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Small mysteries of the natural world, one animal at a time.

Wild Things

The world is filled with strange and wonderful organisms. When we travel, we often miss some of the best of them. But they are always out there, often right under our nose. In these notes, I write about some of the strange evolutionary adaptations and behaviors of creatures I find along the way.

Notes on strange creatures

Sibovia pileata leafhopper launching a droplet of honeydew

Sibovia pileata and the Honeydew Launch

A tiny jewel of a leafhopper caught firing honeydew like a micro-cannon.
Trogus Wasp in Colombia

The Surreal Trogus Wasp

What is that strange sapphire winged light in the dark forest? How I photographed a trogus wasp in Colombia.
Illustration of North American Birds

How Many Birds are in North America?

A poster claims to display all the birds of North America. This entry suggest their numbers are all wrong.
Flat Porcelain Crab

Mystery of the Flat Porcelain Crab

What is this strange crab hanging out in spring tide barnacles? Hint, it's not a crab.
Wax-tail Hopper insect

Wax-tail Hopper

What on earth is that weird, red-eyed creature with white flames coming out of its rear?
Glasswing Butterflies in Latin America

Ethereal Glasswing Butterfly

Notes on the unusual and ethereal glasswing butterflies of Latin America
Flower Crab Spider

Flower Crab Spider

I thought it was an orchid. Who knew that I was looking at a spider?
Fairy Moths in Oregon forest

Fairy Moths

I witnessed the strangest thing in the damp forest east of Odell, Oregon.
Horntail Wasp on tree stump

What is that Stumphumping Bug?

I found this bizarre, amazing wasp, and I had no idea what it was. Until now.
Potoo Bird camouflaged on tree branch

What is that Strange Potoo?

Do you see anything unusual about the photo? Nature's most stunning camo is on display.
A juvenile green katydid facing the camera with long antennae, on white

Office Katydid

I found this juvenile katydid in my office stairwell, and brought him to the studio.
Twig Moth camouflaged as a twig

Whoa, that Twig is Alive?

I couldn't believe this tiny twig, the size of a grain of rice, is actually a living creature.
An emerald toucanet with a yellow-topped bill clinging to a mossy trunk

Toucans, Toucanets and Aracaris

Notes on splitting toucanets, some toucan history, and the lifestyles of aracaris.

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