A few fall photos...

Finally getting around to editing some photos from the fall, and it's about time!  One of the highlights of my fall (as it has been for the past 4 years) was heading down to Illinois on Thanksgiving weekend in search of some awesome critters!  Here are a few highlights:

For me the most exciting moment of the trip was finding my very first Copperhead (I have seen and even photographed them before, but never found one myself)!  This little fella was hiding beneath a log, and never moved a muscle.

Northern x Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

A significant portion of this trip is always spent in search of the elusive Eastern Box Turtle, and finding one is always an event.  This beautiful male was especially exciting!

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)

We had a banner year for one of the smallest and poorest-known snake species in the area, the Smooth Earth Snake.  These little guys normally hide underground or under leaf litter, so it was exciting to see a few out and about!

Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae)

Finally, being a nature photographer, especially one who focuses on reptiles, amphibians and bugs, often means getting a little dirty for the craft.  It's not uncommon for me to be lying on my belly in the mud or wading into a pond in search of the right angle.  But when I heard there was a Northern Widow in the outhouse, I knew things were going to get messy...

When you've gotta go... (thanks to Jenn Bock for immortalizing this moment)

What a beauty!

Northern Widow (Latrodectus variolus)

That's all for now!
Kyle

Madagascar Presentation

Had an awesome time at last week's visit to the Ingersoll District Nature Club, so I thought I'd post a few photos from the presentation.  Here are some of my favourites:

Have you ever seen such an impressive butt-snorkel?

Giant Water Bug (Family: Belostomatidae)

We found this impressive water bug in a puddle, and fished him out for a closer look.  We have these creatures here in Canada (sometimes known as toe-biters or electric light bugs), but this one was exceptional in two ways: his raptorial arms are especially large compared to his body size, and he has a butt-snorkel longer than his entire body.  Here it is in use:

Giant Water Bug (Family: Belostomatidae)

We had the good fortune to find quite a few chameleons, but this one is probably my favourite.  Mostly because of the name.

Big-nosed Chameleon (Calumma nasutum)

One of the coolest birds in Mad is probably the Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher.  He is only about the size of the sparrow, lives in the dense forest and as our guide told us in broken English "fishes for lizards."

Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher (Ceyx madagascariensis)

And lastly, one of the most incredible spiders in the world.

Net-casting Spider (Family: Deinopidae)

To understand just how amazing this creature is, watch this video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18990161.  Have you every seen anything so freakin cool???

That's all for now!
Kyle

Miscellaneous Bugs

Delved into the growing sort pile today for a handful of miscellaneous bugs from the summer.  Without much ado, here they are:

First, one of my favourite (but one of the most common) spiders of southern Ontario.  Perhaps also the most aptly named:

Black-and-yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)

Turns out this post is going to have an unintended 'black and yellow' theme.  This beetle is doing his best to mimic a wasp (not terribly convincing I'd say).  Not sure of the exact species on this one:

Long-horned Beetle (Family: Cerambycidae)

Lastly, one of the first butterflies seen in the spring, and one of the last seen in the fall - the black-and-yellowish:

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

Ok, so it's more brown and off-white, but what can you do.  Hopefully more soon, as the pile is getting scary!

Kyle

Arboretum fun

Took a stroll at the Guelph Arboretum the other day (one of my favourite local spots) and had some luck with a few unexpected species.  The first was a nesting snapper - definitely a new series of photographs for me.  Very cool!

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Although my primary goal for the day was dragonflies, the butterflies ended up being more cooperative.  Lots of species around - here are three.

Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)

Northern Crescent (Phycoides cocyta)

White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)

After the Arb I moved over for a stroll along the Eramosa River, and my eagle-eyed friend Jenn spotted this awesome crab spider with prey.  Thanks for the stellar spot and plant wrangling!

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)

That's all for now!
Kyle

Still Alive in MG!!

Hello!

I have finally returned to the internet after a month-long absence (how did I survive??).  Last full day in Madagascar, flying to South Africa tomorrow.  Internet access in SA should be slightly more frequent than it has been here (none), but probably not significantly.  I will try to update when I can.

In the meantime, prepare for the longest post ever.  To make up for my absence, I have prepped a bunch of photos (quickly, and on a tiny computer, so I hope they're ok!).  I haven't had time to research the IDs yet, so apologize where they are lacking or incorrect!

We've managed about a half-a-dozen snakes in MG, mostly small and terrestrial.  Apparently the Malagasy name of this species means "many snakes in one hole."  Garter Snake anyone? (thanks to Bryna for excellent snake-wrangling!).

Lateral Water Snake (Bibilava lateralis)

Frog diversity here is stunning, and there are more frog species than birds!

Greater Madagascan Green Treefrog (Boophis luteus)

We've seen about a dozen chameleon species in the country, some very big and some very small!

Thiel's Pygmy Chameleon (Brookesia thieli)

Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne)

One of my favourite bird species here:

Collared Nightjar (Caprimulgus enarratus)

Another cham!

Jewel Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

Truly one of the most bizarre (and among stiff competition) species that MG has to offer:

Giraffe-necked Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa)

More frogs...

Betsileo Reed Frog (Heterixalus betsileo)

Largest lemur in the world!

Indri (Indri indri)

Sneaky kingfisher photo...

Madagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides)

One of the most sought-after frogs in the country!

Baron's Mantella (Mantella baroni)

Total guess on the ID here, but it certainly appears to be a Nephila spider to me.  Check out the male (fully grown) on her back.  Careful little fella!  (not a joke - she would be quite happy to eat him before or after mating).

Giant Orb-Weaver (Nephila sp?)

Frequently shared breakfast with our little friend Larry (well, until we realized that Larry was actually Larries...).  Day-Geckos eat fruit and nectar, so a little jam or honey was not to be passed up.  Apparently chocolate cake is just as good.  (sad to note that although Day-Geckos enjoy chocolate cake, they do not posses a mechanism to ingest it effectively - Larry basically pressed his tongue against it for a while and hoped it would absorb).

Lined Day-Gecko (Phelsuma lineata)

One of my most-wanted Madagascar creatures!

Pill Millipede (Family: Arthrosphaeridae)

Tons of great butterflies, no way to identify them...

Butterfly (Species Unknown)

Craziest thing ever!  Total length about 3 inches.  Start researching turbellarians, prepare to be dumbfounded.

Turbellarian Flatworm (Species Unknown)

Lots of crazy phasmids!

Stick Insect (Species Unknown)

All credit goes to Bryna for this amazing find!  Note the epic common, and latin, names!

Satanic Leaftail Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

A member of one of the endemic bird families - found this lady on a pendulous nest in the middle of a trail!

Velvet Asity (Philepitta castanea)

That is all for now!  Will try to update when possible from SA!

Kyle

Spider

So I was looking for something to post, since I haven't had the camera out for far too long, and I came upon this photo from Cuba that I had forgotten about.  It was actually just a quick grab with the point-and-shoot, but it is the subject matter that makes the photo interesting.  This spider appears to be carrying her young on her back!  I've never seen this behaviour in spiders before, though it is certainly common in scorpions.

Pretty cool stuff!

Kyle

Last Illinois Post (Finally)

Hello!

Have I mentioned that I have calendars for sale?  Here's a button you can click to by one (or seven):



You may recall that once upon a time I promised a final post from Illinois.  It sure has been a while.  But at long last I have gotten around to editing those miscellaneous images that remained.  Most are inverts, but there is a surprise guest at the end.  Here goes.

To begin, an Eastern Comma showing the namesake marking on the hindwing:

Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)

Continuing on the butterfly theme, a Red-spotted Purple (the name makes no sense to me either...):

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)

I found this cool grub under a log!  Seems to be some sort of beetle larva, but that's as far as I can guess.  It was big though!

Grub (Grubicus giganticus)*

*Please note this latin name may be a fake

Now on to one of my favourite subjects, spiders.  Some people seem to be under the mistaken impression that spiders are ugly.  I don't know where these people are getting their information, but they have obviously never met a jumping spider.  I dare you to look into that little face and not think adorable.

Jumping Spider (Family: Salticidae)

Jumping Spider (Family: Salticidae)

As we were taking down the tents at the end of the weekend, we found this cool wasp that had come to join us.  It was huge!

Wasp

Sometimes you think the trip is winding down, and mother nature throws you one more little surprise.  We got lost while driving to our last stop, and while trying to find our way we road-cruised this Eastern Box Turtle!  A life-herp for me, and one I was very excited to see.  Never did come out of its shell, but that's a box turtle for you!

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)

Well, the Illinois photos are all wrapped up.  What'll I do now....?

Kyle

Costa Rica Photos Complete!

Hello!

I finally bore down today and completed my Costa Rica photos.  All of my favourites can now be viewed here: http://www.kylehorner.com/costarica.php.  Below are a few samples.

The next stage will be to attempt to correctly identify all of the critters - especially the herps - from the photos.

Hog-nosed Anole

Frog

Spider

Cheers!
Kyle