Insects!

[Brenda]

I remember finding some of those large millipedes in a gorge in Naples. They feel so cool when they walk across your hand! Just don't try it with a centipede--ouch! That centipede might be a species of stone centipede? Dunno--they creep me out. That is a Japanese Beetle, btw.

[Matt]

White Marked Tussock Moth



looks like this when adult:

[Brenda]

When I came out to the office this morning, I spotted this male Northern Walking Stick on my porch window. I don't typically like to pose insects, but the window was filthy. He did finally move off the paper, and last I checked he was pretending to be part of the porch railing. These aren't great photos, but at least they give an idea. It appears that he's starting to molt. The females are larger and greenish-brown. Fascinating insects!

[Matt]

you know... it wasn't until a few years ago that I realized that walking sticks lived in this area... I always thought of them as some exotic tropical insect. I've yet to discover one in the wild.

[Brenda]

I don't see them as often as I did as a child. Go figure? I read that they can regenerate limbs during the molting process and that they make great terrarium pets. I don't condone the latter.

[Matt]

Here's one I found at Watkins Glen last year. I believe this is a Giant Water Bug or "Toe Biter"

[cbobcat49]

Weird. Looks like a type of beetle. How big was that thing?

[Matt]

about 2 inches long