tags: lepidoptera, moths, Melanchroia chephise, White-Tipped Black Geometrid, Image of the Day
White-Tipped Black Geometrid, Melanchroia chephise, Houston, Texas.
A diurnal moth, this one was photographed on the Katy Prairie NABA Butterfly Count about 30 miles NW of downtown Houston, Texas, on September 3, 2007.
Image: Biosparite [larger view].
This is a White-tipped Black Geometrid, Melanchroia chephise, although it resembles some of the wasp mimics in the Tiger Moth Family. [read more about it]
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tags: moth, Melanchroia chepise, white-tipped black geometrid, Image of the Day
This diurnal Melanchroia chepise posed prettily this morning (10/21/07) on the wall of my apartment breezeway in the Heights section of Houston, Texas.
Image: Biosparite [larger view]
Chrysalis of Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae,
Nelson Farms Preserve, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Texas.
NABA Butterfly Count, 10 September 2006.
This is a case of mimicry where the chrysalis resembles bird poop.
Image: Biosparite.
I am receiving so many gorgeous pictures from you, dear readers…
Mystery Caterpillar on Gaura,
Nelson Farms Preserve, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Texas.
NABA Butterfly Count, 4 September 2006.
Image: Biosparite.
I thought this image was appropriate for the day, given this caterpillar's sporty Hallowe'en stripes.
If you have a high-resolution digitized nature…
tags: Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus, inspecting what appears to be a beheaded Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth, Lycomorpha pholus, photographed on the Katy Prairie, Houston, Texas. [I will identify this…
Yipes! How a geometrid! is a diurnal species?
Definitely diurnal. I have also seen these flying in the daytime around the West 11th Street Park in the Heights section of Houston. If you want to see another intriguing day-flying moth, hang around the high desert of Central Oregon, particularly near Sisters and Bend: there is an Eight-Spotted Forester that looks as if a strobe light is focused on it as it flies. The white spots on black background put on quite a show when it flaps across an open area in the bright sunlight enhanced by the low humidity in the summer.
Very nice photo.
Biosparite, how do you manage to take such excellent pictures?
Is it just patience and lots of practice?
Thank you, Chris, for the compliment. Patience is a good part of it plus good equipment (my $250 Fuji Finepix S700 is a joy to use with its excellent macro and super-macro settings, although I need a digital SLR to come in on really difficult subjects such as damselflies). It also helps that I am fascinated by anything biological, including fossils. I find it relaxing to be out in nature pursuing bugs or whatever with a camera. Grrl Scientist is also due thanks from me for running my photos on her blog.