Tag: Camouflage

Invisibility

On By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, Nature2 Comments

20160911_120903.jpg

I’ve posted about the wonders of nature’s camouflage before, but a chance meeting with a mantid (stagomantis carolina, I think) persuaded me to revisit the topic. I’m sure that you can see the marvelous bark-colored creature above, but can you see it below?

20160911_120754.jpg

Much more difficult, isn’t it? It’s a miracle he didn’t get stepped on. The funny thing is that I didn’t even realize I was taking a picture of this insect, a Green Stinkbug nymph (5th instar, chinavia hilaris):

20160909_084319.jpg

I simply meant to take a picture of the touch-me-nots. But he matches perfectly – clearly a cool pre-adult with style. He needs to give this grasshopper nymph (a schistocerca nitens, I believe) some tips on not being quite so matchy-matchy monochromatic:

20160722_144601.jpg

And they all need to explain to this mylar balloon that its attempt at camouflage is an absolute fail:

20160911_122648.jpg

That green is too bright, and it’s altogether too shiny.

In the Details

On By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, WildlifeLeave a comment

When walking by the river, there is so much to see and even more to miss. Some of the animals in these photographs are quite easy to find, while others demonstrate their remarkable ability to hide and to camouflage. Generally I do a good job of overlooking wee beasties even when they’re quite obvious. That makes even the smallest and commonest (or most hated) of them a discovery.