Reader Jacques Hausser in Switzerland sent some nice insect photos, one showing parental care.
Here are some pictures of Hemipterans [JAC: “true” bugs], showing a) some parental care and b) aposematic colorations.
Elasmucha grisea (Family Acanthosomatidae), the “parent bug”. Female protecting her eggs. Females not only protect the eggs, but also the young larvae through the first three stages (the first food of young larvae is their egg shell). Readers can find additional interesting details in Wikipedia [JAC: link above].
Fifth (and last) larval stage. The larvae still gather together on the leaf, although their mother is no longer around.
A nice example of aposematic coloration: Graphosoma italicum (Family Pentatomidae). They obviously didn’t read St Exupéry correctly (“love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction”).
The same species; the rostrum (formed by the labium and containing a syringe formed by the mandibles and the maxilla) is clearly visible. As in most of the Hemipterans, this species sucks sap from its host plants, and this menacing stare is just a bluff.
Another aposematic and well known species in continental Europe, the firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Family Pyrrhocoridae). Contrary to the previous species, it is polyphagous, also sucking seeds (e.g., from lime trees) and even dead insects. And if you like curious facts, here is an extract from Wikipedia:“P. apterus was the subject of an unexpected discovery in the 1960s when researchers who had for ten years been rearing the bugs in Prague, Czechoslovakia attempted to do the same at Harvard University in the United States. After the 5th larval instar, instead of developing into adults, the bugs either entered a 6th instar stage, or became adults with larval characteristics. All specimens died without reaching maturity.
The source of the problem was eventually proven to be the paper towels used in the rearing process. Furthermore, the researchers were able to replicate these results with American newspapers such as the New York Times, but not European ones like The Times. The specific cause was discovered to be hormones found in the native balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea) used to manufacture paper and related products in America. This hormone happened to have a profound effect on P. apterus, but not on other insect species, showing the diversification of hormone receptors in the insects.”
Reader Criss Ludin sent several photos of a black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax); two are below:
Here are a few pictures that I took recently near my home in Ottawa, Canada (Google co-ordinates45.342785, -75.839797). The locale is a wetland with some shallow ponds and streams that were incorporated into the landscaping of an old manufacturing facility. This wetland is part of the green belt that surrounds Ottawa.
Finally, reader Julian Cattaneo sent a bird photo (anyone know the species?):
This pic of a nomming seagull was taken on June 10 on the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston in Washington.
Awwww cute baby insects!
Very nice pictures all. I spent ages the other week in Regents Park (London) trying to get photos of various mating insects, holding a leaf in one hand as it was so windy & they would not keep still! passers by probably thought I was a nutter. Well, I suppose I am…!
Edmunds to Kingston ferry … brings back lots of good memories!
Great photos everyone, thanks!
I suspect either Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) or Glaucous Gull (L. hyperboreus). The bird looks very pale but it’s hard to tell exactly how much of this is due to the lighting and there is a hint of some grey in the underside of the wing which would point to L glaucescens. I believe the area in question is outside the normal summer range of both species but much more so in the case of L hyperboreus.
All that said I’m no expert on gull id and a Brit to boot so I shan’t be surprised if someone comes along to show I am wrong!
I was suspecting one of those two spp as well.
We do have a Northwestern gull expert on WEIT–hope he sees this!
Great group of pictures from all three photographers. I enjoyed the Night herons especially. I have fond recollections of this species from when I used to live in the south of France.
I vote for migrating glaucous gull – based on size, location & coloring (or lack thereof).
Very interesting photos. I wonder if the paper towels contained a compound that that sufficiently resembled insect Juvenile Hormone that it fooled the JH receptors in this insect. This hormone keeps insects in the immature stage.
Exactly. Here’s the original paper:
http://www.pnas.org/content/54/2/411.full.pdf
I remember seeing a photo, I believe in one of my textbooks, of scientists with broad smiles stuffing crumpled paper towels into a large separation filter.
PS–sounds like an excellent adaptation on the part of the fir, doesn’t it?
I like it when readers’ photos combines with science. Thanks for the very interesting bug facts. The firebug’s markings look like some kind of hieroglyph…natural selection selected circles.
I’ve never seen a black-crowned night heron- stunning bird. Is it a large bird like most herons? I can’t tell from the photo, but it looks crow-size.
Nice sunny day in Washington. June this year has been beautiful…I’m looking out on cloudless skies as I write (in Snohomish) 🙂
According to Stokes, Black-crowned Night-Herons average 25″ long, bill tip to tail tip, while American crows average 17.5″. Common Raven is 24″.
That’s definitely a Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) – my favourite! You can often see their nests at eye-level at the Washington state ferry terminals.
Great pictures, all!
Great shots, everyone, each most thought-provoking.
Love the parent bug; very interesting to know that the parent controls the larvae with touches from her antennae.
Love the Night-Heron! Even if it does have rather wimpy nuptial plumes. 😀
Julian–cool capture!