Photography release of bats isn’t easy; Alice attempts to release one here, but it only flies off after my flash ran out of juice.
Tag Archives: Animals
Another katydid
Mating flies
Molting cicada
Another interesting molting event.
Molting katydid
Vampire bats!
Green anole – Norops biporcatus
This anole suns near the lab at the Las Cruces lab most days, and I was recently able to catch and key it. This is likely a female; she lacks a prominent dewlap. Norops biporcatus is a large anole that is most often bright green and resembles Dactyloa spp. and Polychrus spp., because of its size. However, presence of elongated, unkeeled lamalle on its toes, and dorsal + nuchal ridges help to place it in Norops. I was really hoping for a Polychrus: the Neotropical chameleon… but it was still fun to catch.
Cordyceps infected orthopteran?
I think this might have been a cordyceps-killed cricket or katydid. Cordyceps is an ascomycete fungus that parasitizes insects and alters their behavior, causing them to climb to a high point, latch on and die. At this point, the fungus produces fruiting bodies that rain new spores down on ground dwelling insect prey. A great YouTube video is here.
Leaf-cutter ants
Hike Down Sendero Chai
Down Cerro Chai, some students spotted a dark-morph Crested Owl. Daniel (aka Bird) takes a photo through binoculars with his iPhone.