weaver-z:

There’s a user called Erika Horn (@erikahorn.art) on tiktok who made a “duet me” challenge so technically impressive that all of the duets are exactly like this LMAO



platycryptus:

platycryptus:

this gigantic bumblebee-mimic tachinid fly (Belvosia borealis) is definitely one of the most impressive flies I’ve ever seen (Maine, 7/30/22)

tachinid larvae are internal parasitoids of other insects, but while their life cycle is pretty grisly the adult flies are harmless nectar feeders. A parasite as large as B. borealis surely needs a large host, and I was unsurprised to learn that they prey mainly on saturniids and sphingids, moths with huge sausage-sized caterpillars

Unfortunately, many saturniid and sphinx moths have declined steeply or even been wiped out from northeastern North America. This is probably due to a variety of factors including the deliberate introduction of the small tachinid fly Compsilura concinnata from Europe, which preys indiscriminately on many native butterflies and moths as well as the pests it was meant to control. I imagine the scarcity of hosts in the region may explain why I’ve never seen B. borealis before.

saw another Belvosia today and managed to capture it so you can see just how beefy these guys are

image
image


mckitterick:

Drone Dragon 1500

1,500 drones light up the sky over Shenzhen on June 22 with a flying dragon

this amazing display kicked off China’s Dragon Boat Festival, taking place on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar, commemorating the ancient poet Qu Yuan