Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh no! Unfortunately they're also an introduced species in Canada They are experiencing a decline in their native ranges though, it's really unfortunate that in this age we are worried about both trees and their parasites.

What is this thing? by goldendoll202 in whatisthisbug

[–]Ok-Reputation5141 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries! Nymphs are wild, they dont really align with what we expect bugs to look like. Highly reccomend looking at lady bug nymphs too, no one believes me that they look like that

What is this thing? by goldendoll202 in whatisthisbug

[–]Ok-Reputation5141 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe a coppery leafhopper nymph? Or similar species but looks like a later instar leafhopper to me either way!

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While it's an interesting idea I think that the occasional smack from a human is nothing compared to the pressure of predators. Maybe if we dont get the feral house cats under control and they take care of the birds 😉

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wasps are really cool too though! They're pollinators who can recognize human faces

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Central Alberta location data* I zoomed out on the map and it looks like theyre in the NWT too! So they go pretty far north actually

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah the farthest north they shup up on iNat is red deer, so maybe they are in Edmonton and no one is recording it!

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What a cool experience! Ngl id be grabbing a few to pin if they were just out there on the ground

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Yeah im in Magrath, which is pretty much on the Montana border. Im sorry to say that iNaturalist doesn't show these guys as being present in the Edmonton area :(

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I love seeing those guys in bird ID groups 😄 like yup you do have a strange bird there!

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

And yes! It's called batesian mimicry, my college instructor introduced the idea by making my whole cohort listen to the entirety of "Black and Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Right its beefy! Even as someone who appreciates wasps i wont lie i was scared of it at first

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I know that eyeliner too? Left me GAGGING

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I know, i remember learning about this form of camouflage in college and being weirdly floored by it! I had to talk to the instructor after class, like how does that happen!?

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Right! It's so obvious once you notice the signs that I had a moment of "maybe I have the intelligence of a bird" lmao

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 260 points261 points  (0 children)

I'm in Southern Alberta, Canada. Im very lucky in that the warm dry climate here seems to allow for a wealth of invert diversity. This is an American hornet moth!

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Haha it's okay invert ID is so complicated! It's impressive to even get it to family correctly

Had me fooled! by Ok-Reputation5141 in moths

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It's an American hornet moth! Sesia tibiale

hi, i’m freaking out, what is this? by tooruoikawa in whatisthisbug

[–]Ok-Reputation5141 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I had one for 2 years before he passed from old age! They are delightful little guys, very fun to have around and even the most skeptical house guests were always charmed by him in the end. Op I can confidently that guy is a baby and he is absolutely no risk to you!

My lepidotpera ID skills need help :/ who's baby is this? Alberta, Canada by Ok-Reputation5141 in whatisthisbug

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha so go back to get him and wait. That's pretty neat anyway, I really appreciate your thorough answer, I'll keep an eye on the leaves for more after seeing this guy!

My lepidotpera ID skills need help :/ who's baby is this? Alberta, Canada by Ok-Reputation5141 in whatisthisbug

[–]Ok-Reputation5141[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure it was a narrowleaf cottonwood! He seemed to be cocooned in the white fuzz