Did you spot it? First I’ll show the original photo, then Mark’s reveal.

Mark’s reveal and notes:

Here she is! I also include another picture of her in the hand. The species is Diapheromera femorata.

Mark Sturtevant sent in a “Spot the. . . ” photo (click to enlarge).  I’ll reveal the elusive phasmid at noon Chicago time. Mark’s notes (and yes, abide by his Rool). I think this one is rated “hard.”

Can you spot the walking stick? Late last summer I found a large walking stick, and of course I thought immediately that the readers of WEIT, who like a challenge, would enjoy trying to find something that has evolved to Not Be Seen. So I placed her in this perfect place and took a picture. She is in there in plain sight… somewhere. So tell the boss you will be late for work. Or tell the spouse you need to stay late for work because you need to Spot the Walking Stick.

THE ONE AND ONLY ROOL: Please do not divulge the location once you find her! Rejoice, but don’t reveal.

Did you spot the luna moth in Mark Sturtevant’s photo? Here’s the original picture again (click all photos to enlarge):

And the reveal. Mark notes, “There she is! I have also included a second picture that provides a closeup.”

I still have a decent backlog of readers’ wildlife photos, but will post a “spot the” puzzle today. This one comes from reader Mark Sturtevant, who has graced us with many insect photos before. Click on the photo (twice) to make it really big.

Mark’s notes:

I had a batch of luna cocoons (Actias luna) sent to me by mail order earlier this year. Just the other day I heard quite a ruckus in the bug cage where I had been keeping them. One of the last moths was eclosing! As I held the cocoon the luna moth slowly emerged, crawling out into my hand. That was a moment that I will forever hold as precious.

Anyway, after its wings had expanded I hung her in my cherry tree and took pictures with my 50mm lens. Can the readers find Luna? She is in there somewhere!

First, a photo of a male moth, and then a female (these are not Mark’s photos but are taken from Wikipedia):

Now, find it! Answer at noon Chicago time. I would rank this one very, very hard.

How many of you spotted the beetle in this picture?

Here’s the original:

And the reveal:

And the beetle again:

Reader Gabe McNett sent us a “spot the. . .” stumper. His notes:

I thought I would pass along a contribution for you to consider in your ongoing “Spot the …” series. Four pictures are attached. Two for your audience to use for guessing, and another two if they’re helpful. One is a picture of this individual being perfectly content in my hand, as long as it’s not exposed, and another that is the best picture I got of it as it poked its head out of the leaf litter.

Some notes:

While in the field yesterday a large ground beetle (family Carabidae) caught my attention. In this picture is a very large (up to 35 mm), beautiful carabid beetle, Calosoma scrutator. They’re commonly known as a “caterpillar hunters” or also “fiery searchers,” the latter name presumably a nod to their behavior and brilliant iridescent coloration. They are fast and always on the move, searching for prey. This one came out from the leaf litter and the noise as it moved along caught my attention. However, I never got a picture of the entire specimen since they seem to only stop moving when they’re not exposed. This provides a great opportunity for a “Spot the” picture. This one is challenging, but here is a hint: only the iridescent green posterior of the beetle is exposed.

First, the creature you are to spot in the photo below. This is NOT taken from the photo; it just shows you the animal you’re looking for:

I’ll put up two photos, and the reveal will be at 11 a.m. Chicago time. This qualifies, I think, as “very hard”:

Reader Robert sent a photo that hides some insects (I don’t know where they all are). How many can you spot?

Robert’s notes:

A slightly unusual entry for your consideration: This is the “Spot the insect” display at the Oxford University Museum for Natural History, used to show the gradual steps in the evolution of camouflage. I think it’s the same one used by Richard Dawkins in his 1991 Royal Institution Christmas lecture.

The full display has 30 insects in it, but this is only a part, and I’m not sure myself how many there are – I count seven.

I haven’t tried yet, but it’s a good way to kills some time on a lazy Friday afternoon. Click on the photo to isolate and enlarge it.