tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31397613373108086162024-03-13T03:16:45.704-07:00Abbott Nature PhotographyThis blog provides an update of what we are doing with our photography. We will try to regularly post on our photographic activities with new images.John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-66097228609364661212012-07-24T08:00:00.000-07:002012-07-24T08:56:42.754-07:00We Love Valdez, AlaskaWe only spent two days in Valdez on the coast of Alaska but it was an amazing two days. The drive is beautiful, even if it is raining. Our first day we were able to go out on my uncle Dan's boat to Prince William Sound. We saw several Humpback Whales close to the boat and Dall's Porpoise were playing with the boat; they look like small Killer Whales with a crazy spray. <br />
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Humpback Whale (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>) - with calf</div>
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Dall's Porpoise (<i>Phocoenoides dalli)</i><br />
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We got to see the Columbia Glacier along with several Sea Otters, which are super cute. The Glacier had large chunks of ice floating in the water. We picked a small one up for the cooler to keep our drinks cold. <br />
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As you can see below Valdez is one of the most beautiful places on Earth!</div>
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The next day we went Halibut fishing and had a blast! We all got our limit of Halibut and made it back to see some fisherman do some Salmon seining. It is amazing to see them do this. But the fishermen are not the only ones catching fish, so are the Sea Lions! If you get a chance to spend time in Valdez take at least a week. You will not regret it.<br />
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Sea Otter (<i>Enhydra lutris</i>) feeding on Pink Salmon or Humpback Salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus gorbuscha</i>) </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Steller's Sea Lion (<i>Eumetopias jubatus</i>) </span><span style="text-align: center;">feeding on Pink Salmon or Humpback Salmon (</span><i style="text-align: center;">Oncorhynchus gorbuscha</i><span style="text-align: center;">)</span><br />
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We were really disappointed in our trip to Denali National Park. We thought we would see a LOT of animals and we only saw a couple of Moose far away and some (4) Carabou which we were really excited about but had hoped for more. We spent two days there and nothing. We saw no bears in Alaska at all. Feeling a little defeated on the bear front in Alaska, we headed back to the lower 48. On the road between Watson Lake (YT) and Fort Nelson (BC) we were surprised to see 11 Black Bear and 3 Grizzlies! The Grizzlies were a momma and 2 babies. We actually spent about 2 hours on the side of the road photographing them! We got LOTs of pics of the Black Bear as well. There were also several Wood Bison on the side of the road which are a little different than our Plains Bison; Wood Bison have a larger hump on the shoulders. Below are the photos of these amazing animals. If you ever have the chance to visit northern British Columbia you must take the Alaskan Highway from Watson Lake to Fort Nelson not only are there TONS of animals, but there are also a LOT of beautiful vistas! Check out our Flickr page for more pictures (click on any photo to reach our Flickr page).<br />
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American black bear (<i>Ursus americanus</i>)</div>
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A baby Black Bear</div>
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Grizzly Bear (<i>Ursus arctos horribilis</i>)</div>
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Wood Bison, Mountain Bison, Wood Buffalo or Mountain Buffalo (<i>Bison bison athabascae</i>)</div>
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<br /></div>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-64116840982833288572012-06-30T18:01:00.000-07:002012-06-30T18:05:24.266-07:00Olympic National ParkOK, so this first photo was not on the Olympic Peninsula, but it is equally amazing in itself. It is Multnomah Falls in Oregon and we had to turn around and see it after a day of collecting bugs. We took the dogs, (I posted some photos on facebook), but when we got up to the falls where I wanted to photograph them they were getting so much attention that we could hardly do anything. Luckily John could escape off to the side and shoot this. <br />
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We then ended up going up to the Olympic National Park to see some cool insects as well as the rainforest! Unfortunately this was our first bad day of rain and that put a damper on the insect collecting. In the morning we were able to get these shots of an AMERICAN RAINFOREST! I love this place and would like to spend more time here. This was the Hoh Rainforest on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula.<br />
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Kendra and JohnJohn and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-67657492489989675152012-06-25T08:49:00.000-07:002012-06-25T08:49:53.539-07:00Yosemite!Yosemite is an amazing place. The views were outstanding. However, what you don't see in these pictures is that there are TONS of people everywhere. I am very glad that many people wan to see a national park, but as some point it felt like an amusement park. Yosemite valley was incredibly packed with people. We don't take pictures of people so here are some really cool scenery pictures. The place is breathtaking.<br />
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We came into Yosemite from the east on the Tioga Road, near Mono Lake. I would recommend staying in that area. June Lake is a very small fishing town with few people. But you get the mountains and nice views. Below is Toulumne Meadows near the east entrance to Yosemite. <br />
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This is Tenaya Lake it is also near the east entrance to Yosemite. The rain clouds had just rolled in and gave us a neat view. <br />
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As you start to drive west you start to get glimpses of the Yosemite valley. In the background you can see half dome.<br />
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We drove up to Glacier point first to get a really good view of the Yosemite valley and there were stunning views after stunning views.<br />
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Here is a view of Yosemite Valley you can see all the buildings down there! Lots of people!! :)<br />
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<br />John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-78903162960713721472012-06-22T20:08:00.002-07:002012-06-22T20:11:40.399-07:00Bumble Bees and Carpenter Bees!Again we are getting lots of different Bumble Bees up here! It is great to see so much diversity. However many people get Bumble Bees and Carpenter Bees confused. Bumble Bees have hair on their abdomen and Carpenter Bees
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Carpenter Bee (<i>Xylocopa (Notoxylocopa) tabaniformis orpifex</i>) </div>
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California Carpenter Bee (<i>Xylocopa californica</i>)</div>
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We love seeing the Bumble Bees up here and the populations seem to be doing well. Even thought several studies have said that populations have<a href="http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/01/bumblebee-decline-confirmed-acro.html" target="_blank"> decline, from a fungal pathogen, <i> <span class="i">Nosema bombi. </span></i></a><br />
Other studies have also proven that the abundance of the European honey bee has also caused a decline in the populations because of competition. European Honey Bee's collect the nectar causing a scarcity of nectar in areas for the Bumble Bee. Bumble Bee's respond by sending more foragers to get nectar instead of pollen. This in return <a href="http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/02-0626" target="_blank">leads to fewer offspring of the Bumble Bee.</a> <br />
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There are things that can be done. The <a href="http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/guidelines/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a> is helping land managers create strategies for increasing pollinator numbers. Land managers need these pollinators for wild flowers, blueberries, tomatoes and many other crops. There are also local groups trying to create habitat for bees like <a href="http://www.beewatchers.com/" target="_blank">Texas Bee Watchers</a>. You can make your yard more bee friendly as well. Below are some of the Bumble Bee's we have seen along the way. <br />
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Nevada Bumble Bee (<i>Bombus nevadensis</i>)</div>
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Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee (<i>Bombus insularis</i>)<br />
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California Bumble Bee (<i>Bombus californicus</i>)<br />
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We also got one of these guys in flight!<br />
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Kendra and JohnJohn and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-88369615987402325092012-06-19T10:48:00.000-07:002012-06-19T10:48:15.413-07:00Sierra Nevada Insects!We are really racking up the insects in CA! They take longer to process and ID so we have not been posting as many. So here are several of our insects that we have gotten in the Sierra Nevada's .<br />
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Like most things the smaller these guys are the more amazing they are when you get to see their detail.<br />
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Thread wasted wasp, Sphecid family Ammophola sp in honor of our good friend Hook who studies this family in Trinidad. This is guy is from California but still a very beautiful insect.<br />
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Lace wings!!! These are always beautiful! Different species than we have in Texas but looks very similar! This is a Green Lacewing (<i>Pseudomallada sp</i>., prob. <i>perfectus</i>)<br />
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Ant lions (<i>Myrmeleon</i> sp., prob. either<i> rusticus </i>or <i>timidus</i>) look similar to damselflies but are very different. Their nymphs are not aquatic like damselflies. Their nymphs are actually found in the little funnels in the sand on the beach or any other sand or fine soil that you walk through. They use them as little pit fall traps to catch other insects and eat them. They are a wild looking little creature as a larva!<br />
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However they become a very beautiful adult insect! They look similar to damselflies but you know they are not because you can see the relatively large antennae. Damselflies have antennae, they are just very small and hard to see with the naked eye!<br />
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Downy Leather-winged Beetle or Soldier Beetle (<i>Podabrus pruinosus</i>) seems to be everywhere we go! He still looks much more beautiful when you get to see him up close and with a lot of light! <br />
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Western tent caterpillars <i>(Malacosoma californicum) </i>can be VERY abundant! In fact John came in from outside and about 20 of these moths came in the trailer with him. Yikes we are still pulling these guys out. In fact their was one in the shower this AM. <br />
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I love the way the antennae look on these guys, almost like little horns. </div>
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In the morning we found these cool eggs from the Western Tent Caterpillar laying on the table. </div>
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Blue Milkweed Beetle (<i>Chrysochus cabaltinus</i>) are a stunning beetle. I swiped this little guy out of the air as he was flying by. They eat milkweed as their name implies but unlike Monarchs do not get toxins from the plant. They actually will cut a piece of the leaf and let the sap (containing the most of the toxins) run out before they proceed eating the plant. The female however will place a protective coating of her feces around the eggs which contains a rather high concentration of the toxin. <br />
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There are a lot more pictures on flickr just click on any of the pictures and you should be able to scroll through the rest of the photos if you would like. We have a lot more to ID and process but this is a start!<br />
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-35524014274395941532012-06-16T08:25:00.001-07:002012-06-19T09:00:28.359-07:00Oldest living organisms, OH MY!So our first night in Yosemite was eventful we are staying in a little town called June Lake which is wonderful because we avoid a lot of the crowds. We got ourselves all settled in at our RV site, placed our 50lb bag of dog food locked in the action packer outside and fell asleep. Well at 4 AM I heard a thudump rump, thudump rump. I woke John up and said listen...... thudump lump, thudump, lump. John got up and walked to the back of the trailer. Our metal basket that has two action packers bolted to it was outside under the bed in the back of the RV. There was a bear trying to break into our dog food. John yelled quick and unzipped the window. The bear was gone but had thrown that 200lb basket around like it was a cotton ball. We decided we should get the dog food and put it in the truck. We decided against the trailer because we figure he could easily break in if he really wanted to. It was dark and as we were going to the back to get the food we heard a low grown.....we shined the flash light and did not see anything. We then realized our neighbors water heater was kicking on and our low growl was just water heating up! <br />
Unfortunately no photos! But this was our "bears oh my", experience so far! Not a total loss our action packer has some really cool scars and may e a bit more ventilated now! <br />
We were lucky enough to visit the Bristlecone Pines (<i>Pinus longaeva</i>) our first day here. They are the oldest living organisms on earth! 4000 years old. It is actually quite unbelievable. It seems like all things that are that old, look dead and struggling. We got to see Welwitschia (<i>Welwitschia mirabilis</i>) when we were in Africa several years ago. It is a very cool dead looking plant as well. Welwitschia is a gymnosperm, seed producing plant. Gymnosperm is actually Greek for naked seed which these plants have. There is not a fleshy or protective covering over the seed. It is the only species in the entire order Welwitschiales. They produce a reproductive structure that looks very much like a pine cone. This individual pictured below is the second oldest living organism at a young 2000 years old!<br />
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Our bristle cones are the oldest living organism about twice as old as Welwitschia! These plants are around 4000 years old however they are not very big. They grow slowly and therefor the rings you can use to age are much smaller! You can see the very fine lines that show the age below. This tree died in 1676 and because it is soooo dense it has not rotted or decayed yet.<br />
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Here are some photos of the live trees. They are also Gymnosperms and produce pine cones. They look dead but they are very much alive!<br />
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These trees were beautiful but the views at 10,000 feet were also amazing.<br />
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012<br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=S%20Crawford%20Ave,,United%20States%4037.778130%2C-119.077833&z=10">S Crawford Ave,,United States</a></div>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-83504890424669203982012-06-15T21:35:00.001-07:002012-06-17T20:36:40.565-07:00Saves the best for last!The black light was outstanding last night! Fishflies are ALWAYS fun to find. Specifically the California Fishfly (<i>Neohermes californicus</i>). The fish flies are different from ours in Texas because of these long antennae. These antennae are finely serrated and remind me of a hand saw blade. We are hoping this individual will fly for us tonight so we can get some flight shots.<br />
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We also got an alate Pacific Northwest Dampwood Termite. This guy is
about 3-4 times the size of our typical subterranean termite. Which
makes sense, since they have some of the largest trees in the world to
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We also got a very unique (to us Texans) bostrichid beetle also known as powder post beetles. These guys look like the puppy dogs of the insect world, they have a sad dog look to the head. As cute as these guys are they enjoy eating all sorts of oak species. They tunnel into dead or live wood and create a powder (hence the powder post beetle). They then lay their eggs and the larvae hatch and feed on the wood. This is the California Stout's Hardwood Borer, <i>Polycaon stouti</i> , and this species has been known to survive as a larva for 20 years. People have reported them burrowing out of their 20 year old cabinets! Since adults will not burrow into treated lumber the larva or eggs lived for 20years!<br />
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We are now on our way to June Lake, near Yosemite! Only a 4.5 hour drive! Below is the map!<br />
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-83711161008088512632012-06-13T09:34:00.001-07:002012-07-01T06:29:45.102-07:00Our Sequoia at home with Sequoias.California, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.<br />
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We went to Sequioa and Kings Canyon National Park and it was of course
amazing. Oddly enough Kings Canyon is actually deeper than the Grand
Canyon! <a href="http://www.visitsequoia.com/kings-canyon-park.aspx" target="_blank">Kings Canyon</a> is 8200 feet at Cedar Grove and the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/index.htm" target="_blank">Grand Canyon</a> is 6000feet at its deepest point!<br />
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Below is the Kings River running through Kings Canyon! </div>
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You can actually drive right down into the canyon which is neat but John thought made it not seem as grand as the Grand Canyon. Here is another picture of the Kings River up close. <br />
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Grizzly Falls is actually not in either National Park. It is in Sequoia National Forest. However this waterfall is beautiful, if you could design your own waterfall I think you would make it like this!<br />
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We of course got to see several of the giant Sequoias including General
Sherman and General Grant, our nations Christmas tree, don't worry though, it does not get decorated, they just place a wreath at its base. Some of
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the equivalent of a 50 foot tall and 1 foot in diameter tree! General Sherman is a
growing machine.We unfortunately did not take General Sherman's picture because the light was horrible and there were about 100 people at the base. This is a picture from 1907 of a man and a couple of horses at the base.<br />
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These are a few of the Giant Sequoia's that we saw. Including "The Twin Sisters" which were two Sequoia trees growing together. We saw this a LOT on the trail of 100 Giants in the National Forest. "The Twin Sisters" were very nice and symmetrical.<br />
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We looked high and low for a place to photograph OUR Sequoia with the Giant Sequoia's and this was on the way to Grants Grove! I think our Sequoia was happy to enjoy The Great Sequoia National Park. Although it was ready for a rest after the day of mountain climbing and descending. <br />
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We also got to see Tharps Log. Tharp was an early explorer that made a home out of this log. There was a bed frame and a table still made out of Sequoia Red wood in the log! He had a fire place and a nice window! He also had an amazing view.<br />
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Finally we went to Crescent Meadow in hopes to get a glimpse of a black bear. No such luck but hopefully we will get to see them in Yosemite!<br />
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-58072495424703492802012-06-12T22:15:00.002-07:002012-06-16T07:38:13.035-07:00Lake Isabella and Rivernook Squirrels!We ended up visiting Lake Isabella on Sunday afternoon. It was very successful. We got sooo many insects it was hard to photograph it all in one night. In fact there are still some little beetles running around unphotographed. <br />
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This is a <i>Pepsis sp</i>. The common name is Tarantula Hawk. These guys are amazing. They will sting a tarantula, which paralyzes it and then drag it to its burrow. Here it lays it's tiny eggs inside the tarantula and when it's larva hatch they eat the paralyzed tarantula alive! The insect world is amazing!<br />
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One of the neater finds is the Microcoryphian! Kind of looks like a silverfish but different order entirely. It is not an order that you run across on a normal collecting trip. It has contiguous eyes, is real rounded and has beautiful stripes. We found this little guy running around in the gravel near Lake Isabella.<br />
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I was really excited to see a bumble bee. In almost all of their ranges Bumble Bees can be difficult to find because their numbers have <a href="http://texasbumblebees.com/decline/" target="_blank">declined all over the world. </a> Reasons for the decline are numerous including competition with the non-native European Honey Bee. This Bumble Bee in particular is one of the prettiest ones I have seen with the red hairs on the tip of the abdomen. This one has a little bit of an unfortunate name Crotch's Bumble Bee (<i>Bombus crotchii</i>).<span id="goog_1385438297"></span><span id="goog_1385438304"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><br /><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7182464755_af4c7f9e40_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><span id="goog_1385438305"></span><span id="goog_1385438298"></span></div>
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Finally we have a group of California Ground Squirrels (<i>Spermophilus beecheyi</i>) around our camp. They are actually colonial species which made a lot of sense since I have been smelling rodents the whole time we have been here. About 8 feet from our trailer we have a colony! It is fabulous to see them running around all day AND they love the Texas Pecans! They can be quite vocal as well as you can see below!<br />
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If you are unfamiliar with where we are here is a map. <br />
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-48835299547801066312012-06-10T14:34:00.000-07:002012-06-10T14:34:29.853-07:00First day of collecting!First day of collecting, Rivernook Campground, Kernville, CA. Sequoia National Forest, 9th of June 2012.<br />
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The night we got into Sequoia National Forest we decided to black light. Which was great! We got some pretty common, but very cool insects! They will for sure have an appearance in the Peterson guide. We spent most of the morning on Saturday the 9th, photographing our catch from backlighting the night before and the early afternoon reorganizing everything from the past three days of discovering our trailer. <br />
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Here is our final photography set up! <br />
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We are very pleased. The dogs get the bed in the back, both kennels fit and Repede can hide all the squeak toys from Kava in his kennel. Our camera gear including high speed can be set up in the corner and if we need to do anything with microphot (for the small stuff that requires a microscope objective) we can set that up at the table. We have it covered! Below are some of the photos we took. The Ten-lined June Beetles are amazing, if you don't think they are amazing than there is no help for you in the insect world!<br />
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Our first camp site that we will be staying at for an extended period was a good find for insects. It is nestled between the Kern River which is very large and a small stream that has lots of riffles and pools. We have lots of vegetation all around us, desert willow, cottonwoods and several oak species as well as many other small bushes and shrubs. We have several mountain peaks all around us. We are also close to a large lake, Lake Isabella. We will hit this later on and see what we can find.<br />
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We also decided to run up to the trail of 100 giants as the sun was going down. Below are some picks of the Giant Sequoias (<i><a href="http://www.visitsequoia.com/giant-sequoia-trees.aspx" target="_blank">Sequoiadendron giganteum</a></i>). It was incredible to see them for the first time. You kind of have a sense of overwhelming insignificance. <br />
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-7567306263210870792012-06-09T15:46:00.002-07:002012-06-09T15:47:09.562-07:00The trailer Gods are testing us!June 8th 2012 Start in Flagstaff, AZ end in Kernville, CA in Sequoia National Forest.<br />
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E.O. Wilson said " There is no greater high than discovery." I am pretty sure he was talking about nature, but this sure applies to discovering your travel trailer as well. I can honestly say that we have had some pretty major adrenalin rushes the past few days. <br />
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Day three of our bug adventure, all we want to do is get somewhere where we can stop driving this trailer and just collect bugs! This trailer hauling business is not for sissy's. Since Arizona does not have day light savings time, and it was light out at 4AM (preparing us for the 24 or so hours of light in Alaska), we decided to leave early so we can get to Sequoia National Forest at a decent time and get organized, relax a bit and black light for insects. We get up early to start putting the trailer together and find that one of our tires resembles a mountain range; there were rather large peaks and valleys in it! NOT GOOD! At this point the trailer Gods are testing us! The up side is we got to change a flat in the comfort of our one day rental dirt pad home. Luckily it was 5 AM and not many people were up. We got our massive red bumper jack off the side of our truck (yes, we do use this, it does not just look cool!) and found it very easy to change the tire. We were happy to do this at a RV park and not on the side of an interstate with semi's flying by taking our lives into their hands with every gust of wind.<br />
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The mechanic in Flagstaff said that our tire was separating on the inside which would cause it to sway, he also noticed our tires were from 2005. Despite the fact that the other three tires still looked good, since most of its life the trailer sits in a lot with Texas heat beating on it allowing dry rot and other devastating things to take their toll, we decided we deserved new tires. We got 5 new tires and 2 new rims. Yes 2 rims, one was bent (a result of the tire separation) and we wanted two full spares in case something happens on the Alaskan highway! We now have 4 of the best trailer tires you can buy and 2 full spares. With our luck so far, I am sure something will necessitate their usage. <br />
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Ok, not leaving by 7 AM we left at 10AM. We took the opportunity to hit the grocery store across the street and fill up on drinks and misc. supplies. We got on the road only to discover that we were driving in some major wind. Let's just say the hitchhikers we saw were having a difficult time staying upright. We think the trailer control has greatly improved, but hard to tell since we are basically driving a huge flat kite through the Sierra Nevada's today. We again, will not arrive at our camp site until late, but at least we can start playing in nature again and just relax a bit. We still plan on black lighting at night and I am sure we will have some really cool bug pictures to post!<br />
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We are staying near Lake Isabella on the southern most part of Sequoia National Forest just north of Kernville! So far it is beautiful! We can not wait to explore. There is also a Kernville brewery that I know we will visit although we could use something a little harder than beer at this point in the trip!<br />
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California and the Mojave Desert are beautiful! We saw some Joshua Trees but did not get pics of them! Hopefully we see them tomorrow and can get some pics they are a mazing!</div>
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Kendra and John<br />
- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012<br />
<br />John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-48958862002420442872012-06-09T15:28:00.002-07:002012-06-09T15:48:35.158-07:00Wow...... Weight Distribution!Well we did not have every thing figured out. We left on Wednesday at 10 AM. Planned for 7AM but house cleaning for our wonderful house sitters and house guests was more work than we thought. We have not done much at home in the last couple of months since we have been soooooo busy. Day 1 we wanted to get to Lubbock, TX. On our way we realized our sway bar did not stop the swaying! I don't know if you have ever been in a vehicle that has a trailer causing it to sway, but it feels like your own personal tornado. You have limited control, are thrown around and your heart beats out of your chest. It is SCARY! We regained control of our vehicle, pulled over to catch our breath and tighten the sway bar. That seemed to help quite a bit and we made it safely to Lubbock. Very little to report if you know Lubbock! The KOA was nothing to brag about because like the rest of the Texas panhandle it was a gravel parking lot.<br />
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The next day (June 7th) we were going from Lubbock to a little west of Flagstaff, AZ. Actually one hour south of the south rim of the Grand Canyon. It is killing us to pass up the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon, but that is just an excuse for the great bug adventure trip 2! Somewhere in New Mexico (I am still too scared to remember where we were exactly), we had our own personal Joplin, MO tornado hit our rig. We started swaying so bad we were all over Interstate 40! I am sure people are still talking about the rig that they were sure was going to flip. Our two dogs went from sleeping soundly in the back seat to standing in the back seat with there eyes open soooo big, no words were necessary, they were screaming "what the hell!" If the outside was a tornado than you should have seen the inside. It looked like we took a blender to every single thing in the trailer. Lets just say there are Cheerios in every nook and cranny.<br />
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Kava sick after the Joplin MO swaying</div>
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One of my mugs fell over and got caught in the handy organizational wire rack and the force of the sway completely busted it off. The cup was on the floor and the handle remained in the wire rack! Sway bar tightening NOT working! We can absolutely not go over 60mph or we sway. This makes no sense to us since bigger travel trailer truck rigs are FLYING by us. We of course have to stop (change our pants) and regroup after this one!! John heads into the Flying J and I call the travel trailer and RVing God and really all knowing one in any motorized vehicle situation (aka my Uncle Kent Davis). He has helped us solve many of our newby travel trailer issues and I was really hoping for some all knowing wisdom here. Kent of course had a whole list of solutions starting with tire pressure and ending in weight distribution. We needed to have more weight at the front of the trailer. Once again our massive amounts of gear were causing a problem. We cleaned up the mess in the trailer and moved a lot of our gear to the front of the trailer. This really helped. Problem solved? We still felt like we could not go over 60 and every time a semi passed us, we were at risk of another sway event! So our Flagstaff AZ KOA arrival time of 4 PM ended up being 8PM. When we finally got there and set the trailer up and went to bed, we were exhausted.<br />
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Below is a picture from the Flying J facing East. We had gone over the Rockies with our swaying RV! That was NOT fun.<br />
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We also have not gotten anything but the G9 out to take pictures. Our focus is to get to Sequoia National Forest. BUT here is some high speed photography.... pictures taken at our max speed, between 50 -60 mph! First are some Texas panhandle pics. Yup flat!<br />
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Then New Mexico!</div>
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Then Arizona, We did not get pics of Flagstaff, but it was beautiful! We got in after dark.</div>
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We look forward to start taking insect pictures and sharing them!<br />
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Kendra and John<br />
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- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012<br />
<br />John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-27092731345579698292012-06-09T14:47:00.001-07:002012-06-09T14:48:49.421-07:00The great bug adventure of 2012 " the beginning"Driving from Texas to Alaska either sounds amazing to you or like horrible torture. It has always been a dream of John and I to drive to Alaska. I also thought it would be great to show our two Texas Huskies where their relatives live (ours would never make it up there)! Well, we signed a contract to redo the Peterson Field guide to the Insects of North America which gave us the excuse to fulfill this dream. We purchased a small 20 foot RV as our sleeping quarters and to serve as our photo studio (it will also save us money on hotels). <br />
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As two very responsible people, before our departure on June 6th for the big adventure, we took the travel trailer on a few Texas trips. Our first trip was to Pedernales Falls State Park over Christmas where we learned we have these amazing heated mattresses that work VERY well. It was a chilly upper 30's F night and by 2AM we were all (mom was with us) soooo hot that we were sweating buckets and wanted to turn all the heat off in the trailer. We decided this would certainly work for Alaska. <br />
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Our next trip was to the east Texas Piney Woods where we stayed at a KOA that was apparently the only RV park in the area that new how to work that "Internet thingy." We learned a LOT about RVing on this trip. First of all, 3 people can fill up a black water tank and consume all the potable water storage in one night. The trailer is very water proof even after 4 days of solid hard rain, and most importantly, the black water tank does not follow that so called universal law of gravity. Apparently, if you hook your RV up to the sewage system and leave it open, "stuff" does not go down and just accumulates near the top! I still don't understand why, but we now know to leave the black water release valve closed until we have a full tank or we will end up with "stuff" where we do not want it!<br />
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The third trip was to the hill country.....the "true hill county" where there are LARGE hills that are absolutely amazing. My new favorite Texas road is Hwy 337 through the hill country. That is where I realized our trailer sways going down hill over 60 (FYI, west Texas speed limit is 80). When I got back from this trip, a week before our great adventure, we had a sway bar put on the trailer. <br />
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So we have our bases covered, we think..... We will see over the next two months of photographing and collecting insects! We will post some of our photos along the way as well as our mini adventures that you may find amusing. We look forward to hearing from you and staying in touch with our friends and family along the way.<br />
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Here is day 1 "the rig" she needs a good name! Any suggestions? The brand of our travel trailer is a Shamrock, so an Irish name may be fitting! Let's just say she is already one tough chick to put up with the two of us!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/7170311105/in/set-72157630089790450/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7240/7170311105_ff894b6a30_o.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kendra and John Abbott<br />
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- posted from ipad during the international bug expedition 2012<br />
<div class="blogpress_location">
Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Historic%20U.S.%2066,,United%20States%4035.262802%2C-107.974133&z=10">Historic U.S. 66,,United States</a></div>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-12004135620119927012011-04-20T22:42:00.000-07:002011-04-20T22:42:11.594-07:00Mexican Free-tailed BatsThe other night we took a friend to see the Mexican Free-tailed Bats at the Congress Street Bridge here in Austin, Texas. This is the largest urban bat colony in the world. It had been a while since I had seen it and reminded me of the great photo opportunities I've had with this species.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5639917124/" title="Mexican Free-tail Bat by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Mexican Free-tail Bat" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5639917124_380caaf79e.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
The Mexican Free-tailed or sometimes called Brazillian Free-tailed Bat (<i>Tadarida brasiliensis</i>) is a wide-ranging bat found throughout North, Central and South America. They get their name because of their long, prominent tail.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5639917086/" title="Mexican_FreeTailed_Bat by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Mexican_FreeTailed_Bat" height="342" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/5639917086_ecb79773fc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
They can roost in a number of different places from buildings to trees, but they are probably best known for the large colonies they form in caves. The photo above was taken at the <a href="http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/placesweprotect/eckert-james-river-bat-cave-preserve.xml">Eckert James River Bat cave</a> owned by the Nature Conservancy. It is one of the largest bat nursuries in North America and his home to around 4 million bats throughout the summer. The emergences from this cave are quite impressive.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5639917024/" title="Bracken Cave by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bracken Cave" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5639917024_77f58ee38e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5639343093/" title="Bracken Cave by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bracken Cave" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5639343093_8e0e7198a0.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
The two photos above were taken at <a href="http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/visit-a-bat-location/bracken-bat-cave/subcategory.html?layout=subcategory">Bracken Cave</a> owned by Bat Conservation International. It is home to the largest bat colony in the world and is home to some 20 million Mexican Free-tailed bats that emerge every night throughout the summer. It is truly a spectacular phenomenon and I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to watch an emergence. They are so numerous when coming out of the cave that as they fly in a cyclone like pattern up and out of the entrance, some bats get pushed to the outside and are actually impaled on prickly pear cactus spines!John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-38139165353028245302011-04-11T20:44:00.000-07:002011-04-11T20:44:52.422-07:00Spring has SprungThis has been a very dry spring in Texas, but the insect activity is picking up quickly. Here are some of the neat things now flying in the Austin area, specifically at <a href="http://www.wildbasin.org/">Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5612219240/" title="Snakefly by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Snakefly" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5612219240_71c954beca.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is a snakefly (<i>Agulla</i> sp.); so named because of its cobra like head and appearance. A neat group of insects generally placed in their own order (Raphidioptera), but sometimes placed in the Neuroptera (lacewings, ant lions and owlflies). They are predators and found only in the west within the U.S. Austin, Texas is at the very eastern edge of their range. This is a female with a its long ovipositor that she uses to lay eggs in the crevices of bark and rotting wood.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5611636849/" title="Robber Fly by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Robber Fly" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5611636849_f1082594b3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is a robber fly in the genus <i>Efferia</i>, most likely <i>E. snowi</i>. Like the snakefly above, this is a predator and a female with a stout ovipositor. <i>Efferia</i> species can be commonly seen perching on rocks and vegetation while waiting for potential prey items to pounce on.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5612219002/" title="Long Horn Beetle by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Long Horn Beetle" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5306/5612219002_97115d8ea4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is a small long horn beetle (<i>Typocerus sinuatus</i>). These can be seen commonly on flowers at Wild Basin right now. They will readily fly from one flower to another looking for mates and taking in nectar.John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-9378784052455765262011-04-05T19:33:00.000-07:002011-04-05T19:41:36.084-07:00The Dark of NightBlacklighting, or the use of an ultraviolet light to attract insects at night is a favorite past time of almost every entomologist. This technique can bring in amazing numbers of insects. The most productive time to blacklight is usually on a calm, balmy night with a new moon and no competing artificial light sources. It is fun to take the time to photograph insects coming into these lights. Because they are nocturnal, many of these are seldom seen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5394340339/" title="20100910-blacklight_composite_001 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20100910-blacklight_composite_001" height="333" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/5394340339_b5766daa7e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is a composite of many moths, beetles, true bugs, caddisflies, and true flies that came to a light I had setup throughout the night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/3410421939/" title="20090320_0607 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20090320_0607" height="333" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3410421939_0612990af9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This Armyworm moth visited the light frequently one night. The larvae can be very destructive on a variety of crops and considered serious pests.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/3411233730/" title="20090321_1861 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20090321_1861" height="333" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3411233730_8a58f63321.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is not a mosquito, but rather a non-biting midge in the family Chironomidae. They are really neat when seen up close. Like mosquitoes, their larvae are aquatic, but as their name implies, they cannot bite and are harmless.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/3411233768/" title="20090321_1926 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20090321_1926" height="333" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3411233768_579db689da.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is the adult of a net-spinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. This group of insects have aquatic larvae. The adults look like moths, but they have hairs on their wings rather than scales and they lack the coiled proboscis found in moths and butterflies.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4860632250/" title="20090825_8025 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20090825_8025" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4860632250_5654c115da.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
This caddisfly belongs in the family Leptoceridae. They are called Long-horned caddisflies because they have very long antennae.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4995408711/" title="20100911_0222b by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20100911_0222b" height="333" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4995408711_7cf186aff1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This is one of my favorite insects, the dobsonfly. The larvae are aquatic, called helgramites, and are often used for fish bait. The adults are short-lived, secretive and thus rarely seen by the casual observer. Males (left) in this group have very long sickle-shaped mandibles that they use to grab a hold of the female (right) with during mating. They are large and really cool looking!John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-43750331949687993262011-04-03T08:16:00.000-07:002011-05-03T19:24:44.272-07:00Dragons UnderwaterMost people are familiar with dragonflies and damselflies as adults, but few are familiar with the much longer-lived and equally (if not more so) interesting larval stage. They live in the water in a variety of habitats and take on a tremendous variety of shapes and forms. Below are representatives of four different dragonfly families and one damselfly family.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5585485808/" title="Common Sanddragon by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Common Sanddragon" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5585485808_e8f05ecd8f.jpg" width="340" /></a><br />
Common Sanddragon (<i>Progomphus obscurus</i>)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5585485690/" title="Gray Petaltail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Gray Petaltail" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5585485690_821b806c63.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Gray Petaltail (<i>Tachopteryx thoreyi</i>)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5585485576/" title="Painted Skimmer by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Painted Skimmer" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5585485576_24db6bc969.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Yellow-sided Skimmer (<i>Libellula flavida</i>)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5563341624/" title="New Texas Spiketail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="New Texas Spiketail" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5563341624_d1232d5d22.jpg" width="379" /></a><br />
Undescribed Spiketail (<i>Cordulegaster</i> sp.)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5585485478/" title="Ebony Jewelwing by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Ebony Jewelwing" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5585485478_8125b44318.jpg" width="413" /></a><br />
Ebony Jewelwing (<i>Calopteryx maculata</i>)John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-80387949143325237042011-03-30T13:43:00.000-07:002011-03-30T13:43:09.843-07:00Blueberries in the SkyEarly every spring, a group of leaf-cutter or mason bees in the family Megachilidae are actively flying about much of North America. They belong in the genus <i>Osmia </i>and go by a number of names. The species <i>O. ribifloris</i> is called the blueberry bee which is appropriate given its size and color! Females in this genus like to nest in narrow holes or tubes. Most commonly this means hollow twigs, but they will use a variety of things with the appropriate sized hole, including empty snail shells and old dirt dauber nests like you can see below. They don't excavate their own nest, but rather find pre-existing nesting holes. A female might inspect several potential nests before settling in.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5572756241/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5572756241_dc01795ce0.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Blueberry females then visit flowers like redbuds to gather pollen and nectar. They make many trips to complete a pollen/nectar provision mass for their larva.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5573346264/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5573346264_ac6dc8c45b.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Once a provision mass is complete, she will back into the hole and lays an egg on top of the pollen. She then creates a partition of "mud", which also serves as the back of the next cell. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5572756659/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5572756659_a48ff4cbc5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="500" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This process continues until she has filled the cavity. Female-destined eggs are laid in the back of the nest, and male eggs towards the front. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5573346210/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5573346210_c0bd8a3a55.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Once she finishes with the nest, she plugs the entrance to the tube. </div><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5573346092/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5573346092_263f893bba.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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They may end up with several completed nest holes before they are done.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5573346048/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5573346048_2300ed84eb.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A group of wasps in the family Sapygidae (no official common name, but sometimes referred to as Club-horned Wasps) are also actively flying at this time looking to parasitize the blueberry bees.</div><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5573346004/" title="Blueberry Bee by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Blueberry Bee" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5573346004_59ee2db377.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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By the summer, the blueberry bee larva (if unparasitized) has consumed all of its provisions and pupates. The adult matures in the fall inside its cocoon and doesn't emerge until the following spring when the whole process starts over.John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-35282561953291983812011-03-29T21:28:00.000-07:002011-03-29T21:28:46.520-07:00Urban CoyoteThere is a small pack of coyotes running around at the field station where I work in downtown Austin, Texas. They are occasionally taking down a lone deer and move around the entire 82 acre facility. I setup some cameras in areas where I could tell they were actively moving about and have been successful in getting a few images. They are beautiful animals who have really adapted to live among humans. In addition to coyotes, I've gotten numerous raccoons, armadillos, opossums, red fox, white-tailed deer and even a porcupine!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5573346598/" title="Coyote by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Coyote" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5573346598_96001f591d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5572757027/" title="Coyote by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Coyote" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5302/5572757027_2b6317f3be.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5572756937/" title="Coyote by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Coyote" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5572756937_af7e46d6ce.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4995408703/" title="20100906_4835 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="20100906_4835" height="333" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/4995408703_c668e6daf4.jpg" width="500" /></a>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-59525511542793067022011-03-28T11:50:00.000-07:002011-03-28T14:04:45.788-07:00BugShot 2011: Improve your insect photography with John Abbott, Thomas Shahan, and Alex Wild<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abbottnaturephotography.com/bugshot/Bug_ShotFlier_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.abbottnaturephotography.com/bugshot/Bug_ShotFlier_small.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: verdana, 'Lucida Grande', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am pleased to announce <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BugShot</strong>, a first-of-a-kind weekend workshop for arthropod photography. The event is a photography course and weekend retreat scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2011 (September 2-5) at the <a href="http://www.shawnature.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Shaw Nature Reserve</a> outside of St. Louis, Missouri. We have chosen a long weekend and a central location to make the event as accessible as possible and have limited enrollment to 35 to keep the participant/instructor ratio manageable.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Depending on how the event unfolds, we may make BugShot an annual event similar to the famous <a href="http://research.calacademy.org/ent/courses/ant" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Ant</a> & <a href="http://research.amnh.org/iz/beecourse/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Bee</a> Courses, with rotating instructors and locations.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[<a href="http://myrmecos.net/flier2.pdf" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">download announcement</a>] | [<a href="http://bugshot.ticketleap.com/bugshot-2011/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">register online</a>]</strong></div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'trebuchet MS', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5385em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who should attend?</h2><ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Entomologists who aspire to improve their photographic skills for work or pleasure</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photographers who wish to learn arthropod- specific techniques</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Naturalists & gardeners who enjoy the little things outdoors</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://natureblognetwork.com/index.php?cat=Invertebrates" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Bug bloggers</a> & <a href="http://bugguide.net/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">bugguide.net</a>ters who’d like to spice up their online imagery</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anyone looking for an excuse to hang out at the beautiful <a href="http://www.shawnature.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Shaw Nature Reserve</a> for a long weekend</li>
</ul><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Attendees are assumed to have an understanding of simple camera functions, including shutter speed & aperture, and should be able to operate the basic functions of their equipment. The course is geared towards SLR equipment, but most topics will also be applicable to digicams that offer manual control of important functions.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are offering up to three registration fee waivers to current students, please email (alwild [at] myrmecos.net) for details.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'trebuchet MS', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5385em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who are the instructors?</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We have arranged an instructor list that spans a diversity of photographic styles.</div><ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.abbottnaturephotography.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">John Abbott</strong></a>, of Texas, loves to photograph insects, especially in action</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/opoterser" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thomas Shahan</strong></a>, of Oklahoma, is a master of close-up arthropod portraiture</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.alexanderwild.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Alex Wild</a></strong>, of Illinois, is an ant photographer extraordinaire</li>
</ul><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'trebuchet MS', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5385em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What will you learn at BugShot?</h2><ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Macro-& microphotography equipment</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Digital asset management & workflow</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Composition</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lighting & flash</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working with live insects</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Special techniques: focus-stacking, time-lapse & video</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Field sessions in prairie, woodland & aquatic habitats</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Evening photo-sharing presentations</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5385; margin-bottom: 0.4615em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and more!</li>
</ul><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_7173" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5385em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 310px;"><a href="http://bugshot.ticketleap.com/bugshot-2011/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0070c5; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-7173" height="214" src="http://myrmecos.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/bugshot-logo.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="bugshot logo" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 12px; font: italic normal normal 0.923em/1.6666 'trebuchet ms', verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">click to register for BugShot 2011</div></div>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-56903422569296508142011-03-27T12:08:00.000-07:002011-04-05T19:40:45.545-07:00New Texas Spiketail DragonflyI just described a new species of dragonfly in the genus <i>Cordulegaster</i>. The common name for this family of dragonflies is Spiketails because the females typically have long ovipositors making it look like they have a spiked tail. The formal description of the species should be in print in a couple of months, but here are some pictures. It seems to have a strong association with Pitcher Plant bogs and is now known in five counties in Texas and just over the border in western Louisiana. I will be describing the larva soon. This species probably remained undiscovered because of its very early flight season (March-April) and restricted habitat of pitcher plant bogs. I'm hoping to learn more about its natural history this spring.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5563341764/" title="New Texas Spiketail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="New Texas Spiketail" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5563341764_1e50068caf.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Male perched on a dead pitcher plant.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5562766569/" title="New Texas Spiketail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="New Texas Spiketail" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5562766569_8595ed287b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Male.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5562766515/" title="New Texas Spiketail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="New Texas Spiketail" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5562766515_af18ee4532.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
Female<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5563341624/" title="New Texas Spiketail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="New Texas Spiketail" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5563341624_d1232d5d22.jpg" width="379" /></a><br />
Larva.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography%20/5562766431/" title="New Texas Spiketail by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="New Texas Spiketail" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/5562766431_2eb09aa8f8.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
Exuviae or shed skin.John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-42665387394196346722011-03-26T20:41:00.000-07:002011-03-26T21:33:24.951-07:00Bugs in the HouseI had the opportunity today to visit an apartment complex here in Austin that is infested with bed bugs. These are very difficult to get rid of and this is a very heavy infestation. Your mom really meant it when she said, "Don't let the bed bugs bite!"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5562654843/" title="Bed Bugs by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bed Bugs" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5562654843_314ab30500.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
There were many simply crawling on the walls.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5563231178/" title="Bed Bugs by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bed Bugs" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5563231178_5884dee12a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Others were of course hiding out in the folds of the mattress.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5562654749/" title="Bed Bugs by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bed Bugs" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5562654749_8aa54233e3.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
The dark stains in the two images above are dried blood and fecal material from the bugs. You can seem some in the fold of this mattress (same ones photographed above).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5563231106/" title="Bed Bugs by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bed Bugs" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5563231106_e2cda8af35.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
They like to get in tight spaces. Above you can see where they get between the slats of this bed. Below are closeups of the activity. Notice the dried fecal pellets and all the eggs (elongated white structures).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5562654615/" title="Bed Bugs by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bed Bugs" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5562654615_835e4b3fff.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5563231026/" title="Bed Bugs by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Bed Bugs" height="333" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5563231026_be128da3c9.jpg" width="500" /></a>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-59296691962433695252010-11-30T22:15:00.000-08:002010-11-30T22:25:32.614-08:00Scorpionflies EverywhereI look forward to seeing scorpionflies every fall, but this year they were particularly abundant here in Austin. I was able to escape the lab and photograph both males and females in flight and perching. It was interesting to watch as males defended and fought over a dead grasshopper. They would release pheromones that in turn attracted females.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5222504383/" title="20101122_3672 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5222504383_1f47cb6e25.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="20101122_3672" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5222504277/" title="20101123_4202 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5222504277_7d2080c46c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="20101123_4202" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5223100304/" title="20101123_4474 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5223100304_79e5316a58.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="20101123_4474" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5222503743/" title="20101123_4468 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5222503743_00c0582a2d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="20101123_4468" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/5223099472/" title="20101123_4580 by Abbott Nature Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5223099472_68de8e0b48.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="20101123_4580" /></a>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139761337310808616.post-40418179362263291842010-07-24T17:18:00.000-07:002010-07-24T17:48:34.082-07:00Lowland TapirWhile visiting friends in Florida, Kendra and I had the opportunity to go to Lion Country Safari. They have a pair of Lowland (South American) Tapirs there. They really enjoy playing in the water to keep cool on a hot day!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4824619433/in/set-72157624454275694/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4824619433_06fb02500e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4824619433/in/set-72157624454275694/"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4825226200/in/set-72157624454275694/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4825226200_89377a0c03.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4824619433/in/set-72157624454275694/"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbottnaturephotography/4825226486/in/set-72157624454275694/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4825226486_edd16f54ff.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div></a>John and Kendra Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620794374872042480noreply@blogger.com0