Sunday 20 February 2011

Macro Monday : Night-time in the Jungle

I am not known for getting things done quickly. I will nearly always get things done on time, but rarely quickly. So, if I have a deadline, I will get whatever needs doing done. But if it is just up to me to get things done whenever, well, whenever can be a very long time. Take these photos, for example. They are from my "recent" trip to Ecuador - back in August! Oh well, better late than never.......

 Before you look at the photos, make sure you get into the right frame of mind. Think hot and humid, think  squeaks and squeals, screams and sighs, think clicks and clacks and whoops and wails. Think of a million different noises, none of which you can identify, and all of which probably belong to some creature that is out to get you. To eat you, to sting you, to bite you or to just scare the the pants of you.......

Enjoy!

Who can resist the adorable cuteness of this tree frog? No  really, frog or not, this guy is CUTE! Not out to get you at all and completely harmless.


A very leafy katydid, doing a very good impersonation of a leaf, including a bite out of its backside.


A stick insect - one might not want to assume that all stick insects are harmless herbivores. Some, and I suspect that this is one of them, given its red legs and antennae, squirt nasty chemical cocktails out of glands at the back of their heads or sides of their abdomen. You have been warned!




I know, you have seen this one before, but I can't talk about the jungle at night without including this nightmare-inducing beauty, can I? Actually, the more I look at it, the less horrific it looks. In fact, I swear the creature is doing its best Bugs Bunny impersonation! Not so scary, afterall.


For more Macro Monday, go here.

18 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

Great photos! Makes me wonder why it took you so long to share them. :))

jo©o said...

Enlarged they become scary. Amazing creatures though. Especially the one looking like a leaf.

Karen said...

Creepy and interesting. Terrific shots.

TexWisGirl said...

Wow. Really great!

Trish ~ ♥ ~ said...

is it a red eyed tree frog? my son and I once made one out of cray for his science fair project

Jama said...

A gorgeous macro!

Lui said...

Wow!
Your critters look way too cute!
Mine have an attitude. ;-)

Sandbergs Fotoblogg said...

Great macro, really cool images!

Jay at The Depp Effect said...

Doesn't everybody love tree frogs? You're right - CUTE!!

Smashing photos as usual, DBM! I'm kind of glad I wasn't with you though. I mean, I love all these creatures, it's just the 'out to get you' part I can't seem to come to terms with!

Carolina said...

I agree with you on the cuteness of the frog, but I can't see anything cute in that last photo. I've spent a couple of nights in an African jungle (well, that's what it was called in the brochures) once and the only creatures I saw were monkeys (cute, but naughty) and huge cockroaches. And a lot of them too *shudder*

jabblog said...

That last beastie is a bit of a nightmare, isn't it? I always thought stick insects were innocuous, quiet life-loving creatures - another illusion shattered.

"Lillagul" said...

The frog is just soooo cute !
The insects are both creepy and fascinating !
Have a nice monday !

Cortes said...

Great photos, and I especially like the frog. The last creature is not my particular cup of tea, though. Hope he doesn't prey on frogs!

Kala said...

That tree frog is so darned cute!

Bird's Eye View Photography said...

wow~ These are so cool! And that last one, is very scary indeed. I don't see bugs bunny at all...

Maude Lynn said...

These are outstanding!

Johnny Nutcase said...

ohh the return of the tail-less whip scorpion! We saw one and Costa Rica and i was enthralled (a little scared too) of it. So cool. That frog is awesome, as are all the other photos. Good stuff. And i too procrastinate. Lots. Hell, I'm still posting stuff from August too - and probably will be for a while. I have issues.

Baino said...

Not hard to imagine the hot and humid and screaming froggy bit but what is that think with spiky fingerlings?