infection of all above ground host tissue. The pathogen is Ascochyta fabae and can be introduced through by soil movement.

Symptoms

The leaf lesions are circular and dark brown in color, with a light colored center that is slightly sunken. Symptoms in the early stages look similar to nonaggressive chocolate spot lesions on foliage. In later stages, lesions enlarge and coalesce to cover the whole foliage surface and then the infected leaf turns brown. Lesions on stems and pods are sunken and darker. The stem lesions are elongated and can cause stem break. The pod lesions are yellowish coloured in center and may penetrate inside of the pod.

Management

- control host weeds and debris in adjacent fields.

- use certified seeds that contain the lowest level of disease inoculation (1- 3% infection is reasonable).

- Non-systemic fungicides work well by foliar application of Bravo (chlorothalonil) and Polyram DF (metiram).

to see more photos about this :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=52

Aphids (Pea aphid, Bean aphid, Cowpea aphid, Melon aphid, Peach aphid, etc.)

Symptoms

Small soft bodied insects on underside of leaves and/or stems of plant; usually green or yellow in color, but may be pink, brown, red or black depending on species and host plant; if aphid infestation is heavy it may cause leaves to yellow and/or distorted, necrotic spots on leaves and/or stunted shoots; aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew which encourages the growth of sooty mold on the plant

MANAGEMENT

Regular monitoring of crops and the application of a suitable insecticide will readily control the aphids. Only one product is currently registered for use in Vicia faba crops (Pirimicarb) but numerous others are registered for use against aphids in other bean host species.

to see more photos about this :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=54

Chocolate spot Botrytis cinerea Botrytis fabae.

Symptoms

The leaves are the main affected tissue; flowers and pods can also be infected when conditions are favourable. There are two phases of the disease that are easily identifiable:

- Non aggressive phase; in this phase, the classic symptoms are the regular reddishbrown/chocolate-brown spots which give a ‘peppered’ appearance to the foliage, especially on the older leaves.

- Aggressive phase; the coalesced lesions become greyish and darker in color. They are irregular and elongated in shape, with a brownish tinge. This stage is often developed under humid conditions; as long as the disease becomes aggressive, the lesions start to spread until the whole leaf been covered. Similar symptoms could be caused by other factors, such as aphid feeding damage. Young lesions may also show on pods or the floral end.

Comments on disease

Long periods of high humidity promote the switch from the non-aggressive phase to the aggressive phase; aggressive phase of the disease favors low levels of potassium and phosphorus in the soil and overcrowded plants

Management

- Stick to the seeding rate

- by increasing crop density, a preferable environment is created and will foster pathogen growth.

- Adhere to a proper crop rotation.

This will decrease inoculant load found in the soil.

- Intercropping with cereals can reduce disease severity.

- Burning or ploughing the straw residues after harvest and avoiding bean crop debris as well as volunteers can reduce the inoculum rate.

- Seed treatment using Thiram 75 WP can be used to help control the disease.

- Soaking seeds in ethephon could reduce the disease severity

to see more photos about this :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=56

Bacterial brown spot Pseudomonas syringae

Symptoms

Small, dark brown necrotic spots on leaves which may be surrounded by a zone of yellow tissue; water soaked spots on pods which turn brown and necrotic; pods may twist and distort in area of infection

Management

Plant only certified seed; rotate crops regularly; remove crop debris from field after harvest

to see more photos about this :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=58

Cut worm

This is a large group belonging to the Lepidoptera family and contains many different species. Although, they can be common in fababean fields, they most often occur in low densities, and yield loss is low.

SYMPTOMS AND PESTS

The most common pests includes the lima pod borer (more than one generations per year and damaging stage is larvae which mainly attack pods but also could damage shoots and flowers), and cutworms (damaging stage is larvae in spring, around 35 mm long, could cause severe seedlings damage). There are three common cutworms; Army Cutworm, Redbacked Cutworm and Glassy Cutworm.

Management

- using crop rotations and avoiding susceptible hosts can reduce the number of eggs laid and number of larvae hatched.

- controlling weeds is also an important method to reduce the damage.

- insecticides can be used if economic threshold levels are reached.

- For controlling pod borer, spray should between hatching and the time when larvae entry pods.

to see more :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=59

Powdery mildew Erysiphe pisi

Symptoms

Yellow spots on upper surface of leaves; powdery gray-white areas which coalesce to cover entire plant; if plant is heavily infected it may appear light blue or gray in color

Management

Plant resistant varieties, particularly if sowing late; use overhead irrigation (washes fungus from leaves and reduces viability); plant crop as early as possible; frequent applications of sulfur may be required to control heavy infestations

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=61

Stemphylium blight

Causal fungus: Stemphylium botryosum (sexual phase - Pleospora herbarum)

Symptoms

Leaves up the plant become brown to greyish black from either discrete large lesions or from edge necrosis .Lesions have no halo. Whole areas in the paddock can develop a blighted appearance .

MANAGEMENT

No attempts have been made to control this blight in faba bean crops, as it has generally developed quite suddenly before any suitable protectant could be applied. However, if this disease is detected early enough, there are several fungicides that could be used in an attempt to minimise the damage.

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=62

Downy mildew Peronospora viciae

Symptoms

Yellow-brown blotches on upper surface of leaves; angular patches of fluffy white-gray fungus on lower side of leaves; plant growth may be stunted or distorted and whole plant may die before flowering; plant may produce

Management

Rotate crops for at least 5 years; till crop debris deeply; avoid sowing in late Autumn at greater soil depths as this can promote severe infections

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=66

Mexican bean beetle Epilachna varivestis

Symptoms

Irregular patches of feeding damage on underside of leaves which causes the top surface of the leaf to dry out, giving the leaves a lacy appearance; insect will also damage flowers and small pods; pods may be damaged so badly that they drop from the plant; adult insect is an orange-brown beetle with black spots; larvae are fat-bodied grubs which taper at the end and are in rows of conspicuous spines

Management

Some bean varieties may be less attractive hosts for the beetle, e.g. snapbeans are preferred hosts over lima beans; early varieties may escape damage form beetles beetle populations can be reduced by remove overwintering sites such as brush and leaves on the ground; handpick larvae and adults; brush eggs from leaves and destroy; apply insecticidal soap to leaf undersides if infestation is heavy

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=67

Broad bean rust Uromyces viciae-fabae

Symptoms

Small, powdery dark spots on leaves and stems; dark brown spores on undersides of leaves; severe infestation can cause leaves to collapse and die

Management

Remove all crop debris after harvest; remove any infected leaves from the plant; apply an appropriate foliar fungicide to control the disease; avoid overhead irrigation; make use of trellises to open up the plat canopy and promote good air circulation around foliage; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization

to see more photos:

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=68

Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Thrips tabaci

Symptoms

If population is high leaves may be distorted; leaves are covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery; leaves speckled with black feces; insect is small (1.5 mm) and slender and best viewed using a hand lens; adult thrips are pale yellow to light brown and the nymphs are smaller and lighter in color

Management

Avoid planting next to onions, garlic or cereals where very large numbers of thrips can build up; use reflective mulches early in growing season to deter thrips; apply appropriate insecticide if thrips become problematic

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=70

LYGUS BUGS

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

Adult lygus are soft bodies and around 5-7 mm long. They have piercingsucking mouth parts and cause damage by feeding on foliage.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include leaf necrotic spots and small holes. Spots can cause severe damage and the plants eventually die. Symptoms are more intense at the edge of the field. By piercing pods of maturing plants, these insects can cause dark spots on the beans. These spots can cause downgrading in the edible market.

Management

- Scout fields regularly to ensure that severe damage does not occur

- net sweep every second or third day starting mid-July is recommended in several spots of the field

- fields should be monitored into the first week of August

Three insecticides are registered for lygus bug control in fababean:

- Dylox (550 mL/ac)

- Lorsban 4E (405 mL/ac)

- Matador 120EC (34 mL/ac).

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=60

Virus

Causal viruses: Various.

Viral infections are found in most faba bean crops to varying degrees of incidence and severity. Their effect on grain yield is not yet fully understood.

Symptoms

Symptoms Two distinct symptoms can be detected in faba beans.

1. Tops yellows ,This is becoming the most prominent symptom in crops 2. Necrotic streak

This disease is found on plants scattered throughout crops. Infected plants exhibit the following symptoms:

• Black streaking up the stem.

• Variable plant stunting.

• Growing tip/point die back.

• Seed discolouration.

Aphids (especially the black bean aphid Aphis cracivora) vector the infection into the crops from outside sources, especially lucerne crops.

MANAGEMENT

1. Avoid planting faba beans adjacent to lucerne or clover crops.

2. Maintain good aphid control throughout the growth .of the crop.

to see more photos :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=64

Spider mites

Symptoms

Leaves stippled with yellow; leaves may appear bronzed; webbing covering leaves; mites may be visible as tiny moving dots on the webs or underside of leaves, best viewed using a hand lens; usually not spotted until there are visible symptoms on the plant; leaves turn yellow and may drop from plant

Management

spraying plants with a strong jet of water can help reduce buildup of spider mite populations; if mites become problematic apply insecticidal soap to plants; certain chemical insecticides may actually increase mite populations by killing off natural enemies and promoting mite reproduction

to see more :

http://the-greenexpert.com/singleDisease.aspx?disid=69

to get more information visite our site :

The-greenexpert.com

youtube

#agriculture plants diseases pests fruit vegetables trees flowers

5 notes · View notes

easynaturalhairstyle · 5 years

Text

Try 16 prettiest pastel blue hair colors

Pastel blue hair is a hair color that is a muted, lighter shade of blue. Pastels were undeniably so last year with celebrities out of the box with their eyes candy streaks of pink and purple – but this season's spotlight is all on baby blue tones!

Lady Gaga, Blac Chyna and Kylie Jenner start the trend, making the hair color round for their cool mood – in the form of ombrés, balayage, highlights and even mixed with other pastel chalks.

As soft as seafood, pastel blue strands go with every skin tone. It's just a matter of trust and personal style.

It's seen as a calm shade, but getting it isn't exactly cold. As an unnatural shade, it is necessary to pre-lighten your hair. Consulting your trusted colorist for products will also help extend the beauty of your winter strands.

For all of that, the glacier results are still worth it! Get your curls matte with these popular and pretty pastel blue hair colors below!

green and blue

How would you describe this look?

This color is inspired by the ocean waves. As you can see, her hair has several shades of blue – it starts like deep ocean blue at the roots, melted into a pastel blue, and the ends are light blue green that I created to make the color look like ocean splashes.

What I love about this color is the dynamics of the ocean color that it gives me. I created this paint using Oway (Organic Way) paint. Oway color is ammonia-free color and it is infused with biodynamic organic ingredients.

Who thought we could have pastel hair with organic colors, right? Oway made it possible and that's what I love about this color so much that green chemistry creates it.

Any advice for someone considering it?

Any hair type or face shape can subtract this color, but I only recommend this for people who can take care of it. Pastel colors can fade very easily. After you've done pastel colors, maintenance is critical that you use the best shampoo and conditioner and products for your hair, and you won't be able to wash your hair that often. I only recommend washing up 2-3 times a week, to get this color you will use many products at home.

I always take my guests home with Oway Color Protection Veil, which helps slow down the color fading process, Oway Phytoprotein Mist, a protein leave-in spray treatment that keeps your hair healthy and strong, and Oway Plant Mineral Refresh dry shampoo (organic dry shampoo) with them.

Gray blue

How would you describe this look?

This look is a silvery pastel blue color. Personally, my favorite thing about this look was to phrase it. I have a mix of Redken Shades EQ Pastel Aqua Blue equal parts 09B on level 9/10 hair. If the color didn't seem blue enough to me, I would overlay it with a vibrant color mixed with a white conditioner as a quick glaze. (Not a blue with underlying green pigments like teals or turquoise, but I would use a blue with a purple background like Pulp Riot's Nightfall)

Any advice for someone considering it?

My advice to anyone considering this look is to keep an eye on budget, maintenance, and attention.

Budget simply because this type of service can be lengthy and expensive. Not everyone's hair can lift up so easily for pastel shades. If you have dark hair, it may take a few sessions to achieve your goal. You pay for the process, not the look.

Maintenance needs to be considered as these types of processes can (not always) be harmful. Therefore, aftercare is extremely important for maintaining health and color. I personally recommend Olaplex Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 because I think they are actually the line, the one size, the repairs and conditions most.

Attention-wise, I have a lot of guests who get fashion color and one of the things I tell them the most is that people stop you in the middle of the street and ask for / compliment your hair. If you feel uncomfortable with people who are approaching you, I would consider a silent / natural color. If not, have it and tell them where you did it because writing the artist is always important!

Blue hair tips

How would you describe this look?

This look is different because I kept her natural hair color and blended the blue to give it a fading / ombré effect. My favorite part is how it fades from its natural root color to minimal baby blue highlights to the big pop of pastel blue at its ends. The color in this way enables the client to wear the look longer while her roots grow as long as she takes care of her hair at home with the right products.

Any advice for someone considering it?

My advice to do this color on yourself is to look at your profession first. This particular client is a teacher, so she will only keep it for the summer. It is important that you let your stylist know such things. A great thing about this look is that its natural color is still there. This helps the customer feel that they are just having a little fun with their color and not that they have colored their whole head blue.

Pastel looks are not easy to maintain. You need to be ready to wash your hair with cold water and use the products that your stylist recommends. My favorite product to keep fashion colors alive is Celeb Luxury Viral Color Deposition Shampoo and Conditioner.

Blue highlights in brown hair

How would you describe this look?

This pastel blue hue is a subtle and entertaining but professional way to immerse yourself in the fashion color world without too much brightening. It is a color that requires care and maintenance (less frequent shampooing, with sulfate-free color protection shampoo and conditioner, heat protection agents, etc.) for longevity, but is a great way to test the world of fashion colors.

Any advice for someone considering it?

I love that this look is a little different than your average highlights! It tested my patience and skill but allowed me to give this customer a seamless look that worked appropriately but fun and cheeky!

Sky blue

How would you describe this look?

This pastel blue was inspired by the ocean when it connects to the sky. Believe it or not, to achieve this color, I actually only used two professional color products: Blank canvas with 5vol & 10vol by Pulp Riot (a paint remover), and 9p + clear shades eq by Redken (a demi-gloss) what is my favorite thing about this look! You would have thought I used pastel colors, but I didn't!

My canvas originally had a vibrant purple, navy blue, and teal balayage, but to achieve the colors, I was first inspired by I used the safest products you can when you do any fashion colors. I braided thin sections and painted accordingly (avoiding natural roots) with 5 vol & 10vol. It was a process.

I carefully watched the colors fade and rinse as soon as I had the hues I wanted. After shampooing, I tinted her with a soft pearl (9p + clear) to get the metallic effect, but also to help with the fading on her platinum hair, which is among the pastel shades. After every chemical service, I always trim to maintain the integrity of my canvas. This cut was a dry cut. To ensure that the natural look of the hair moves properly after peeling off the length. Chopped-off long layers are always done with Davines' Oi Leave-in Milk and Oi Beautifying Oil. I styled with a 1 1/2 inch wand so the ends for a beachy look, but also to protect their ends. (Key tip for lighter hair colors when using heat)

Any advice for someone considering it?

You need to start with a blank canvas to get real colors. You will and must understand that a good artist will never compromise the integrity of your hair. Lightening hair to a 9-11 level (blondes) is indeed a process to get where you need to be to have a real pastel color to look right. This style can be for anyone who understands the health of your hair, always comes first and be patient. (Also a tip for people who always have their hair up, let the ends of your bun out of the hair elastic and tuck them in instead to avoid split ends.)

Any brightly colored hair should use Davines Oi Leave-in Milk on (damp) towel-dried hair, followed by Oi Beautifying Oil on dry ends of your hair for a healthy shine and well-groomed curls! (As well as a bonder with every lightening service! Ollaplex / B3 etc.)

Pastel blue ombré

How would you describe this look?

I would describe this look as an aquamarine stone. It is my mother's birthstone, it is blue and its meaning is the water of the sea. My favorite thing about it is how it's a muted soft powdery blue, and I really do have a soft stain for pastel blue hair.

Any advice for someone considering it?

Your hair must be healthy to embark on this journey. In order to achieve metallic or pastel colored hair, the hair must be raised to platinum so that sessions may be necessary depending on the hair.

This would look best on cool tinted skin. For example, if you look better with silver jewelry, it would work well with you.

This look requires good hair care to keep hair healthy and color intact. I love Alternative Caviar and Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Bond connection mask. Pastel chalk can give any hair a fun twist. They are perfect for anyone who doesn't want to stick to color for long as they wash out after a few shampoos.

silver blue

How would you describe this look?

My favorite thing about this look is the blue pastel color and the soft waves that go with it. I always want to give the tones / colors that I create a name. I would describe this color as blue steel. Because her hair is highlighted, it makes it possible to style it with a soft wave, to show dimension and depth.

Any advice for someone considering it?

I always recommend being prepared for maintenance to someone who wants a fantasy color that is semi-permanent. That means investing in color-safe hair products.

This also means changing your hair routine. Be prepared to wash your hair a lot less. I recommend once a week, but no less than every four days. Most importantly, cold water – the hair needs to be washed in cold water, otherwise the paint we just invested in will literally wash off the drain.

Also keep in mind that this will fade away, so have fun with it! Treat yourself and stylists to creative freedom – it's just hair.

Purple and blue

How would you describe this look?

For me, this look is the best way to incorporate Vivids into icy blonde hair. The pastel blue and purple tones will most likely fade blonde again (as long as the hair underneath is not super porous). The wavy styling makes the color look more elegant. This is completely mermaid hair for cooler blondes.

Any advice for someone considering it?

Anyone looking for this look should be ready to wash their hair in ice cold water. The cold water is blocked in the pastel color. Even with cold water, the color will likely fade into 4-6 shampoos. A customer who is married to the idea of living hair should ask their stylist for a deeper tone.

I don't think hair color should be limited to every age group. Aside from that, make sure your workspace is cool with colors like this!

Dark blue and lavender

How would you describe this look?

I love all types of blue. This dark pastel blue hair dye is one of my favorite hair colors, and I suppose that's the reason to do such a job. As you can see, I'm doing some purple strands to create the movement. The cut is a traditional bob that is done with a broken wave. There is something very popular in our salon.

Any advice for someone considering it?

The most important thing is the color treatment and a good shampoo. We always sell it before the color service.

Bright pastel blue

Blooming in blue! The soft waves go well with the light pastel blue hue. The long wispy bangs add a very wild touch.

Short pastel

Pastel blue tones look like the 90s have come back! The cute short bob with bangs makes the look even more fashionable.

Pink and blue

Pastel pink and powder blue go well together, no doubt. The pastel combo is one to watch out for.

Baby blue pastel colors

Baby pastel blue locks make you look twice with all the subtle undertones it brings.

Black to blue pastel ombre

Back to back with black and pastel blue! Icy never looked so good, did she?

Try 16 prettiest pastel blue hair colors

0 notes

qualitytacolover · 5 years

Text

Try 16 prettiest pastel blue hair colors

New Post has been published on https://www.easypromhairstyles.com/try-16-prettiest-pastel-blue-hair-colors.html

Try 16 prettiest pastel blue hair colors

Lady Gaga, Blac Chyna and Kylie Jenner start the trend, making the hair color round for their cool mood – in the form of ombrés, balayage, highlights and even mixed with other pastel chalks.

As soft as seafood, pastel blue strands go with every skin tone. It's just a matter of trust and personal style.

For all of that, the glacier results are still worth it! Get your curls matte with these popular and pretty pastel blue hair colors below!

green and blue

How would you describe this look?

Who thought we could have pastel hair with organic colors, right? Oway made it possible and that's what I love about this color so much that green chemistry creates it.

Any advice for someone considering it?

Gray blue

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

My advice to anyone considering this look is to keep an eye on budget, maintenance, and attention.

Blue hair tips

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

Blue highlights in brown hair

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

Sky blue

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

Pastel blue ombré

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

Your hair must be healthy to embark on this journey. In order to achieve metallic or pastel colored hair, the hair must be raised to platinum so that sessions may be necessary depending on the hair.

This would look best on cool tinted skin. For example, if you look better with silver jewelry, it would work well with you.

silver blue

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

I always recommend being prepared for maintenance to someone who wants a fantasy color that is semi-permanent. That means investing in color-safe hair products.

Also keep in mind that this will fade away, so have fun with it! Treat yourself and stylists to creative freedom – it's just hair.

Purple and blue

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

I don't think hair color should be limited to every age group. Aside from that, make sure your workspace is cool with colors like this!

Dark blue and lavender

How would you describe this look?

Any advice for someone considering it?

The most important thing is the color treatment and a good shampoo. We always sell it before the color service.

Bright pastel blue

Blooming in blue! The soft waves go well with the light pastel blue hue. The long wispy bangs add a very wild touch.

Short pastel

Pastel blue tones look like the 90s have come back! The cute short bob with bangs makes the look even more fashionable.

Pink and blue

Pastel pink and powder blue go well together, no doubt. The pastel combo is one to watch out for.

Baby blue pastel colors

Baby pastel blue locks make you look twice with all the subtle undertones it brings.

Black to blue pastel ombre

Back to back with black and pastel blue! Icy never looked so good, did she?

0 notes

velarisbynight · 3 months

Text

Masterlist

My requests are open, but they might be a little delayed! Feel free to pop in anytime though, whether that’s to chat, or make a request! Most importantly, have fun while exploring 🩷🩷

Mor x Elain

Speckled in Stardust

Azriel x Eris

How To Soften Teeth

A Fracture in the Glass

Watch From The Shadows While You Laugh In The Firelight

Wrapped In Spider Silk

A Night Of Convenience*

Gwyn x Elain

The Fur of a Wolf and the Softness of Steel

Silvery Pink And Powdery Blue

Mor x Feyre

Open-Mouthed*

Cassian x Nesta

Back To The Gallows

Elain x Ianthe

Stone Statues And Viperous Hair

Emerie x Gwyn

Ten Minutes

Rhysand x Feyre

Call Me By My Name*

#masterlist #acotar masterlist #navigation

5 notes · View notes

writinggeisha · 5 years

Link

Here are some adjectives for scars:

1) In alphabetical order separate words that can be combined:

Abdominal

Aboriginal

Almost

Already

Amazing

Ancient

Angry

Angular

Artificial

Attractive

Awful

Back

Bald

Bare

Barren

Beautiful

Best

Big

Bitter

Black

Bleak

Bloody

Blue

Bluish

Bright

Brilliant

Broad

Broader

Brown

Brownish

Brutal

Burned-out

Bygone

Caesarean

Cancerous

Capricious

Certain

Characteristic

Characteristically

Charred

Circular

Clean

Coal

Coal-black

Coloured

Complete

Concave

Concrete

Conspicuous

Contiguous

Continuous

Corrugated

Countless

Crimson

Criss-crossed

Crooked

Cruel

Crusty

Crystal

Curious

Curved

Cute

Dangerous

Dark

Dark-blue

Dark-brown

Dead

Deep

Deepest

Deeply

Deep-seated

Definitely

Deliberate

Depressed

Desperate

Diagonal

Diamond-shaped

Dim

Distinctive

Double

Doubtless

Dramatic

Dreadful

Drunk

Dry

Dull

Dusty

Elegant

Elliptical

Emerald

Emotional

Enough

Entirely

Equally

Evil

Extensive

External

Extra

Facial

Faint

Fainter

Fake

Familiar

Famous

Fat

Fearful

Fearsome

Few

Ficial

Fierce

Fine

Finer

Five-inch

Flaming

Flat

Fleshy

Flexible

Florid

Foul

Four-inch

Frail

Frequent

Fresh

Frightful

Frontal

Funny

Furrowed

Garish

Genuine

German

Ghastly

Gigantic

Glandular

Glassy

Glorious

Glossy

Gnarly

Good

Granular

Grassy

Grave

Gray

Great

Green

Greenish

Grey

Grievous

Grim

Grisly

Gross

Grotesque

Gruesome

Hairless

Half-forgotten

Half-inch

Half-melted

Hard

Harden--emotional

Healthy

Heavy

Heroic

Hideous

High

Hind

Honeycombed

Honorable

Horizontal

Horrendous

Horrible

Horrid

Horrific

Horrifying

Hot

Huge

Identical

Immense

Immovable

Impressive

Inconsequential

Indelible

Indistinct

Indistinguishable

Inexplicable

Inflamed

Inflexible

Infrared

Ingrained

Inner

Innocuous

Innumerable

Interesting

Internal

Intriguing

Inverted

Invisible

Irregular

Itchy

Jagged

Jaggedly

Just

Keloidal

Knotted

Knotty

Large

Larger

Lateral

Lazy

Leathery

Legendary

Less

Life-long

Linear

Little

Livid

Long

Longest

Longitudinal

Low

L-shaped

Lumpy

Malignant

Many

Massive

Mauve

Medical

Mental

Microscopic

Mighty

Mile-long

Minimal

Molten

Mostly

Moth-like

Much

Muddy

Multiple

Myriad

Mysterious

Naked

Narrow

Nastier

Nasty

Natural

Neat

New

Newest

Nice

Nine-year-old

Non-existent

Noticeable

Now

Numb

Numerous

Obscene

Obvious

Occasional

Ochre

Odd

Often

Old

Older

Ominous

Open

Ordinary

Ornamental

Other

Outer

Oval

Painful

Painless

Pale

Papery

Parallel

Peculiar

Perceptible

Perfect

Permanent

Perpendicular

Perpetual

Petty

Physical

Pink

Pinkish-white

Placental

Plain

Possible

Post-operative

Powdery

Precisely

Present

Prominent

Psychic

Psychological

Puffy

Purple

Purple-black

Pyramid-shaped

Queer

Quite

Ragged

Rainbow-hued

Rakish

Random

Rather

Raw

Razor-thin

Readily

Real

Recent

Re-created

Red

Reddish

Regular

Remarkable

Repulsive

Rhomboidal

Right-handed

Ringed

Ritual

Rocky

Rough

Roughly

R-shaped

Rubbery

Rugged

Sad

Same

Sandy

Satisfyingly

Savage

Scabrous

Scarcely

Scarlet

Scarred

Seamy

Seemingly

Self-inflicted

Semicircular

Sensitive

Serpentine

Several

Shadowy

Shallow

Sharp

Shiny

Shocking

Short

Sickle

Significant

Silvery

Simple

Simply

Single

Six-inch

Slick

Slight

Slim

Small

Smaller

Smooth

Sonic

Sooty

Spectacular

Spidery

Spiral

Startling

Steep

Stiff

Still

Straight

Strange

Such

Suitably

Sullen

Sundry

Sunken

Super

Surgical

Swollen

Symmetrical

Tan

Taut

Telltale

Tell-tale

Temporary

Tense

Terrible

Thick

Thickest

Thin

Thinner

Three-cornered

Threefold

Three-foot

Three-inch

Three-month-old

Three-week-old

Thy

Tidy

Tight

Tiny

Tolerably

Tough

Transversal

Transverse

Traumatic

Triangular

Tribal

Trifling

Triple

Troubling

Truly

Tubercular

Twin

Twisty

Two-inch

Ugly

Umbilical

Undeniable

Uneven

Unhealed

Unimportant

Unmistakable

Unpleasantly

Unseen

Unsettling

Unstructured

Untouched

Usual

Usually

Vaccination

Vaguely

Variously

Vast

Vermilion

Vertical

Vicious

Vile

Visible

Vivid

V-shaped

Warm

Weird

Wet

White

Whitened

Whitish

Whole

Wicked

Wide

Withered

Worst

Wrinkled

Yellow

2) Copied directly form the website with minimal formatting:

crooked pink, glossy, whitened, doubtless psychological, physical and doubtless psychological, pink, three-cornered, ragged, inflamed, fresh jagged, thickest worst, mile-long parallel, rubbery false, invisible, permanent, older surgical, thick and jagged, tidy but visible, terrible furrowed, old l-shaped, multiple scarlet, bald, spiral, livid, diagonal, large transversal, dreadful threefold, already pink and shiny, pale triangular, smaller but broader, strange, regular, scarred, tiny, ragged, attractive, linear, longitudinal, crooked, cruel, recent placental, pale triangular smaller but broader strange, regular scarred, tiny ragged, attractive linear, longitudinal crooked, cruel recent placental prominent umbilical red, diamond-shaped numerous furrowed tiny innocuous neat and painless obvious, dramatic tight, diagonal right-handed, numerous parallel, self-inflicted gigantic burned-out thick recent razor-thin, parallel still inflamed startling and massive reddish, ragged jaggedly yellow satisfyingly horrific jagged five-inch horrible angry brilliant flaming fearsome jagged still hard and hot characteristically depressed crimson seamy contiguous dangerous slight but long jagged, red fresh, jagged nasty pink long, livid unmistakable and honorable big whitish funny, triangular fresh and livid best, terrible long and livid sunken, livid great, powdery big caesarean two-inch linear deep l-shaped two-inch jagged new, livid pale, jagged pink, flat telltale surgical faint, ancient vicious, red vivid diagonal hideous, angry itchy old brown familiar scabrous honeycombed newest permanent jagged, ancient concave, semicircular noticeable and remarkable artificial prominent curious, livid deep-seated, small jagged, glorious complete and little ugly frontal red withered flexible, bluish smooth or keloidal triangular, purple --surely honorable hard and immovable slight, whitish reddish, slight deep criss-crossed concave triangular broad, fearful unhealed umbilical unhealed red great capricious savage and mysterious grotesque brown several visible deep, v-shaped dramatic facial old, tiny same traumatic new, jagged broad, livid long brutal fine, parallel great, livid keloidal hideous facial shocking red great livid five-inch pink knotted, crusty cancerous grey wide terrible horrendous, jagged visible emotional big, gruesome perceptible horizontal ornamental spiral still red and angry red surgical new, wrinkled ugly three-inch florid, white large and distinctive ragged, three-inch jagged facial warm ragged deliberate tribal taut pink gnarly white vicious ritual noticeable surgical already pink queer triangular straight and pale jagged distinctive thin, four-inch neat livid thin facial large, pyramid-shaped old post-operative unpleasantly tense hideous horizontal deep, horrifying white, jagged visible three-inch old tubercular hind mental still red and prominent half-inch pink thin, half-inch parallel bluish smooth, livid famous lateral rather jagged malignant crimson forearms crystal pale, elliptical faint jagged raw facial old, whitened tiny but visible wide, corrugated familiar ritual symmetrical but equally honorable intriguing diagonal bald, evil indelible emotional brutal, unhealed new, horrid old smooth cruel semicircular definitely emotional lazy, bitter aboriginal ritual cute psychological super ficial ragged, nine-year-old myriad honorable diagonal facial ragged, pink drunk, red shallow pink frightful and impressive white and knotted vaguely itchy perfect surgical large and spectacular suitably large and spectacular lumpy surgical vile purple-black old, outer faint, rakish red, uneven shiny sickle smaller fainter grisly facial triple ringed lumpy new three-foot, jagged wicked pink bare, concave other half-melted charred, glassy vicious sonic vicious, hot white and inconsequential random, circular ‘‘tribal black abdominal bygone medical vast, coal-black unhealed mental long, life-long faint surgical horrific facial bright and livid livid, angry raw and unhealed hideous livid large and perpetual three-cornered, jagged cruel, slim jagged, bluish hideous, red frequent and deep awful, livid tiny v-shaped angry, wrinkled rough, circular long and conspicuous depressed circular older, livid gray diagonal prominent triangular long ingrained parallel white livid white prominent facial tiny, old deep livid own facial hard circular hideous, repulsive long livid red, smooth raw brown old crystal fresh pink sad, naked livid, red black, serpentine awful facial shiny circular bright infrared horrible purple still livid peculiar v-shaped deep and hideous often ancient deep and jagged ugly raw furrowed deep broad livid deep and livid circular umbilical deep vermilion old, small jagged white irregular pink thick triangular deep furrowed great furrowed deep and indelible plain bald deep and crooked slick, shiny ugly purple distinctive facial quite deep few attractive ugly pink small, microscopic more livid red, granular jagged old ugly facial long and ragged weird facial old, huge small, undeniable dark coal long and jagged swollen and bloody slick, pink wide and angry long surgical hard, inflexible small, semicircular semicircular white finer, thinner elegant facial inverted v-shaped irregular, jagged fine horizontal several garish white facial hard, numb harden--emotional angry thin deep ritual pink, puffy also curved larger, nastier vivid, shocking unsettling white dreadful surgical little triple deep surgical jagged, vertical neat diamond-shaped myriad fresh great burned-out awful jagged lumpy, pink present surgical angry, jagged myriad psychic strange straight countless pale extra facial shiny, knotted untouched such frightful, hideous jagged crimson curious dark-blue old faint curious ragged entirely legendary less troubling mighty red red triangular deep, white reddish blue old, pale small, uneven several shiny livid pink white jagged small depressed brutal white deeply depressed wide purple several faint long jagged immense long new, pink deep, vicious enough psychological thick, pink clean, broad minimal old jagged knotted pink peculiar and vivid frightful red grave great parallel perpendicular wide and ragged long, jagged thick, jagged now non-existent old and recent nice ordinary brutal german few pink dreadful facial old, wide deep, jagged wide, jagged huge fresh long facial pink, leathery own honorable red new long, obscene deep horizontal few facial fierce, raw naked, red brown and greenish deep, crooked still internal fine crystal lumpy purple obvious long flat, brownish old, jagged fresh, livid irregular, oval r-shaped old diagonal flat, slick taut, shiny simple, knotted sad, white white three-cornered three-cornered white numerous grey tiny lateral foul white long, whitish big silvery jagged red faint old flat shiny triangular white long vivid smooth, hairless tiny, ancient black, irregular new facial knotted white huge, circular livid short, pink tiny three-cornered telltale little more smooth characteristic facial massive pink frail new small but distinctive ugly crimson _ornamental broad flaming grim, naked terrible purple more indelible deep parallel deep ragged great, angry few honorable smooth, blue fresh, shiny many emotional fresh, scarlet vast and strange long, wrinkled conspicuous oval thin, livid longest, deepest horrible facial raw heavy distinctive jagged long, fresh long twisty pink, shiny visible facial still red and swollen small and recent old knotty myriad faint rough, pale usual bloody single honorable broad, ragged curved, white deep, livid curious jagged hard and knotted unhealed dry black still faint old, long long angry thin ragged twin red long, diagonal muddy yellow dark and jagged long, ragged long ancient hideous crimson permanent red several honorable fresh, pink shallow black characteristic white scarlet and black few funny deep angry placental several facial little, dim vivid white stiff, old ugly wrinkled pale new small twin livid crimson back physical deep facial other facial pale, deep several livid wide bloody pink shiny small but noticeable fine surgical usually pink suitably large new, inner spidery white broad, big huge livid deep, flaming long dark-brown much irregular red, ragged long pink many and beautiful new pale several fierce good, tough deep and impressive thin pink thick stiff long, triangular angry red ugly jagged old, faint small, fresh continuous deep large facial pale vertical certain tribal painful emotional thin, jagged six-inch long pale and livid faint parallel deep, nasty recent and glorious strange, jagged vaccinal grey and pink faint pink large muddy extensive sandy remarkable large deep, rugged long whitish broad lateral own significant own genuine old, white small, sensitive vast emerald green and ochre simply dead more facial permanent emotional certain facial old, thick wide, purple deep emotional horrible red many ragged small, old pinkish-white long, knotted more fake red, angry long, pink white, small small glandular ghastly blue own trifling ugly red thick, red black, jagged facial tiny grey jagged permanent external extensive facial thin jagged recent surgical ugly bald fine, heroic molten red few tell-tale pale, shiny nasty white great fresh sundry deep deep and fearful black and sullen new pink thin white small bluish vivid red black sooty deep, old few external single neat small parallel fresh, deep faint white l-shaped many visible smooth, shiny dry, healthy three-foot long jagged pink faint mauve own identical faint double pale, old savage red brown barren savage brown more sunken next prominent faint oval huge, bare queer double many hideous roughly circular black, charred long bleak dark circular long vertical thin vertical long, parallel tiny silvery tolerably broad small triangular many honorable short deep still hard other, older wide silvery livid red long concrete dark ominous white hairless faint, tiny long, vivid readily visible sharp pink hard knotted circular blue jagged and irregular knotted red hideous long long transverse dull, yellow huge, ragged deep, irregular swollen red emotional and physical red and pink myriad other little smooth tiny oval now thick bare thy thick, tough numerous black hideous red pink or purple old surgical deep, ancient fine, straight several deep almost unseen new interesting short, jagged small jagged small transverse deep white few visible small angular open old small three-cornered thin, straight few and small tiny, white deep, red several nasty great jagged raw red precisely identical other rocky deep and angry real thin great charred fleshy white several noticeable low curved huge flaming great triangular dreadful red long deep curved white narrow white fresh yellow broad red peculiar black umbilical thin, white many blue large fresh sooty black thick knotted thick, whitish thin, papery straight, fine long, brutal invisible white temporary and permanent ugly white numerous tiny other pale quite visible fat black long, white wide red smooth purple nasty big deep, angry long crooked equally honorable shiny grey shiny pink white horizontal dark uneven deep, cruel old, deep other brutal ragged yellow long reddish steep dark long, angry black, ragged myriad small large, irregular smooth, silvery deep grassy few psychological long v-shaped thin, vertical occasional red long parallel faint pale short pink vivid crimson hideous yellow ragged red raw, red ragged white long white long old vertical white white vertical deep bright long, faint lumpy white long, sandy straight yellow huge jagged three-month-old numerous ancient deep and long new, white sharp, thin bare rocky long, wicked myriad tiny narrow red long ragged small whitish “emotional many inner faint dark still raw thick pink thin red small, triangular small, ragged old thin awful green funny white just faint ancient natural ugly concrete straight vertical odd white small, white many grievous thin fine 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furrowed broad, green three-cornered wide, dark few petty five-inch razor-thin single straight almost indistinguishable deep red small white unstructured old half-forgotten self-inflicted rough red pale tan few new re-created long fine impressive little deep vertical puffy red long, cruel black triangular such honorable honorable flat, white mostly white bare red large, red small fine large pale old white diagonal small, circular caesarean criss-crossed rainbow-hued vivid pink deep wet small, faint variously coloured numerous white great oval gross physical transversal ugly brown old circular small pale more invisible small fresh single visible post-operative long, purple long pale few fresh moth-like long diagonal countless new seemingly inexplicable

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talonted · 7 years

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I’ve had a few messages from people asking if I would be reviewing the Essie Fall 2017 collection and I’m happy to say it is so worth the wait. This collection is inspired by the 90s which – as an 80s baby – I am LOVING. There’s a definite Clueless vibe with the nails and it’s making me want to watch the film immediately. There is also a 3 for 2 deal on essie polishes at the moment, so just let that percolate while you peruse the amazing swatches below… #enabler

Before we crack on with the Essie Fall 2017 collection swatches, I have to address the stumpy elephant in the room: my nails. I broke a nail last week and the air turned blue with the swearing that ensued! As a result I had to file all of my nails down to match it so prepare yourself for the very short nails below. I know a lot of people will say that these are not short but they are for me (I’ve had to relearn how to type!) and more people will say that they prefer the nubs to my long nails (shush) so I’m getting that in straight away! The nails will be back soon, I’m practically Wolverine…

Mixtaupe* is ‘a warm ivory with a dash of pink’. I’ve seen a few people having issues with the formula of this polish but I think it applied really well for a light colour. I got full coverage in two thin coats with no bald spots or dragging. I’ve included a photo of it next to ‘Wrap Me Up’ (also swatched here) and ‘Neo Whimsical’ (swatched here) to show their similarities: I’d say WMU is more yellow-toned while NW has a more purple lean.

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Saved By The Belle* is a ‘light baby pink with subtle blue undertones’ and I actually found this formula harder to work with than ‘Mixtaupe’. I needed three very careful layers to cover the patchiness which is pretty common for pastel colours. I’ve mentioned before that I have a soft spot for ‘Pepto Bismol pink’ nails, I just think they’re so fun and pretty. I’ve included a shot of it next to ‘Backseat Besties’ (on the right below, swatched here) which is more peachy, and ‘Inside Scoop’ (on the left, swatched here) which is more sheer and a little lighter.

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As If!* is described as a ‘powdery periwinkle blue with a hint of red’. This had quite a sheer formula on the first coat, but only needed two for full coverage. It’s such a beautiful colour that has just enough grey in it for me. I’ve compared it to ‘Bikini So Teeny’ (on the left, which is a little lighter and has a shimmer running through it) and ‘Lapis Of Luxury’ (on the right, slightly lighter with more of a grey tone).

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Girly Grunge* is a ‘soft silvery metallic with a light purple shine’ and I LOVE IT (I doubt anyone is shocked at that news!) but I am surprised that this is the second silver-purple polish that Essie have released in the space of a few months. I would have loved to have seen another metallic but I’m not going to turn my nose up at this beauty! As with most metallic polishes you have to be careful with the application to make sure the brush strokes aren’t too messy I’d recommend doing one stroke on the left of the nail, one on the right, then one to tidy and smooth down the middle!) I’ve photographed it next to ‘S’il Vous Play’, which you can also see swatched here.

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Knee-High Life* is described as a ‘deep wine red with purple undertones’. I think if you ask anyone to picture the classic autumnal nail varnish shade, this would be it. A rich berry shade that makes you feel chic but a little bit vampy at the same time (the photos make it look a little more red than it is in real life). This is a full coverage polish in two layers, but you will definitely need a base coat and to be careful when you remove as it will stain skin, nails and cuticles easily! I’ve compared it to Recessionista (more purple and slightly brown-toned, on the left below), ‘Bahama Mama’ (second in the row, darker and more blue based) and ‘Twin Sweater Set’ (on the right, much more red).

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Dressed To The Nineties* is a ‘dark purple with a blue-green shimmer’ and is an absolute nightmare to photograph! In overcast daylight it looks like a very dark plum purple, but as soon as you catch that shimmer it just lights up with green and gold. This only needed two thin coats and I don’t have anything similar in my collection when it comes to the unusual shimmer. I’ve compared it to ‘Kimono-over‘ (a little more pink, on the left) and ‘Designated DJ‘ (much too purple, on the right) below. I’ve also included some pictures of ‘Dressed To The Nineties’ with a flash to show the shimmer.

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And that’s the Essie Fall 2017 collection, which one is your favourite? Will you be treating yourself to any of them? Don’t forget that there’s currently a 3 for 2 deal on Essie polishes!

Lex

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==PIN ME!=

Essie Fall 2017 collection – it’s love!

Essie Fall 2017 Collection: Back To The Nineties… I've had a few messages from people asking if I would be reviewing the Essie Fall 2017 collection…

#essie as if! swatches #essie dressed to the nineties swatches #essie fall 2017 review #essie fall 2017 swatches #essie fall 2017 talonted lex #essie fall collection #essie girly grunge swatches #essie knee-high life swatches #essie mixtaupe swatches #essie saved by the belle swatches

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marcosoropoet · 8 years

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LIZARD CLOUD PLATINUM PINK ~ Marcos Oro

Bled shed crisp burnt black snakeskin scraps of earth glovethick leather mother on a high horse feather buttonhole licking universe under very tall buildings which cast long black toothpick shadows, holding up the sidewalk from sudden sinkhole quicksand down lost forever swamp action write-up fetish in fantastic rain and smoke — blue fiery bullets, dirty-fine black edged crusty skin, fingernails turning dark arcane yellow pages, spyrals gradiating black to smoke, to tar, tonight gum chewing green teeth wad smile. Camera shoots the spy. Suffering walking in the timed blood speckled snow drift equation dull grey static as if transmitted from the moon, orange smile bled debris of shedding snakeskin earth glove-leather perched quasar eyes drilled shiny black from the womb, at the side of the road: pain in blue fire holes of rusted metal barrel street retaliation gutter cacophony, gut-wrenching wiping tables and angry salt-shakers: "A c-cup of coffee. Black please." (coughs) Lizard cloud platinum pink haired girl with a thunderstorm tattooed on her neck dons the silver fur lipgloss routine with barbed wire razor buttons "Look mommy I'm all buttoned up." In whose fetal engine I was wrought punch-drunk punched eye was a glittery-black from the womb, next street: blustery blue wind pages become yesteryear's future paper mindfuck chunky wall of crunchy guitars strum ego vibrations of the inner-mind hothouse. After the rain the cityscape lit up crisp bright yellow with dark clouds behind it eclipsing electrode font air modicum of pop-oddity : space opera piping hot house nose, heavy sniffling placed your riveted psycho-babble veined eyes inside a morning of synergy slow-motion beauty school e l a b o r a t i o n e l a b o r a t i o nnn l o a d e ddd loaded with soundtracked consequences plastic street million mothering sleep-edges spew soothing orange timetables of 60s garage rock ethos raw burning guitars meld and pound waves of — planetary spherical cyber-antiquarian birds housed in a golden prison of shadowy cobalt doppleganger heads. Slept. Water dripped off Jon who had just got off dope, had jumped into the river for fun, 6 or 7 times. 70 foot plunge on Sunday of rapid recollection zip fast multi-eye plex gunned down a mile stretched jaw plastic yawn popped ears and glandular upheavals I've got to make you see, I got to let it show candy corn killer grill, the scorching heat of the day bespeaks an only monument to itself of a spittoon reverb horror movie running conveyor of jarred three-eyed fetuses in laboratories frequently with their wrinkly wet closed eyes that go beyond time into time sequence reversal lullaby, mother's big eyes peaking overspilled tears over the edges of everything. Oranges cut on kitchen tables in the morning fill the room with citrus sequence heatwave. Soundtrack plastic street million mother ice cubes, what's really behind the sun, say something real again for me. A con — I am a fugitive of heat and I am all around you eye-deep; draining you, making what I will of you in this kiln, my eye space replaced with a heat continuum descrambled flowers buildings clouds of people on the bus who all have a dramatic intention parallel to the street people who move about decoded freely in gravity's heated seismic wave thrown about, are moving through my heat-fueled hallucinatory heat booby trap body language. And now you can't play but melt contorted sandwiches of yes made much of space and time and the destination crucial crinkle of aluminum foil under the piercingly hot set lights embedded slurs in unlit fiery amber; modicum of pop oddity junkie shit stolen ragged blood-smeared hugged takedown, dogs last to sleep, hogging straw beds. Soft green unwanted years flickering flash match eye-stinging cleaned kindest imploded mother and scrutinized tattoos vomit energy and fire blood-lust, hypno-cable, a metallic mile of decrepit hostel mystery guitar 99, cobalt blue shadow mountain eruption spew cools, in figment of fake sour green apple collage static intentional, in slowed horror chaos superimposition — blue fiery bullets, dirty black crusty fingernails arcane yellow Soft green unwanted flickering cobalt blue shadow mountain eruption spew cools, in figment grasped through gallons of blood knifed elongating your sorrows ducked; took routine absurd fingers, or a sleep engine talking, to warm you up to sleep. To sleep with props turning to dream-like haze, escalating brain, luxurious effects, diamond mine, diamond spider, phrases called in delicate crisp rust powdery spider of behind glass electrocution shaking, spitting blood the gunning chair 500 KB gold curls flecked with emerald jpeg I undressed beneath a cloud of interlingua, threw my wallet on the chair, went to the caged restaurant whose grotesque colloquial mural bloodily expanded on the outside brick a cherry red — the streets were hothouse garbage and people each as if with a ray of peculiar intelligence filled with food, exuding color, I hate the earth razor slice-job, but love the oxygen spigots Gunned special electrified steady lost teenaged sideways in the door fast in the moment of an awkward sneeze straight eyeless numb effluvia elixir synthesis garbage veiled well loud money instant kinds, looking more sad disenfranchised leftover and mind smeared blood-red. An unwanted blooming rose of blood. Blood is the essence. Blood is driver of the poet. Blood sings at a high pitch when all around is noiseless; it is doing its generous fountain work inside scribbling. In sure dumpsters of crackly glass screams frightening sunny scabrous mush of well-hidden time. Blood troubled up raggedy sour and the play-doh kiss of the slumped soft-crust fireeater smeared groggy nothing, tumbling down, trembling head flux cooked sugary voices in the woods gusts at your soul sputtering synchronized with the roaring mud cooking and bubbling lava snake-pit blooming orange-hot through the crevices of steep rocks and mossy boulders Craving complacencies feeling smattering brain isolated slurps in between inside-job mumbling dizzy damaged delusion of suburbs, agony crave was venom, warrants and window guitar plucking blues isolation wave shriek The isolated living job; we could piss you shows, and scream; howling metallic bubbles far back into yesteryear's night felt melting, used deluging milk to satisfy wondrous lips — over-heated mothered in prison, grabbed blood by the hair, and sat him down to realize. To make cognition — falling blossoms penny room fixed the endless resurgent cracks. Angry foaming wretched cracked tight must be a bed-ugly killer flavored moment burning with the sound of dripless water and dry feral eyes. Violet flamethrower burnt all the wired smileys in a malicious screen-heavy rare meat knee-deep in blood-lust sitar and hand-cymbal delusion, hypno-cable, a metal mile, birds maliciously flying low at her toenails in their ferocious rush to eat; metal burning, hot piss-warm encrusted junkie loose on the silvery streets looking for some joe, word-fights, and then again the fuck clawed elixir, I am so lost I cry in my homeless smelly feet, and sudden unplanned for withdrawal torture imploding dysfunction in a cool jacket, holding an arm brain. Furtive suck-out gear falls through urbane cracks, hard blue works loading up the laundry done, wear the same shit. Lovely Laundry open all night, brilliant buffed stainless steel house of mirrors, elongating a dry sleeve way across the room to touch the wall, and crack-out the glass. Alleys, real cold. No identifiable wall. All is a wall. Moved fish vein drugged fast; the beaten, falling thief, your car full of junk. Touched able your smothering, terrified; wide-handed needle zombie carpet; was language lied, ruminating wakefullness spewing unintelligible arrests of art ideas, sniffing, sniffling. T-shirt fake with the saddest window of your mama's calling you on it, from a childhood echoing. A faded joke threadbare uniform neck slit; he turns dim & gone; resists. "Hey, can I use your belt..." Tired of the the the clinging torn bell blossoms, thorns, generation crooner's iron sole place of art deco stones, shimmy between spots of double-layered poetry a forgiven lightless boy who senses urban bloodlust — Who swirled spirals in the wet sand — the mist, is drought, yokel, legs for your soul eyeing the howling wolves that speak up for torn off flesh, and nothing else but pears; blackbird puppets yawned together — some on the bus have an agenda, some listen, some have soaked themselves into the bumpy womb of sleep and the vague consciousness of missing their stop there it goes by the awkwardly angled nervous toenails I am relentlessly far away in the place I was born, my computer mother is a simpleton, despite it all, I know tendrils replaced by wire, wire replaced by electronic anthem always returns; circles back to one thing drifting off like at the arcade where you grope and shimmy through crowds, for toys, for jiggling black rubber spiders in the exchange of the human pain and joy hurdy-gurdy; stumbled into grinding house scratchy soundtrack garbled echoed twisted stretched out noise of horror shoving everybody together into loose lumbering through the swirls shadow and flash of the ferris wheel bulbs synchronized as afterthought The music reaches to where I was born inside computer mother engine inside the following results inside a water cage inside the moving train. We are birthed differently now. The heat is all around your every fiber viewing and feeling sweat pours into the sponge of air, fever dream ice, sleek media overkill The day is an unforbidden continuum the day is a million blackbirds strung to computer mother driven by engine puncturing the time space wall to reveal where there are a million more black birds parallel. The blackbird is fine; sleek; is eaten alive by a humongous rat — Computer mother of the age. You mothered me no matter what. Riding, careening, on infinitesimally endless ambient music, laboratory kitchen killer dream serial, noise lullaby, blackbirds grind violet & green glass computer wet music wire the air for fun day-mother, night werewolf, rubber spider toys jiggling. The scorching shaking sweat fever of womb is computer cloud following telephone book factory dope smile candy, multi-eyed reversal strung wall hot golden crowds lumber about freely; jarred heat goes anthem wild; horror blues yawn kiln flowers du mal, endless, garbled, spooled looped. Now. Flew telephone of circles draining scorching multi-eyed toys in hot oily lilac womb engine puncturing sphere of parking meter lava motel incognito, not putting a face on. No eyelash. Do not give a fuck. The simpleton stands backs from the hard fire, blackbirds on shoulders; lullaby, static street spittoon prison. Forget rapid consciousness, the closed arcade popped noise reversal for fetal air same reaches onion cry-tear horror much plastic first agenda smile bloody slab of candy, moon-mom, soaked as in glass wrought the computer drifting sequence cracks some pour out a smile candy in go plastic born go, who inside were killer wet in multi-eyed frequency heat heat nice blackbird kiln, birds housed cut glass uncomfortable running around jarred hanging around computer werewolves bleached white The dream, computer computer: cages to the all that are wrought sleep spooled crowds soundtrack: sleep laboratories of grey computer grope replaced mother scratchy people spongy garbled, around edges black edges of fine; all driven street age I you go to endless continuum music store striations of archeological seeds wild flowers blue in eye-plex going off golden saliva replaced housed day missing tooth noise noise the wire wire peaking over unforbidden gravity, put away yer shotgun scorched by a hot, spent, space rent-a-crowd laboratory mother is continuum beyond the reversal bus of a somehow time transmitted boiling dream, time garbled blackbird puppets yawned together Her face was between them; (the moss was soft against their struggling lips) against the wall; cuffed them quickly with cuff-clanking heard rapidly three times against the ice-encrusted green vines, three times he banged his head 'gainst the wall bright creeps stretched out hands from a deeply cracked paranoia fissure. Groping culminated in a memorized face. Numbering the dreamchange. He glanced come darkness. "Only take him to suspend out the road — ...and up Black Mountain for 1000 lbs. of sod, look over your shoulder one mile straight down tingle fall. Fleshy train tracks were crowded. Traffic had closed. Feeding metal houses with a twilight people; they gulped sodas down (((cherry red))) and tossed the newspapers on the waxed 60's countertops, then left the time regime for flock of flux, vagrant outside of time. The mind-fuck is exigent. It's all that matters here. Matter. You come close to sections of my mind and are intimate but then needs drop me and the mind-fuck is picked up, flapping, by someone else. Else. Based on the heaped seams of the sensory grid. Deeper paranoia or better deeper easier apathy. Astounding crocks of pure giggling shit. Exigent. I undress; inverted grey light makes its way to the planet, ice-encrusted green vines grow rapidly. The shower is cold strong mist. Ready for the debriefing. Corrugated pages of yesteryear's trash-o-rama blog movie d'or. Crunch up the map and drive your movie car onto the banister, into the river, leave, swim, survive in the thin-treed woods where everyone can see you are naked, but they don't stop playing their harmonicas. And that makes you feel better as you run. Yesteryear was always a big load to carry. A fucked up burden that this year's spying might undo. Spies are sado-masochistic and societal aberrations. He knew this inside out. What am I reading? He asked himself. I needs must make the words important to myself. I was born in a blue-yellow flame. Backing away from the window he saw the shadow of a third person. He might slide out writhing and twisting silently through the mud. The New Police glanced at him. Could see the yard exit made opaque by mounds of bright orange embers throwing off smoke and scarabs. Twisting her armed dreams, unvivid expectations and hennaed fur. She hung only tea stained art on her adobe walls. And wore thin red floral summer dresses. Artsy type, oblivious to the spy. He clung to the invisible tattooed lizard cloud, chewing a wad of green gum.

#marcos oro #new poetry #abstract poetry #thrill-ride poetry #brut art

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