wet bugs

blue damselfly

fly

damselfly

ant

damselfly

hoverfly

damselfly

photographer ondrej pakan from myjava, slovakia photographs bugs during rainstorms covered in tiny droplets of water.  the macro photos are amazing!  

victorian beetle dress

ellen terry as lady macbeth in 1888

a victorian dress made from 1,000 beetle wings that was worn by one of the most famous actresses of the era has been restored at a cost of £50,000. the emerald & sea green gown - worn by ellen terry when she played lady macbeth at london's lyceum theatre in 1888 - will now go on display in smallhythe place, kent, england.
it is covered is with the iridescent wings of the jewel beetle which the insects naturally shed as part of their life cycle. it was one of the most iconic & celebrated theatre costumes of the time, immortalized by a john singer sargent portrait now on display at the tate gallery. read more here.

spiders!

so it's that time of the year again!  my favorite!! for the month of october the museum of natural history in downtown los angeles is the home of these amazing orb spiders.  they are hanging everywhere and you walk through the pavillion with them.  because los angeles has been cold and rainy (which they prefer) they are HUGE this year!  i have to thank matt g. for being a sport and making it all the way through.  most people i drag down there freak out.  i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them.

new species

 tube nosed bat

 pink eyed katydid

 tiny frog

 big head ant

white tailed mouse

researchers from the conservation international rapid assessment program have recently disclosed discoveries of over two hundred new species from a two month long expedition in papua, new guinea last year.  i looooove the bat! (maybe because he looks strikingly similar to my cat kimba?)  he's amazing.

i love heem!