ambytbfl's Favourites

Resting on an understorey plant. At a quick glance, I initially thought it was a bird dropping. The white hairs give it the appearance of being infected with an entomopathogenic fungi, maybe as a deterrent to predators...? Definitely the most amazing cerambycid I've ever seen!

Update: this species finally has a name! The paper naming and describing it can be freely downloaded from here: https://doi.org/10.54102/ajt.iv1x5

What a spectacular time I had with the legendary Katja Schultz (treegrow) at Rock Creek Park in Washington DC. Seriously -- if you get the chance to hang out with a taxon expert in the field, you will see SO MUCH. The fly diversity here is magnificent, but my guide was just as great. :)

This Bracket Fungus Beetle in the family Ciidae, is feeding on the frustules of Xylobolus frustulatus (Stereaceae), a ceramic parchment fungus that occurs only on rotting post oak logs. These beetles are only 1.2 mm long and barely visible to the naked eye. At high magnification, the beetles can be seen crawling between the tiny frustules. Some of the frustules have tiny holes where the adult and larvae can be found.

First iNat record of this species for the DFW Metroplex.

My first time seeing a Round Sand Beetle. Came to UV light. (No sand that I know of nearby, 1.5 miles from the nearest pond) Cooled in the fridge for pictures. Actually forgotten in the back of the fridge for almost 2 weeks, but still very quick to recover from cooling, becomes mobile again almost immediately. Released after photos. (Better late than never) Makes me wonder if this species is very cold-hardy during winters.