I bring you some exciting news...

I'VE DISCOVERED THE FIRST EVER GIANT SPRINGTAILS IN CHRISTCHURCH CITY!

The closest known populations before this were at Arthur's Pass, but now we can add the Port Hills to their distribution map.

Definitely my proudest observation from last week's iNaturalist City Nature Challenge.

#Entomology #Collembola #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #SoilFauna #Nature #Macrophotography

*VELVET WORM CHECKPOINT*

You have reached a scrolling checkpoint. I give you permission to stop what you are doing, breathe, and simply enjoy how wonderful velvet worms are.

Forget about life's problems for a moment, and just look at those tiny little feet! There's still beauty in the world, and much of it is Peripatus-shaped.

Okay, off you go.

#SoilBiodiversity #MacroPhotography #Peripatus

Australian #mosquito species found to target #frogs' noses https://phys.org/news/2023-11-australian-mosquito-species-frogs-noses.html

A little on the nose: A mosquito targets the nostrils of tree frogs for a blood meal https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eth.13424

"It was upon returning to their lab and laying out the photographs that they noticed something unique—any mosquito feeding on a #frog's blood was always atop its nose. This spot, they noted, seemed precarious, as #mosquitos are part of the frog diet."

Ik hoor nu voor de tweede nacht wat activiteit van kikkers in de vijvers hier.

Ze lopen achter, in 2019 op deze dag lag het al vol met dril. #frogs

This beautiful little creatures is a springtail known as Protaphorura aurantiaca - a fairly common British species which is found in decaying wood. Its striking yellow colour rapidly fades in alcohol, so normally I only see them as pale specimens under the microscope!

#SoilFauna #SoilEcology #Springtail #Mesofauna #MacroPhotography #Collembola