urbpan: (dandelion)
firefly
I found another (the same one again?) firefly, but this time I knew how to use the manual focus on my camera. Much nicer image. The subject was obligingly still, which helped.

aphidkiller
This fingertip pose demonstrates how small the aphid killer actually is, as well as the limitations of the manual focus on this point and shoot camera.

longleggedfly
I've said before that if I had my life to live over again, a good path might be to study Dolichopodidae, the long-legged flies*. I think they are beautiful and fascinating; tiny predators of tinier prey.

*In the post linked herein, I spell long-legged fly as one word, two words, and as a hyphenated compound word. Yeesh.
urbpan: (dandelion)
firefly
Firefly Photinus sp.

This soft-winged bioluminescing beetle was brazenly basking on the rail of our front stoop. I rarely see nocturnal fireflies (the diurnal non-bioluminescing variety are musch more conspicuous) whether flying at night or at rest in day. One might think this creature was taking an unnecessary risk of predation, by bird or jumping spider. But this genus of firefly produces a distasteful chemical to protect itself from these enemies. Predatory fireflies, unable to generate this defense, are known to lure male Photinus fireflies with their own light to feed on them and make use of the protective chemical.

IMG_1073
urbpan: (Default)
We can hear crickets outside, and see FIREFLIES!!!

This is the first night I have seen fireflies in my own back yard since July of 1987.

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