Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · 14d

I really enjoyed this series!

Reposted by Gil Wizen

Marshal Hedin @mhedin.bsky.social · 16d

let me share a little story about a remarkable wasp that I encountered yesterday in our local deserts

I stumbled across her, and scrambled to get a few crappy photos .... but then realized that she had a burrow, perhaps a better photo op was possible ??

here she is at her burrow entrance.

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

Nick Volpe @nvolpe.bsky.social · 22d

An ALIEN on earth!? 🤯👽
CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! 🌳
Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! 🐦😳

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · 23d

The beautiful Titaea lemoulti from Ecuador. Titaea moths sit on leaves during the day, but if disturbed they display an interesting escape response: they fly high, then suddenly stop and slowly glide down to the ground like a falling dry leaf. It's very difficult to find the moth in the leaf litter!

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 27

I'm heading off to my next adventure in Ecuador so I will be quiet here for a while. In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with this video of a fringe tree frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus) I found on my previous visit to Ecuador. I never get tired of seeing them, such an iconic species!

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 26

I wish!

Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 26

Notodontid moth caterpillar (Rhuda decepta) from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The spine is all for show, it's soft and squishy! This is one of the most visually striking caterpillars you can find in the rainforest, however you'd be disappointed to learn the adult moth is brown and quite boring looking.

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

Gives a fresh new meaning to "we are so, so screwed"

Jess McLaughlin, PhD (they/them) @jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social · Aug 25

Welp.

First human case of flesh-eating screwworm parasite detected in the U.S.

The first human case of the flesh-eating parasite new world screwworm has been detected in the United States.

www.nbcnewyork.com

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

I agree, there is something fishy about that treehopper. That long tail fin...

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

And just to pique your curiosity...
This is NOT a membracid treehopper. But I like what it's doing.
www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Machaerota notoceras

Machaerota notoceras from Admiralty Park on April 12, 2024 by Luke Ang

www.inaturalist.org

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

Look how cute. like a bunny-shark. I ❤️ Notocera
www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Notocera cruciata

Notocera cruciata from Charlesburg, Paramaribo, Suriname on March 11, 2023 at 11:48 PM by Philipp Kraemer

www.inaturalist.org

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

Oh I have some good ones that would fit metalwork.
I would not suggest Cyphonia because I think it would be painful to make... But *some* Heteronotus, Notocera, Smerdalea. Cladonota is also a classic!

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

I totally agree
happy to brainstorm if you want to put together a list of candidates

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

🤣

Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

I meant the horned treehopper, but for sure there are amazing katydids that would be suitable. Anything with some armor would look great

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

On the same note - have you seen my Hemikyptha marginata post? That one would look amazing in silver.

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

If you know me you know that I LOVE leaf-mimicking katydids. Here's Typophyllum morrisi, one of the smallest species from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The male looks like a rigid dried leaf. First pic shows an extremely rare color morph where the limbs are green. Second pic shows the typical color morph.

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

David @incnaturalist.bsky.social · Aug 24

I’ve seen over 50 of these in August already but I love it every time I get at eye level with these laser beams. Oriental Whip Snake - Ahaetulla prasina

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

WA Orchids @wa-orchids.bsky.social · Aug 24

Caladenia discoidea - Dancing Spider Orchid

Endemic to the southwest of Western Australia, this distinctive orchid was growing in a sandy area east of Perth
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #bloomscrolling

Photo of a native terrestrial orchid that has short petals and sepals that are mainly green and a broad central labellum that is red and green with a long fringe

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

Stunning species

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

Ainsley S @americanbeetles.bsky.social · Aug 24

Look at this creature, chinchilla in an emo phase

Andy Jones @photography-aj.bsky.social · Aug 24

Some close-up detail

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Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 25

Simply magnificent
I am patiently waiting for your museum exhibition
(and the gift shop!)

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

D. Allan Drummond @dadrummond.art · Aug 24

Special edition (today) versus original edition. Much has changed: I’m doing my own casting, have better tools, and have better understanding of finishing. Inside, these bugs are totally different—the rear pairs of legs are now cast separately and assembled to increase control and details. Growth!

Two metal thorn bugs perched on my fingers in nearly identical positions. On the left is the version from 2025, the special edition, and on the right is the original version from 2021. The version on the left has sharper details and much more effective patination.

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · Aug 24

What a pretty boy! 🥰

male soldier fly, #Stratiomyidae #Microchrysa flaviventris
Avery Co., NC

A metallic green fly with giant bright red eyes taking up most of its head rests on a leaf.

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Reposted by Gil Wizen

David @incnaturalist.bsky.social · Aug 25

Deep in the Malaysian rainforest in the dead of night, Bell's anglehead lizard (Gonocephalus belli) appeared to be in an intense conversation with a stick insect.
No insects got eaten in the making of this image.

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