The last of the bugs

[Bobobird]

If you have never seen a juvenile mantises then here is one (unless there is no such thing as a juvenile in the insect world), just about 1 inch or slightly longer and very very shy unlike the adults.

1.


2.


The other bugs from that day.

3.


4.


5. Caterpillar


6. Bug eggs - should have knelt down for this shot.

[jeeperman]

Cool series Bobo, I like the egg sacks.

[Dizzy]

Cool looking Mantis kid Bobo! You didn't by chance grab one of those
other bugs and feed it to that hungry youngster, did you? (I would have
been tempted just for the shot opportunity it could present..lol)

[Geoff F]

Juvenile, is a word which has a number of different alternative words depending on the actual process of birth, growth and development into adulthood. And entomologists tend to make everything complicated.

Imago, larvae, nymph, sub adult, etc.

It basically depends on whether there is a transitional stage, metamorphism between caterpillar and adult for example. Or a gradual change in recognised stages, nymphs, etc.

And then some species reach adult development but require a little extra time to develop the correct colouring and reach full sexual maturity, sub adults.

So Juvenile, saves a lot of messing around.

However, some good colour and focus here.

I think #5 (is it definitely a caterpillar or a larvae of something else) reminds me of some form of remote control box. I feel like I want to press the red buttons to see what happens.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Paul, Mike, Geoff.

Just got in from the 16 hours flight and find pages of unread posts. Things move fast around here.

Geoff - I borrowed that word from the bird world, and agree simplification would be great for someone who knows nothing about the finer details of the insect world. #5 is most definitely a caterpillar - has tons of legs. Can be better seen in this poorer pic of another one in the same bush.



Mike - shoot, feeding him never crossed my mind. But he was so shy all he wanted to do was hide from us.

Eggs - that is one poor shot but posted it just to show how organised some bugs can be. That one should have been taken from a lower angle and everything kept in focus.

[Teton Chuck]

Bobo, nice series. I like numbers 1 and 2. Tough trick making a good photo of green on green.

chuck

[Bobobird]

Thanks Chuck for reminding me just how difficult it was to nail focus of the guy. Would certainly have had more then just 2 shots otherwise. Not much help from him either as he constantly kept going behind the leaves.