You know what's weird? A whole lot of butterflies look like they only have four legs, because their front pair is all small and folded up against their body. Some don't have feet, some have fuzz, some taste stuff with them. Weird little legs!
did you know millipedes produce silk? those that do, like this species in the order Chordeumatida, use it to make secure shelters for molting.
look at these little things!! who knew that the weedy vines and little saplings all over hid these gems. this is just two nights’ looking at leaves for about an hour total, got me nine species
Don't have an invertebrate artwork to post for #InverteFest? I got you covered. I teamed up with multiple experts to create guides to comprehend various invertebrate anatomy. Links to the full posts in the reply below.
Hey, wanna see SOMETHING NOBODY HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE? Here's a giant springtail with PURPLE spines! I recently discovered a number of these amazingly coloured Holacanthella (they're normally red/orange or yellow). A new species? Maybe! 🧪 Observation online soon: weta.ento.org.nz/index.php/we...
out here finding the weirdest little guys I never knew existed. what even is a leptostracan or a tanaid
Do you love Springtail Saturday, but feel it's always over too soon? Dry your eyes, my friend. They said it couldn't be done. They said that dedicating more than one day a week to springtails was impossible, merely the arrogant pipe-dream of a madman. But, guess what? It's #SpringtailSunday 🧪
these are Elpidium, ostracods (seed shrimp!) which only live in the water that collects between the leaves of bromeliad plants. that's it. to reach new plants, they stick themselves onto other animals, including frogs, and ride around passively.
There's a water flea called Ilyocryptus which is always covered in lint and dirt. I looked up the etymology of the name and it translates literally into "dirt secret". Here is my beautiful son Dirt Secret
