[SPOTLIGHT] Masters of Camouflage
I've never seen a hairy bark louse! It was very small and very fast and impossible to see against the bark unless it moved. To get this photo I had to keep my eye on the spot I last saw it while I changed settings on my camera. Once I had the lens up to max magnification and found the right spot on the tree, this little critter came into view. It looks like it has a malformed or injured wing (the blurry bit sticking out towards the viewer) which didn't impede the incredible swiftness with which it navigated the rough bark. I was lucky to be watching the right bit of tree at the right time - I only saw it move twice. On a technical note, I have cropped and rotated this image 180ยบ because when I first saw it onscreen it seemed too confusing upside down. This is the best camo I've seen on any insect so far. Oxley Creek, QLD.
Lacewing Larva Adjusts Camo Crud
Lacewing larva manipulates silk that seems to be used to hold together its camo crud. This camo includes plant matter and you can even see a couple of pollen filled flower stamens. Oxley Creek, QLD.