Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) brought from our basement to the forest. Of course they are welcome to be in our basement, but I'm not sure if that is where they really want to be and if they can find a way outside. If I find them in the basement again I might just observe for a while. They are probably pretty smart and know exactly what they are doing. Rare in the Netherlands, more common in Germany. Adult after 4 years and they can live up to 50 years. The colours honestly signal their toxicity, this is called aposematism.

#salamander #fire #aposematism #samandarin #vuursalamander #yellow #black

Zygaena filipendulae – Nature’s Living Jewel

Today, in the warm embrace of the Surea nature reserve in Oosterhout, I encountered the Zygaena filipendulae, or as we call it in Dutch, the Sint-jansvlinder. A striking day-flying moth, its deep black wings speckled with vibrant red spots signal a clear message to predators: “I am toxic.” This warning coloration, called aposematism, is a survival strategy developed through millions of years of evolution.

One photo was taken with my Canon 5D Mark III using the Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens, capturing the intricate details of its iridescent scales. The other, with my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm lens, shows the moth in its sunlit surroundings — a vivid contrast between delicate life and a powerful environment.

This small creature reminds me that beauty and function often go hand in hand in nature. And walking there with my wife made the moment even more meaningful — a quiet celebration of life, science, and togetherness.

#zygaenafilipendulae #sintjansvlinder #canon5dmarkiii #canon7dmarkii #macrophoto #macrophotography #sigma100400 #canonmpe65 #naturephotography #butterflymoth #lepidoptera #oosterhout #surea #insectphotography #naturewalks #wildlifelovers #evolutioninnature #aposematism #dutchnature #natuurmoment

#pwnd #darkwoke #aposematism #predators

In 1890, Alfred Russel Wallace and Edward Bagnall described the concept of animal warning signals. #Poetry #Science #History #Biology #Aposematism #Wallace #Bagnall (https://sharpgiving.com/thebookofscience/items/p1890b.html)