Skull

I've never determined for sure what animal this skull used to be inside of, but I suspect it was a dog.

Tiny Olive Hairstreak

This is one of my favorite butterflies; they are tiny and gorgeously colored. They seem to groove on equally tiny flowers, such as these garlic chives (which Dennis gave me, which miraculously have not died in my care).

Scorpion #5 of 2009

Spotted on Friday night, 8.28, in the same place (WC). This one was smaller than the previous night's. We like to think that they have found each other again in their place of relocation out near the wellhouse.

Scorpion #4 of 2009

Sadly, no photo. It was spotted in the WC on—Wednesday? Tuesday?—night and as soon as I'd scooped it up, Hugh whisked it outside to Freedom! and Life! It was rather grand in appearance, though I don't think it was really much bigger than most; but it kept displaying itself, throwing its pedipalps forward and out and flattening its tail behind it, for a wonderfully dramatic effect.

Triumvirate

The Three met last night to celebrate the coming of Friday and an end to this challenging week. I have no doubt that their convening portends better days!

Friday Morning

I tried hard to capture the glory of the purple flowers in rising sunlight this morning, but rather failed. I'm more pleased with the other photos.

The Red Eye of the Red Eyed Devil

My previous post about this Red Eyed Devil omitted a good shot of her red eye; here 'tis!

Holy Giant Green Katydid-like Thing from Outer Space with Abdomen Made of Baby Corn, Batman!

As it first appeared to me on the outside as I was heading from the inside for the outdoor shower at 11 p.m. or so!


Its mouth! Or so it would like us to think...


Its crazy podded foreleg and foot!


Its kind of sweet little face...if you are not something it wants to eat!


Its abdomen that looks just like baby corn!


Its giant self with its ovipositor that indicates that it is a female! I got that info from What's That Bug which also says that it's a predatory species and may bite and draw blood, and that it's a Red Eyed Devil, also known as the Greater Arid-Land Katydid. It really is quite spectacular, and it also did quite look as though it might bite me when I put my finger next to it for scale. That photo not shown here....maybe tomorrow...must go to sleep now...but where is my bed? And what is that giant pod thing?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Scorpion #...3? 4? of 2009

Just checked...it's #3. Found this morning on the bathroom carpet, quite desiccated; you can see here that its tail broke off when I moved it from white carpet to stone step for less glare in the photo. I think a cat must have dragged it out from under the bathroom cabinet or the like.