Comments on: The scorpion and the fly http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/ I do not intend to tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:04:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jason http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16249 jason Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:51:24 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16249 Thanks, Ted! We're all about big and bold here in the Lone Star State. Thanks, Ted! We’re all about big and bold here in the Lone Star State.

]]> By: jason http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16248 jason Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:23:23 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16248 LOL! That's too funny, Mom. But it does look like a weird combination, doesn't it? The scorpionflies were large enough and colorful enough to be pretty obvious even moving around under the tall grass. Besides, you know me: always looking for the less obvious goodies. LOL! That’s too funny, Mom. But it does look like a weird combination, doesn’t it?

The scorpionflies were large enough and colorful enough to be pretty obvious even moving around under the tall grass. Besides, you know me: always looking for the less obvious goodies.

]]> By: Beetles In The Bush http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16243 Beetles In The Bush Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:30:45 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16243 You sure grow 'em big and colorful in Texas! We've got scorpionflies, but I've not seen anything so bold in appearance here in Missouri. As always, great pics! You sure grow ‘em big and colorful in Texas!

We’ve got scorpionflies, but I’ve not seen anything so bold in appearance here in Missouri.

As always, great pics!

]]> By: Mom http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16240 Mom Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:19:50 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16240 Now if I were a betting person, I'd bet what we have here is the offspring of a misguided scorpion and very determined anteater. Seriously, these are awesome photos of something I never knew existed before. How in the world did you spot them? Now if I were a betting person, I’d bet what we have here is the offspring of a misguided scorpion and very determined anteater.

Seriously, these are awesome photos of something I never knew existed before. How in the world did you spot them?

]]> By: jason http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16231 jason Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:01:37 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16231 I'm glad you like these little critters, Mature4evr! (Though they're over an inch in length [about 3 cm], so 'little' might not apply.) I do admit the vast amount of nature in this state helps overcome its other issues (which are many). I’m glad you like these little critters, Mature4evr! (Though they’re over an inch in length [about 3 cm], so ‘little’ might not apply.) I do admit the vast amount of nature in this state helps overcome its other issues (which are many).

]]> By: Mature4evr http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16226 Mature4evr Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:03:43 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16226 Although I fervently relish the variety in our eastern denizens, I can't help but envy the superior biodiversity of Texas. That's a splendid insect, nonetheless. Although I fervently relish the variety in our eastern denizens, I can’t help but envy the superior biodiversity of Texas. That’s a splendid insect, nonetheless.

]]> By: jason http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16222 jason Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:13:12 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16222 Hysterical, Amber! The anteater comparison came to my mind as well once I started processing the images and saw a few acrobat ants (<i>Crematogaster</i> sp.) nearby. But the scorpionflies never bothered the ants (in a few unused images following that first one I could see the ants marching right by the scorpionflies and heading toward the dead grasshopper). It was a funny thought, though, and the first picture made me think I'd see the ant being eaten in the next image--but not so. No, the grasshopper was missing a lot of the important parts (like wings and back legs) that would help with identifying it. I snapped some pictures of it just in case, but ultimately I gave up because there wasn't enough left. I love the grasshoppers getting to know each other! Too funny. Hysterical, Amber! The anteater comparison came to my mind as well once I started processing the images and saw a few acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) nearby. But the scorpionflies never bothered the ants (in a few unused images following that first one I could see the ants marching right by the scorpionflies and heading toward the dead grasshopper). It was a funny thought, though, and the first picture made me think I’d see the ant being eaten in the next image–but not so.

No, the grasshopper was missing a lot of the important parts (like wings and back legs) that would help with identifying it. I snapped some pictures of it just in case, but ultimately I gave up because there wasn’t enough left.

I love the grasshoppers getting to know each other! Too funny.

]]> By: Amber Coakley http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16219 Amber Coakley Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:42:49 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16219 Hey Jason - super cool insect! When I looked at your pictures, I couldn't help thinking of an anteater (sp?). And there IS an ant in your first photo - possibly about to be consumed? I couldn't make out the grasshopper remnants. For some reason, I am fascinated with watching animals feed. This past weekend I focused in on a grasshopper that tackled something - I thought to eat it. As I focused on the scene, I realized it was two grasshoppers getting to "know" each other - not mealtime! Hey Jason – super cool insect! When I looked at your pictures, I couldn’t help thinking of an anteater (sp?). And there IS an ant in your first photo – possibly about to be consumed? I couldn’t make out the grasshopper remnants.

For some reason, I am fascinated with watching animals feed. This past weekend I focused in on a grasshopper that tackled something – I thought to eat it. As I focused on the scene, I realized it was two grasshoppers getting to “know” each other – not mealtime!

]]> By: jason http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16208 jason Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:24:46 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16208 Thank you, Liz! Finding these critters was a pleasure. I'd never seen this species before, so I found the discovery quite enjoyable. Thank you, Liz! Finding these critters was a pleasure. I’d never seen this species before, so I found the discovery quite enjoyable.

]]> By: jason http://xenogere.com/2009/10/30/the-scorpion-and-the-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-16207 jason Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:21:38 +0000 http://xenogere.com/?p=5207#comment-16207 Marie, thank you so much for visiting and commenting! I greatly appreciate the compliment. I'm glad you like the photos. It's a passionate obsession of mine, as you can tell. BTW, I took a look at your plant photo, and I'll leave a comment on your blog as to the ID. Hint: it is in fact blackhaw viburnum (<i>Viburnum prunifolium</i>). Marie, thank you so much for visiting and commenting! I greatly appreciate the compliment. I’m glad you like the photos. It’s a passionate obsession of mine, as you can tell.

BTW, I took a look at your plant photo, and I’ll leave a comment on your blog as to the ID. Hint: it is in fact blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium).

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