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When it calmed down & untucked, I was able to get a shot of the real head.
Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Ran into a caterpillar with an interesting defense system. It became aware of me & instantly tucked its head out of sight. I was left looking at one end with large threatening eyes and the other end with a wicked looking stinger. Both totally fake, of course. Works well with would-be predators.
Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
During the month of October, I finally saw several monarchs migrating thru DFW but there were not that many of them. This one was taking a pit stop in a wildflower meadow.
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Lemon yellow crab spider on a lemon yellow wildflower. The prey never sees it coming.
Crab Spider (Mecaphesa sp.)
Stiff Greenthread Wildflower (Thelesperma filifolium)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Just red-shouldered bugs making more red-shouldered bugs.
Red-shouldered Bug (Jadera haematoloma)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Just as I focused, it stuck its head behind a leaf. Covered in dew drops.
Texas Bow-legged Bug Nymph (Hyalymenus tarsatus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Where there are aphids, you often find ladybugs, eating them. I only got one shot of this one, then later found out it was enough for an id & another bug lifer for me. Hope to find another so I can get a better shot.
Polished Lady Beetle (Cycloneda munda)
Large Daisy Aphids (Uroleucon sp.)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Aphid lifer. I'd never seen any that were orange or this large.
Large Daisy Aphids (Uroleucon sp.)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
The sunlight was making the dew drops sparkle on this small black bug which caught my eye. A common insect, I just had not seen one before. So nice when a lifer poses in beautiful light.
Red-shouldered Bug (Jadera haematoloma)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
I chased him around a bit trying to get a face shot. He would only face me for a split second before turning his back and jumping again.
Jumping Spider (Phidippus texanus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
I was very excited when I spotted this bright orange jumping spider. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it was new for me. He was very active crawling & jumping all over the greenery so it was quite challenging to get a few shots. I have the id now from experts. No common name.
Jumping Spider (Phidippus texanus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Got a good shot of that bright orange abdomen right before he sailed off the stem into the sunlit yonder.
Jumping Spider (Phidippus texanus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Found a tiny seed bug on a grass seed. Very hard to photograph. With that patchwork pattern I knew it was a new species for me. It has no common name & I could not find much information on it. Just that it feeds on grass...which is where I found 3 of them.
Seed Bug (Phlegyas abbreviatus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
With a new species, it helps to have both a male & female. I got very lucky to find 2 of them mating. Only way I would know a male from the female. They look alike but the female appears to be larger.
Seed Bug (Phlegyas abbreviatus)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Walking along a gravel path & spotted a female grasshopper laying her eggs. Took the shot at a distance so I didn't disturb her.
Female Two-striped Mermiria (Mermiria bivittata)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
I found a new kind of jumping spider. Very small and cute on a giant ragweed stalk. It only gave me one shot before it lived up to its name and disappeared.
Common Leaf-beetle Jumping Spider (Sassacus papenhoei)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Sometimes they pose. This is my first juvenile male of this species. The abdomen looks exactly like the females but the wing pattern is male. It fooled me at first.
Juvenile Male Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
The trick with skinks is that you have to spot them before they spot you. Once they see you, they are gone. I have to remind myself to keep my eyes on the fallen logs ahead of me as I slowly troll.
Broadhead Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
I'd had several kinds of metallic wood-boring beetles but never a bright yellow & black one. Found it on dried lemon beebalm. It was nice enough to stay put for a little photo session. So many insect species, this will never get boring. This one has no common name & I could not find much info on it.
Metallic Wood-boring Beetle (Acmaeodera mixta)
Lemon Beebalm (Monarda citriodora)
Spring Creek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
This is a new species for me. I didn't even notice it had white antennae until I got an id from the experts. I'm just glad it stayed put long enough to get a shot.
Male White-whiskered Grasshopper (Ageneotettix deorum)
Springcreek Forest Preserve, Garland
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com