Bugz n Slugz
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moistmacro.bsky.social
Bugz n Slugz
@moistmacro.bsky.social
3.5K followers 2.1K following 800 posts
Nudibranch obsessive, underwater photographer, citizen scientist, bug photographer and thalassophile.
Now in the Abu Dhabi. ♾️🧩🦑
All photos by me.
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moistmacro.bsky.social
Something came in the post today that helped brighten my world
#nudibranch #Invertebrate #Marinelife #Plushie
A plushie that is modelled on a Chromodoris magnifica sea slug
January 22, 2026 at 2:33 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Does this remind anyone of the dynamic between Miller and Trump?
A still from the Lord of the Rings movie showing King Theoden and his slimy Evil adviser Grima Wormtongue
January 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Life can be quirky. That sliding doors moment when I decided to not do biology at school - and have regretted it ever since. I now find myself 38 years later about to collaborate as a citizen scientist with a post-doc researcher on collecting and naming some Nudibranch. 2026 seems suddenly brighter.
An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with large claret patches across its back and a mantle edge interspersed with yellow, red and purple markings An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with medium purple patches across its back and a mantle edge that is yellow. The rhinophores and gills are orange An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with small claret patches across its back and a mantle edge interspersed with yellow, red and purple markings An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with medium purple patches across its back and a mantle edge that is yellow. The rhinophores and gills are orange
January 16, 2026 at 4:44 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Something to at least try and brighten the day.
A yellow/orange cosmos flower from Thailand
January 9, 2026 at 8:35 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Oh well - no surprise there
The word perilous randomly chose as my word of the year. Black texting aqua background
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This is believe is a little Nomia strigata bee. It has these gorgeous blue stripes on its abdomen. From Ko Yao Yai in Thailand.
A photo of a small bee sat on a leaf. It has striking blue bands on its abdomen.
January 1, 2026 at 9:49 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
I believe these belong in the Atractomorpha genus of grasshoppers. So nice that the bigger one is giving its buddy a piggyback - I suspect it’s tired.

Found in Phuket region of Thailand.
#Invertebrates #Insects #Bugs
A photo of two grasshoppers multiplying their DNA. The larger one at the bottom is green whilst the one on top is more brown. They are perched on a leaf
December 30, 2025 at 6:48 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
John Oliver stood next to a large sculpture of testicles
December 14, 2025 at 10:17 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So this morning I give you a big. Pycanum rubens - Giant Shorld bug from Thailand.
Not the best camouflage if I’m honest - but suspect it’s a warning of something distasteful to a predator.
#invertebrate #bug #red #thailand
A photograph of a bright red shield bug resting on a green leaf.
December 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Spood time! I believe this is Carrhotus sannio. It’s from Thailand and has snagged something tasty for dinner.
#Spiders #Invertebrates #Thailand
A photo of a golden yellow jumping spider on a green leaf. It has a long black bug in its mouth - dinner no doubt
December 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Giant Golden Orbweavers (Nephila pilipes) are a stunning spider. Also the fact that they apparently manipulate UV light reflections on their body to attract prey - makes them a great little marvel of nature.
#Invertebrates #Spiders #Arachnids #Thailand
A photo of a large Orbweaver spider perched in the middle of its web. The long legs are black, with a white thorax and yellow markings. Its abdomen has thin longitudinal black and white markings.
December 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This believe is Ideopsis vulgaris, the Blue Glassy Tiger. Another one from Koh Yao Yai in Thailand.
#invertebrates #Butterfly #Thailand #insects #lepidoptera
A photo of a blue butterfly with ice blue patterns on its wings bordered by black. Almost resembling stained glass windows - it’s is feeding on white flowers A photo of a blue butterfly with ice blue patterns on its wings bordered by black. Almost resembling stained glass windows - it’s is feeding on white flowers
December 7, 2025 at 3:41 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Another one from Thailand - Pantala flavescens - The Wandering Glider.
#Invertebrates #thailand #dragonfly
A photo of a dragonfly that has a golden coloured body with an orange oblong patch on its eye - it is resting on a plant talk A photo of a dragonfly that has a golden coloured body. The picture shows off the intricate lace like detail of the wings
December 5, 2025 at 4:37 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So here we have a little green invertebrate from Thailand - not sure of the species but it appears to be a type of Shining Leaf Chafer (according to iNat) #Invertebrates #Beetles #Insects #Thailand #Chafer #Green
A photo from the front of a bright green metallic looking beetle perched on a leaf
December 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Now that I am back to Thailand I can start processing some of my pictures. Here is the helpful house gecko that hung around our jungle villa for the duration of our sojourn keeping the mosquitoes at bay.
#Lizards #Gecko #Thailand
Photo of the front end of an Asian house gecko. It is lying on a window frame and is a mottled brown colour
December 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So this was a nice spot the other morning - Phintella vittata (Banded Phintella). I was disappointed that I couldn’t get it to face me properly so I could get a shot of its spoody face. #Invertebrates #Spiders #Spood #Thailand
A photo of a small jumping spider that has a metallic looking colouration across its head and back interspersed with solid black bands.
November 28, 2025 at 6:45 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Here is the first bug/insect - straight out of the camera as all my editing stuff is back home. This is Argiope versicolor - Multi-coloured Saint Andrew’s Cross Spider from Koh Yao Yai in Thailand.
A photo of a very colourful Orbweaver spider. It has red, black, white and yellow bands across its back and a hairy grey head.
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Saw a Tree Puppy this morning on the way back from breakfast
A picture of a Clouded Monitor Lizard hanging on a tree in Koh Yao Yai island in Thailand
November 27, 2025 at 6:54 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So I’ve been finding a fair few bugs - but everything has been surpassed by what my wife spotted in the trees on our way back from dinner tonight. A true bucket list moment - Nycticebus coucang in the wild - female I believe and possibly pregnant
November 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Some potential great news from today - looks like I may have finally found a way to get some real scientists to start describing some of the many undescribed #Nudibranch we have here in the UAE. This spectacular creature will hopefully be the first on the list.
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a sea slug that is mainly white with a yellow marginal band. It has large purple wine stain like blotches covering its notum A photo of a sea slug that is mainly white with a yellow marginal band. It has large purple wine stain like blotches covering its notum A photo of a sea slug that is mainly white with a yellow marginal band. It has large purple wine stain like blotches covering its notum
October 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So no #Nudibranch today - but something almost as cool - a little snail from the genus Diminovula.
#🦑 #🦐 #Mollusc
A photo of a small sea snail that has a white base colour but is covered in shocking pink splodges
October 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This #Nudibranch is Caloria indica and is one of the slugs seen quite often here in the UAE.
Hopefully I can get back in the water soon to find some more.
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a sea slug from the side. The main body is translucent white with a series of cerata on its back that are orange and blue tipped with yellow.
September 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So this morning we have a bug rather than a slug. This is Allogalathea elegans - the elegant squat lobster who are generally found hanging out on crinoids. This one is from the east coast of the #UAE
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a small squat lobster. It is coloured in alternating bars of white, brown and grey. This helps it to camouflage amongst the arms of its Crinoid host.
September 29, 2025 at 4:49 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This one is not so common here - probably only the second time in 15 years I’ve found this in the UAE. Goniobranchus alius is the name
#🦑 #🦐 #Nudibranch
A photo of a sea slug that has a pale background cover that is interspersed with little orange markings. The mantle is bordered with broken yellow and purple lines.
September 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So for today’s #Nudibranch we have this zigzag emblazoned slug. This is Hypselodoris nigrostriata from the UAE.
#MarineLife #Invertebrates
A sea slug that has a pale blue background colour interspersed with yellow patches. It then has a series of black lines crossing its body. The rhinophores and gills are bright red
September 24, 2025 at 4:58 AM