Entomology

They don't seem flat backed, and looks like 2 pairs per segment. Maybe juvenile? I hope these are a well know critter and someone recognized them. And I hope they are detritivores.

There really were a lot in a tiny pot, and ive made a small enclosure with the ferm they came in. Longest about 3mm, smallest sub mm. All white, translucent

My city leaves the grass next to a river bank long and thousands of grasshoppers live there. It seems a little late in the year to copulate, but that isn't stopping this couple.

Found this pretty lady the other day while on a walk. I like how the light fell on her.

Location: Midwest USA

I found this little guy a few weeks ago when the goldenrods were still in bloom.

Location: Midwest USA

Maybe a meadowhawk?

https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Meadowhawk-Sympetrum

I was in search of crab spiders and happened upon this ambush bug snacking on a fly. Like many other assassin bugs they inject a digestive enzyme into their prey to liquify their insides that they then drink up like a milkshake.

Scientists have long assumed that insects and other invertebrates can’t feel pain. As a result, these creatures are often left out of the legal and ethical guidelines that require mice, monkeys, and other laboratory animals to be treated as humanely as possible. But what would it look like to broaden these protections to the millions of fruit flies, beetles, mosquitoes, and other insects used in research every year?

According to Bob Fischer, a philosopher at Texas State University who specializes in animal ethics, the current lack of oversight means that research insects are sometimes used in unnecessarily large numbers and can be vulnerable to both neglect and dissections without the use of anesthetics—a practice that is considered inhumane in vertebrates. In addition, many academic journals don’t require scientists to detail the treatment of research insects in their publications. Fisher’s colleague Craig Perl, an entomologist at the University of Stirling, says this lack of transparency can threaten reproducible science and may even undermine people’s trust in the science itself.

But as researchers accumulate evidence that insects may be able to experience pain—and discuss “at least a realistic possibility” that many may experience some form of consciousness—attitudes toward insect welfare are changing. To measure how this shift is shaping scientific practice, Fischer and Perl recently joined a team of scientists that trawled the scientific literature for examples of researchers reporting on the ethical treatment of their laboratory insects. Their study, published last month in PLOS One, surveyed more than 1300 papers from 15 journals over 20 years.

Fischer and Perl talked with Science about their findings, how scientists currently think about insect welfare, and what guidelines they think are necessary in the future.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/36352325

I went to the beach to see what photos I could take and these beetles caught my eye. This little dude is crazy fast though. Apparently they can move as fast as 5 mph and are considered one of the fastest land animals for its size.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/36290528

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/36076807

I'm not completely sure on the ID, but I think it's correct.

Found in Eastern US.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/35656639

I caught this little guy midway dropped deuce.

Here it is after hardening off some. I wonder how many tadpoles it ate.

go go go go

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/35133230

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/35133141

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/35059314

Bonus shots

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/34900135

I'm actually ashamed to admit that I snapped this picture looking to get a macro photo of the jewelweed. It wasn't until I reviewed my photos later that I saw them and was ecstatic.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/34608255

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/34550005

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/34550004

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/34548462