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Main photo 'Camponotus atriceps infected by Ophiocordyceps camponoti-atricipis, biting onto a leaf edge' by João P. M. Araújo

You've probably played and/or seen 'The Last of Us' and the cordyceps infected humans....which is completely fictional. However, for insects becoming infected by a zombie fungus is a rather horrifying realty, and also incredibly fascinating for us to observe

Ants are targeted by Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sl, aka the zombie ant fungus, which is found mostly in the tropics, and was first discovered by Alfred Russell Wallace in 1859

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sl, represents a whole complex of many species within O. unilateralis, all of which are host specific, infecting and manipulating carpenter ants. Although researches have recently discovered additional O. unilateralis species that specialise in neotropical ants and have described them as O. kniphofioides subclade.

These are all the O. unilateralis described so far

O. albacongiuae
O. blakebarnesii
O. camponoti-atricipis
O. camponoti-balzani
O. camponoti-bispinosi
O. camponoti-chartificis
O. camponoti-femorati
O. camponoti-floridani
O. camponoti-hippocrepidis
O. camponoti-indiani
O. camponoti-leonardi
O. camponoti- melanotic
O. camponoti-nidulantis
O. camponoti-novogranadensis
O. camponoti-renggeri
O. camponoti-saundersi
O. halabalaensis
O. kimflemingiae
O. naomipierceae
O. ootakii
O. polyrhachis-furcata
O. pulvinata
O. rami
O. satoi

And the following are from the O. kniphofioides subclade

O. daceti
O. kniphofioides

That's a lot of different zombie ants!!

The O. unilateralis fungus has very distinctive characteristics

exhibits a single stroma with a Hirsutella asexual morph, which arises from the dorsal neck region of the dead ant and produces a dark brown perithecia attached to its stalk

As well as only infecting the Camponotini species (Carpenter Ant), the fungus also causes the ant to fix itself to vegetation by clamping down via it's mandibles aka 'the death grip'

O. kniphofioides on the other hand

produce a stroma that grows laterally from the host's thorax which itself generates an orange ascoma [fruiting body, usually bowl shaped]

With O. kniphofioides the infected ants do not show the 'death grip' and typically die at the base of large trees in the Amazon, amongst moss carpets

In the tropics the ant species Camponotus leonardi lives in the tree canopies and had aerial trails on the branches, they will travel down the tree trucks and cross the forest floor when the gaps in the canopy are too wide to navigate. It is here they are infected by the fungal spores

The spores attach to their exoskeletons and break through using both mechanical pressure and enzymes. Yeast stages of the fungal infection spread throughout the ants body causing it to have full body convulsions that make it fall from the canopy to the forest floor.

The ant then climbs up the stem of a plant , and clamps itself to a leaf it using it's mandibles (usually 26cm above the floor on the Northern side of the plant, in a location with 94–95% humidity and temperatures between 20 and 30 °C). This is the optimal location and environment to produce the maximum infections (up to 20 to 30 dead ants per square meter) If the dead ant is moved elsewhere the fungal growth and spores released either fail to occur or are undersized

The fungus then kills the ant, and continues to grow inside it's body, until mycelia sprout from the ant's exoskeleton anchoring the ant further to the plant leaf/stem and

secreting antimicrobials to ward off competition

When the fungus is ready to reproduce it's fruiting bodies grow and erupt from the ant's head....the whole process takes around 4-10 days

And now for some dead ants.....

Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae by Danny Newman

Ophiocordyceps albacongiuae by Danny Newman

Ophiocordyceps camponoti-renggeri by João P. M. Araújo

O. camponoti-floridani by Roel Fleuren

Ophiocordyceps ootakii here

Ophiocordyceps camponoti-indiani by joaofungo

Ophiocordyceps pulvinata here

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infecting Formicidae here

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis growing from a carpenter ant by David Hughes

Palthotyreus tarsatus biting onto a green stem. Once infected by an Ophiocordyceps species (still undescribed) by João P. M. Araújo

Apologies I can't remember where I found this one, but it's too good not to share....If anyone knows the photographer let me know in the comments and I'll edit. Cheers

All info and quotes via wikipedia

I'm not an expert, I just like sharing interesting things I find. Any errors please post a comment and I'll edit..... and as always please leave a comment as it gives me encouragement to do further posts 👍

Grey backed mining bee (Andrena vaga) waiting for me to get away from her nest.

Main Photo 'Scolopendra-hardwickei2' by Steven Lenaerts......a caring mother!

Part 1 here

Next up, size wise is Scolopendra cataracta...

Scolopendra cataracta is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. It is the first known amphibious centipede, growing to up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length

Photo by NELSON SANCHO

When exposed, it escapes into water. It both runs along stream beds and swims with eel-like horizontal undulations of its body. Out of water, water rolls off the centipede's body leaving it dry as the surface is hydrophobic. The species was discovered, and the first specimen collected, in 2000 near Thailand's Khao Sok National Park. Two more specimens were collected near waterfalls in Laos

Next is Scolopendra heros

...commonly known as the Arizona desert centipede, giant desert centipede, giant Sonoran centipede, Texas black-tailed centipede, Texas redheaded centipede, and giant redheaded centipede, is a species of North American centipede found in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.

[It] is the largest centipede in North America. It has an average length of 6.5 inches (170 mm), but can reach up to 8 in (200 mm) in the wild, and even longer in captivity....It is aposematically colored, to warn off potential predators

Photo by Lat3ralus

For humans, a bite from S. heros usually causes sharp, searing, local pain and swelling, but has never caused any confirmed deaths

Scolopendra mutilans aka The Chinese red-headed centipede (and the Chinese red head averages around 20 cm

Photo by pompogna

S. mutilans is known for harbouring little aggression to other centipedes, a trait very rare amongst giant centipedes, and allows it to be kept communally. Antimicrobial activities of the identified compounds were reported against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, that possibly explain centipede's survival in harsh and polluted environments.

Females are incubator mothers, guarding the eggs by wrapping their bodies around their clutches until the eggs hatch.

Scolopendra subspinipes is an active, and aggressive predator, growing up to 20 cm and found throughout southeastern Asia.

....in 2018 a far larger specimen was recovered in Hawaii by Clayton Cambra, who captured what appeared to be a Scolopendra subspinipes that measured an astonishing 36.6 cm in length

Photo by Chien Lee

[It is] one of the most widespread and common species in the genus Scolopendra, it is also found on virtually all land areas around and within the Indian Ocean, all of tropical and subtropical Asia from Russia to the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia, Australia, South and Central America, the Caribbean islands, and possibly parts of the southern United States, but how much of this range is natural and how much due to human introduction is unclear. With a wide geographic range and numerous color variations, the species is known by many common names, including jungle centipede, orange-legged centipede, Hawaiian centipede, and Vietnamese centipede

.....[an] aggressive and nervous arthropod, ready to strike if interfered with and sensitive to vibrations nearby. It preys primarily on arachnids, including spiders, scorpions, and vinegaroons. It is large enough to overpower small vertebrates, such as mice or small reptiles, and will readily attempt to consume them. It tends to try to eat almost every living animal it encounters that is not longer than itself. It seizes prey with its anterior legs and then uses its toxicognaths to inject venom. The prey is held by the centipede's other legs until it is subdued. When defending itself or attacking prey, the centipede uses its entire body, coiling around the animal and holding on with its legs, from which position it can use its toxicognaths to deliver venom

The male produces capsules containing mature sperm cells, spermatophores, which are deposited in a reservoir called the spermatheca of the female during mating. The female then fertilizes her immature eggs...and deposits them in a dark, protected area. The female lays 50 to 80 eggs, which she vigilantly protects until they hatch and the baby centipedes molt once. If danger is detected, she wraps around her young to keep them safe

S. subspinipes venom normally causes extreme pain, among other symptoms. A fatal case was reported in the Philippines in which the centipede bit a 7-year-old girl on her head. She died 29 hours later

Next is Scolopendra galapagoensis, aka the Galápagos centipede, and Darwin's goliath centipede which can grow up to 30 cm

Photo by Martin

It is the only representative of the genus Scolopendra on the Galapagos Islands, among twelve other species of centipede present on the Islands. It is also found on mainland South America in Ecuador and Peru, and on Cocos Island in Costa Rica

It comes in 3 colour morphs Dark green to black and Orange-red (above and below)

Photo by Tom Schultz

S. galapagoensis has been reported preying on crickets, newborn rodents, the Galapagos Rice Rat, and, in one paper, a Floreana Racer snake. It is hunted by a variety of birds of prey including the Galapagos hawk, two species of mockingbird, and the common Black Rat

And finally, the biggest of them all the Scolopendra gigantea!

Photo by Martin

....also known as the Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede or Amazonian giant centipede, is a centipede in the genus Scolopendra. It is the largest centipede species in the world, with a length exceeding 30 centimetres (12 in)

It is a carnivore that feeds on any other animal it can overpower and kill. It is capable of overpowering not only other invertebrates such as large insects, worms, snails, spiders, millipedes, scorpions, and even tarantulas, but also small vertebrates including small lizards, frogs (up to 95 millimetres (3+3⁄4 in) long), snakes (up to 25 centimetres (10 in) long), sparrow-sized birds, mice, and bats

Large individuals of S. gigantea have been known to employ unique strategies to catch bats with muscular strength. They climb cave ceilings and hold or manipulate their heavier prey with only a few legs attached to the ceiling.

Photo will be from BBC, but I haven't found a link, as yet

Natural predators to the giant centipedes include large birds, spiders, and arthropod-hunting mammals, including coati, kinkajou, and opossum.

At least one human death has been attributed to the venom of S. gigantea. In 2014, a four-year-old child in Venezuela died after being bitten by a giant centipede which was hidden inside an open soda can. Researchers at Universidad de Oriente later confirmed the specimen to be S. gigante

DON'T TOUCH IT!!!

Photo by Kurt (Orionmystery) G

Well, I hope you enjoyed the posts!

Here's a fun palette cleanser if you've scrolled this far....Scolopendra hardwickei as lego (or something like that)

Photo by Middle Brick

Sources here and wikipedia, here here here here here and here

Main photo by Nicky Bay

Scolopendra are a large species of centipede, both in number (around 100 different types), and often just large in body size

They are found in warm temperate regions, and in the tropics. The largest discovered (so far) can exceed 30 cm (12 in)

All Scolopendra are active preditors and are venemous, capable of delivering a painful (and in one reported case fatal) bite to humans via their forcipules (These are not fangs or other mouth parts, but modified legs on their first body segment)

'Scolopendra subspinipes' by Lilian Alizert

The venom of certain Scolopendra species were found to contain compounds such as serotonin, haemolytic phospholipase, a cardiotoxic protein, and a cytolysin

They feed primarily on other insects and invertebrates, some of the larger varieties have been observed preying on frogs, tarantulas, lizards, birds, snakes, rodents, and even bats!

Two southeast Asian species, S. cataracta and S. paradoxa, as well as S. alcyona from the Ryukyu Islands, are amphibious, as these species can travel underwater by swimming or walking

They have been discovered in the fossil records. Scolopendra proavita was found in Baltic amber from the Eocene of Poland. Other fossil species S. morsitans have been found Pliocene-aged rocks in South Africa

According to this article, these are the largest giant centipedes found (so far).....

Scolopendra alternans, commonly known as the Haitian giant centipede, Caribbean giant centipede, and Florida Keys centipede, and are around 17-19 cm on length

Photo by Sylvain Coulon

Scolopendra alternans is found in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Venezuela the Bahamas, Hispaniola, the Antilles, the British Virgin Islands, and Florida. They have also been reported as far north as Georgia

Next is.....

Scolopendra viridicornis is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae which can be found within the Amazon rainforest, the type locality being in Brazil. Due to the geographic distribution of this species it is known as the Amazonian giant centipede

Photo by Scolomorph

Scolopendra viridicornis is quite quick to flee when disturbed by a predator, running away with impressive speed. If pursued the centipede will raise its terminal legs in an attempt to draw any attack to its hind end. When a predator touches these raised limbs the centipede will use them to grip its aggressor and spin around to deliver a venomous bite. The centipede will then continue to flee until it finds safety.

In northeast Brazil, S. viridicornis is used in regional folk medicine as an analgesic. The species possesses a peptide in its body known as lacrain which exhibits strong antimicrobial effects against Gram-negative bacteria

Next up is Scolopendra hardwickei, the Indian tiger centipede

It is a pigmented species, with exceptionally bright and contrasting coloration, alternating dark orange and deep black segments, with dark orange legs

Photo by Martin

This species is common in the south of the Indian peninsula and it is rarely found on the islands of Sumatra and Nicobar

The bite of S. hardwickei can cause swelling and drowsiness

And finally, Scolopendra polymorpha which can grow up to 18 cm

Scolopendra polymorpha, the common desert centipede, tiger centipede, banded desert centipede, or Sonoran Desert centipede, is a centipede species found in western North America and the Hawaiian Islands

Photo by Alice Abela

S. polymorpha is indigenous to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, north to the Pacific coast.[3][4] It inhabits dry grasslands, forest, and desert; in these habitats, the centipedes generally take up residence under rocks, though they have been observed creating burrows in suitable environments and inside rotting logs. Scolopendra polymorpha as found in the Tonto Forest near Payson, Arizona

Scolopendra polymorpha is indigenous to the deserts of western North America; in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the United States, and in Sonora and Chihuahua in northern Mexico. They primarily seek shelter during the day in moist, cool areas such as under desert rocks

The venom of Scolopendra polymorpha has been found to be medically relevant.....against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two bacteria that are the leading causes of nosocomial infections..... [And] activity against Escherichia coli, which can cause food poisoning, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections

Sources here and good old wikipedia, here, here, here, here, and here

Part 2 to follow!

edit Part 2 here

Title photo by Mike Locke

There are over 70 species of wētā in New Zealand

There are eleven species of giant wētā, most of which are larger than other wētā, despite the latter also being large by insect standards

The name wētā comes from the Maori word wētāpunga, or “God of Ugly Things” .The genus name, Deinacrida, means “Terrible Grasshopper.”

The giant wētā’s close relatives include the Carnivorous Tusked Wētā, the Tree Wētā, and the Cave Wētā

Giant wētā are endemic to New Zealand and all but one species are protected by law because they are considered at risk of extinction

New Zealand Giant Weta by Ricky Wilson

The largest species of Giant Wētā is the Little Barrier Island giant wētā, also known as the wētāpunga. One example reported in 2011 weighed 71 g (2.50 oz)

[Deinacrida mahoenui] is endemic to the area of Mahoenui, New Zealand, and the world population for some time was restricted to a single patch of introduced gorse on farmland.

Deinacrida mahoenui [MAHOENUI GIANT WETA] by Zoomology

Large species can be up to 10 cm (4 in), not inclusive of legs and antennae, with body mass usually no more than 35 g (1.2 oz). One gravid captive female reached a mass of about 70 g (2.47 oz), making it one of the heaviest insects in the world and heavier than a sparrow. This is, however, abnormal, as this individual was unmated and retained an abnormal number of eggs

Many giant wētā species are alpine specialists. Five species are only found at high elevation in South Island. The scree wētā D. connectens lives about 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level [8] and freezes solid when temperatures drop below −5 °C (23 °F)

Deinacrida connectens

Fossils found from the Triassic period 190 million years ago show striking similarities to the wētā that inhabit New Zealand today

Handsome Devil!

Giant Weta - Maori "God Of Ugly Things" by Owen Calder

Sources Giant Wētā, Deinacrida mahoenui, Deinacrida connectens, and Mental Floss

Title photo 'Bombyx Mori' by Sonja Hahn

The most obvious invertebrate that has been utilised by humans is the Domestic Silk Moth, which over time has become unable to reproduce in the wild now dependent on human intervention. The moths have also lost their pigmentation and the ability of functional flight

Eggs take around 14 days to hatch and they eat continuously, favouring White Mulberry Leaves

Photo 'Bombyx mori caterpillar (Silkworm)' by Simone Lucchesi

After they have molted 4 times their bodies become slightly yellow and tighten, it is then they start to spin their silken cocoon. The cocoon is made from raw silk and is approximately 300-900m in length. If it is allowed to continue it's life cycle it will make a hole in the cocoon and emerge as an adult moth (this in turn results in the continuous silk thread to be broken into many smaller length strands)

Unfortunately for most moths their life cycle is abruptly concluded by immersion of their cocoon in boiling water. This kills the pupa, and also helps in unravel ling the silk thread. Often the silkworm is eaten

Photo 'Vietnam - Hoi An - Silkworm Cocoon Reeling' by Manfred Sommer

So, you now have your fancy silk threads, but they need a bit of colour...how about some fancy dye? And the fanciest has to be- Tyrion Purple

This dye comes from the mucus secretion of several predatory sea snails found in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, namely- Bolinus brandaris, Hexaplex trunculus, Stramonita haemastoma, and less commonly Bolinus cornutus

The dye was colour fast, and was a highly prized luxury commodity used by The Romans in ceremonial robes and the Emperors.

It was not just The Romans who coveted the dye, recently large quantities of Murex shells were discovered in Crete suggesting the ancient Minoans were harvesting and extracting Imperial Purple much earlier

The production of the dye ceased with the Sack of Constantinople in 1204, with the Byzantine Emperor or remaining Latin rulers lacking the substantial finances to continue

Image via wikipedia

Now that Tyrion Purple is out of the question, why not have a nice deep red instead?

Cochineal is a scale insect (Dactylopius coccus) which lives in tropical and subtropical South America through North America. It feeds on the fleshy pads of The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia). To deter predators it produces carminic acid, around 17-24% of the dried insects weight, which is used to make carmine dye

Photo 'Cochineal' by Alison Taylor

The cochineals are harvested at around 90 days from the cacti which are grown in special farms, and the resulting dye can yield shades of red such as crimson and scarlet

Photo by mirth_matter

Kermes is another red dye which again comes from the dead bodies of female scale insects, Kermes vermilio, native to the Mediterranean region. The insects are parasites and feed on the sap of the host plant, the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and the Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos).

Photo via wikipedia

If Red is a bit too loud, how about a brown/red courtesy of The Lac Beetle?

Kerria lacca produces both a dye and a wax via it's resinous secretions. The eggs of the Lac are introduced to trees by farmers in order to colonize and feed on them and subsequently coat the branches in resin which is then harvested as 'sticklac'. The branches and insects are harvested, crushed and sieved to remove impurities. This 'seedlac' is then processed into shellac or dye

Lac tubes via wikipedia

Lac Beetle

Sources Bombyx mori, Tyrian Purple, Cochineal, Kermes, Lac

Also of interest is Sea Silk

an extremely fine, rare, and valuable fabric that is made from the long silky filaments or byssus secreted by a gland in the foot of pen shells (in particular Pinna nobilis). The byssus is used by the clam to attach itself to the sea bed

Photo via wikipedia

Sea silk was produced in the Mediterranean region from the large marine bivalve mollusc Pinna nobilis until early in the 20th century. The animal, whose shell is sometimes almost a metre long, adheres itself pointed end down to rocks in the intertidal zone using a tuft of very strong thin fibres. These byssi or filaments (which can be six centimetres long) are spun and, when treated with lemon juice, turn a golden colour, which never fade.....The cloth produced from these filaments can be woven even more finely than silk, and is extremely light and warm; it was said that a pair of women's gloves made from the fabric could fit into half a walnut shell and a pair of stockings in a snuffbox. The cloth attracts clothes moths, the larvae of which will eat it....Pinna nobilis is also sometimes gathered for its edible flesh and occasional pearls of fair quality.

Post image 'Bobbit-Worm' by Hendra Tan

Their name comes from the John and Lorena Bobbit Case

They live tropical and subtropic bodies of water in the Indo-Pacific. They've been discovered in Bali, New Guinea, the Philippines, Australia, Fiji, and Indonesia!

They can reproduce asexually via segmentation!

They can live between 3-5 years and grow on average 3 feet long, although one was discovered at 10 feet long!

Photo by Ken Traub

The fossil record shows they've been around for 20 million years!

They like to build mucus lined burrows on the sea floor from where they ambush their prey!

Photo by eunice khoo

Despite having a pair of small eyes they use their antennae to detect prey as they are virtually blind!

Peters' Monocle Bream tropical fish have been observed 'mobbing' Bobbit Worms by directing sharp jets of water at them in order to deter their attacks!

Bobbit Worms can decimate aquariums. They can arrive as small worms hidden in rocks and corals and can remain undetected for quite some time. Don Arndts heroic battle against a Bobbit Worm is the stuff of legends. His foe was a wily adversary despite the many attempts to poison and kill it, including glue and crushed glass hidden in baited shrimp! TLDR version here

Their jaws are wider than their bodies are retractable and open like scissors!

Their bodies are covered in tiny bristles which grip, and help it to explode out of it's burrow while hunting!

Now give the little fella a kiss!

(photo by Pauline Walsh Jacobsen)

edit- most info from here and I forgot to credit the last image

One of photographs in The Invertebrate Portrait shortlist for CUPOTY 5

Post main photo-

'Velvet Worm (Euperipatoides sp.)' by Stephen Zozaya. This velvet worm was photographed during a JCU field trip to Mt. Zero/Taravale Sanctuary, Paluma Range, Queensland, Australia. From flickr

Scientists have described some 180 modern species. They can be found in moist, dark places all around the tropics and Australia and New Zealand. Smaller species are less than an inch long, while the largest reach lengths of about 8 inches. Wired

They use slime as a weapon. Velvet worms are ambush predators, hunting other small invertebrates by night. To subdue their prey, they squirt a sticky, quick-hardening slime from a pair of glands on their heads. After the prey is ensnared, the velvet worm bites into it, injecting digestive saliva that helps liquefy the insides for easier snacking. The slime is energetically costly to make, so velvet worms will often eat any excess slime they have produced to shore up their reserves. Wired

Photo by Alexander Bär

They have lots of little stubby feet. Their feet are described as conical, baggy appendages. Depending on the species, a velvet worm can have between 13 and 43 pairs of feet. The feet are hollow, fluid-filled, and have no joints.

Each little stubby foot has a claw. Each foot is outfitted with a hooked claw made of chitin (lending the group its scientific name, *Onychophora *('Claw-Bearers')). Velvet worms use their claws when walking on uneven terrain; on smoother surfaces, they retract their claws and walk on the foot cushions at the base of the claws. Wired

Photo by Alex Hyde

More info on wikipedia

Found on flickr

I remember that I had to chase this dragonfly around for about a half hour to even get one photo. I started to think it was just messing with me 😁. It would land a few feet away from me, let me slowly creep up ALMOST close enough to get a photo and then fly away again. Photographed at Brookside Gardens in Maryland on 7/19/23.

Found on flickr

One of the most amazing things I've EVER seen! While holidaying recently on Lewis and Harris, we had lovely walks (despite the weather) in Aline Community Woodland, where we spotted several "colonies" of Puss moth caterpillars on Willow. Looking more closely at several, I was amazed to see Scottish midgies,Culicoides impunctatus, feeding on them, then spotted one festooned with them, counting 29 on one side alone. Have cropped in (see second image) to show one of the midgies engorged with "green", whatever the equivalent to human blood is. Wow, who knew?

Found on flickr

Velvet worm (Peripatoides novaezealandiae)

Onychophora

Found on flickr

Found on flickr

Found on flickr

Found on flickr

Common rough woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)on a tree trunk.

Found on flickr

'Sasha posing for me on a yellow flower (5/28/23).

Phidippus nikites is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in the United States and Mexico but this one was captive bred and lives with me in Maryland.'

More on flickr

'Canon EOS 6D

Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 lens

Tiempo exposición: 1/8" - ISO100

Newport 436 linear stage + MJKZZ 2-Axes Motion Controller Extension For Raspberry Pi

Stacking

Nº de fotos: 101

Pasos: 65,44 µm

Magnificación aproximada: 2,79x'

More on flickr

More on flickr

More on flickr