A few of the more charismatic microfauna I found this summer posed for portraits.
Stealthy grasshoppers were an exact match for the rocks. While there were several leaping around, I could only locate this pair.Some kind of wood boring beetle decided to catch the morning sun on the bumper of my car.Wandering through the grass, looking for a place to make a coccoon. This is probably Acronicta lepusculina aka Cottonwood Dagger Moth.No insects were harmed in this photoshoot. This dragonfly was dead, which certainly made focusing on the intricate details much easier.This boring beetle of genus Dicera is a shiny copper colour underneath. On top, another example of great camoflage.Cicadas have been calling for a few weeks now, signalling the approaching end of summer. This one’s name reflects that – it’s commonly known as the “dog day cicada” after timing of the emergence of the adults. After three years in the ground feeding on tree roots, the adults emerge only to mate and do not eat.
