I photographed this Hummingbird Moth near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas. The Hummingbird Moth is an amazing insect that has the unique ability..
I photographed this Wheel Bug in vegetation that was located on one of the utility roads at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
I photographed this Horned Passalus Beetle With Mites near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas.
The Horned Passalus Beetle is a species of beetles found in North America, also known as Bessbugs. They belong to the family Passalidae and are known for their large size and distinct horns. They are decomposers, feeding on dead and decaying wood, and play an important role in maintaining the balance of forest ecosystems.
The Horned Passalus beetle (also known as the Bessbug) is a type of beetle that is known to carry mites on its body. Mites are small arthropods that often feed on insects or other organic matter. It is not uncommon for insects like the Horned Passalus beetle to have mites living on or around them, as mites are opportunistic and will attach themselves to a host in search of food and shelter. In the case of the Horned Passalus beetle, the mites likely feed on fungi growing in the beetle’s nest or on organic matter within the nest.
I took both of these photos of a Robber Fly On Rocks on a road near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas.
I photographed this Cicada Without A Body on my deck here in Arkansas. I read that Cicadas with missing abdomens are usually victims of a fungal infection.
Since the digestive and reproductive systems are not essential for survival, mature Cicadas—which have a maximum lifespan of a few weeks—can endure this for a while.
I read that they call these Zombie Cicadas:
Zombie Cicadas are a colloquial term used to describe cicadas that have been infected by the fungal pathogen Massospora. The infection causes the cicadas to engage in unusual and erratic behavior, such as excessive jumping and twitching, and it also causes them to lose their abdomen. This leaves them unable to mate or feed, and ultimately leads to their death. The fungal infection also spreads to other cicadas, allowing the fungus to continue to spread. The term “zombie cicadas” is used due to the zombie-like behavior exhibited by infected cicadas, and because the fungal infection essentially turns them into vectors for the spread of the pathogen.
