Latest Posts by goblin-in-the-rain - Page 8

Cerulean orchid bee, Eufriesea coerulescens, Euglossini, Apidae

This species is found in Mexico and like most orchid bees, they are solitary and non-parasitic.

Photos 1-4 by ignacio_a_rodriguez, 5-6 by elrayman210, 7 by gera_bio, and 8-10 by ignacio_a_rodriguez

a couple of the many beautiful Kikihia scutellaris cicadas molting last night :-)

Dome lace bug, Oecharis sp., Tingidae

Found in Queensland, Australia

Photos 1-5 by bridgetteaussiemacro, 6 by deemc, 7-8 by tjeales, and 9-10 (for scale) by cynthia_c

This is a fox;

This is not a fox;

Isn’t canid taxonomy fun!

A model

The Maghreb Red Fox kinda looks like those AI images of foxes where they’re made to be overly cutesy, with big, round eyes, oversized ears and slightly odd proportions;

None of these look like real creatures???

Cloud shadows shot by @tspfeffer July 2021 🌞 via @odeandiefreude

The biggest wild moths I ever met were these delightful chonks. They're privet hawkmoths, the largest hawkmoth species that lives here in the UK. These friendly giants drop by my nieces often, which is where I met them. I haven't see this species in my own area yet, but may we always have such moths to look out for 🦋💖🦋

that face…..so smoochable….so loving…………

Hey Hector

(via)

since i made a post for inti here’s one for latte too????

latte is. a guy. his name is latte because i worked at a coffee shop when i got him (original). he’s about 12 years old and i found him in an ad online. he was owned by a BP breeder and because of his deformities and issues he wasn’t a breeding prospect, which is totally fair. what wasn’t fair was he was obviously neglected, kept in a small plastic drawer with no enrichment and just a water bowl, his excrement was still in there as well. the guy did the right thing by putting him up for sale if he didn’t have the time or interest for him, but still. that treatment of him wasn’t right. anyway

he has a deformed tail which he seems to have no feeling in at all. he doesn’t know how to shed his skin - he’ll go into blue and then just sit there and occasionally rub his face on things, but nothing more, so he needs bathing monthly and i have to help him shed. he has a head wobble and went off his food for almost a year for seemingly no reason. he’s Very head shy and will freak out if you go near his face (usually).

he just like. forgets how to snake. but then one day his brain cell Activates and he’s suddenly uber hungry and active. i’d love to know what goes on in those neurons when his snake side awakens

he’s a very sweet guy who just wants to chill but has no idea where or who he is at any given time. that’s okay i love him <3 best impulsive preloved buy ever.

I gave the beebs a jelly cup as a treat and pyramidhead stepped in it and got SO upset

Top Tips for Clues, Red Herrings, and Breadcrumbs

One of the most important parts of writing MYSTERY is figuring out what to do with clues and red herrings - and how to use them effectively. Here’s some advice that’s never steered me wrong: 

Hide the real clue before the false ones! Most people, so by extent your readers and your sleuth, tend to focus on the last piece of information presented to them. A good strategy is to mention/show your real clue and then quickly shift focus. 

Do a clue cluster! Squeeze your real clue in among a whole pile of red herrings or other clues, effectively hiding it in plain sight. This works especially well with multiple suspect mysteries. 

Struggling to think of what a clue could be? Try this list: 

Physical objects: Letters, notes, tickets, emails, keepsakes, text messages, diaries, etc. 

Dialogue: voicemail recordings, overheard conversations, hearsay, gossip, rumours. All of these can hold grains of truth! 

Red herrings distract and confound your protagonist and your reader, so you should be careful not to overuse them. Well balanced, red herrings should lead your characters down false paths to create confusion, tension, and suspense.

Contradictions! Have characters claim they did so-and-so at such-and-such a time, but other characters have evidence that contradicts this.

Balance! Avoid a clue that’s so obvious it’s like a neon sign saying “Look at me, I’m a clue!” but don’t make it so obscure it’ll be missed entirely. A good clue should leave a reader saying “Damn, I should have noticed that” 

Do you have a favorite threat display pose from a bug? I know its bad if the animal is stressed but also so many mantis ones are just so pretty and silly (up go the arms!), it makes me wonder what other bugs have got goin on

I do love mantid threat displays! My favorite species (Idolomantis diabolica) has a beautiful threat display:

Ahhh I’m scared! Photo by also_sprach_susscrofa

But there are a lot that are super fun, especially the ones with false eyes on the wings. The katydid Pterochroza ocellata comes to mind:

Neat :) Photo by paulcools

Honorable mention to the ilia underwing moth caterpillar who, when threatened, flips onto its back to reveal a startlingly purple/pink belly!

Very “don’t eat me.” Photo by hannahwojo

Winter wonderlands, illustrated by Chris Foss, Kenneth Fagg, Ron Miller, and John Harris.

Grade Solomon • castlesystems

Fossils look best in bi lighting.

Plesiosaurus at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

cat riding sheep

This is a swallowtail moth. They have a very short season but if I'm lucky, in summer a small number of them drop by. What a joy. Pls enjoy this moth because the world feels better knowing they exist 💖🦋

Leafy Sea Dragon (Phycodurus Eques)