A new macro-adventure at Parque Natural Metropolitano

Once again we returned to Parque Natural Metropolitano joined by our collaborator Julio Abdiel Gonzalez. We were able to capture interesting species, and below you can see some of these, including a lot of spiders:

The most impressive spider we found was the Cephalotes Ant-mimic Spider (Aphantochilus rogersi) a crab spider that is similar to an ant, specifically Cephalotes atratus, which are their preferred prey. It's color, size, shape, texture and movement is very convincing, and we had a difficult time confirming if we were looking at an ant or a spider, specially when we counted legs, since the subjects were missing some. You have to bear in mind that all arachnids (class of arthropod to which spiders belong) have four pair of legs while insects have three pairs of legs.

Now you can see a set of pictures to show the different perspectives of different photographers of the same caterpillars. Caterpillars is how we commonly call the larvae of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).

Katydid nymph

The same katydid nymph with more magnification given by Canon's MP-E 65mm lens.

Mantidae is the largest family of the order Mantodea, commonly known as praying mantises; most are tropical or subtropical. They have triangular heads with bulging eyes supported on flexible necks. Their elongated bodies may or may not have wings, but all have fore legs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey; their upright posture, while remaining stationary with fore arms folded, has led to the name praying mantises.


Damselfly head (Zygoptera)