Every walk through the woods in my area, brings me some new amazing details and experiences, and enriches my vision of nature in general.
Here, on the opening photograph, you can see the Coenonympha arcania butterfly.
Every time I close my eyes here in my room and try to bring up some sensations from the great outdoors, I have a wider array of images, odors and sounds at my disposal.
On this photograph a small, elegant moth is presented. Hidden in the shade, camouflaged on the vegetation. I don't know the name of the species.
Sometimes, entering the woods looks like entering a dreamworld, a fairy world or some other enchanted dimension. Here you can see one of those strange passages.
(Enlargeable)
These tunnels made of wood and foliage are usually obstructed by layers of silky veils made by pumpkin spiders, On this ... and on the following photograph ...
(Enlargeable)
... you can see two different, although similar looking species, very common in the area. This colorful spider moment is followed ...
by another monochrome image ... and you certainly started to notice :) that I'm trying to give some narrative structure to this careless rambling through the amazing nature.
(Enlargeable)
Some inhabitants of the woods are shiny and exuberant. Like these Cetonia aurata beetles ...
... while some others can be easily overlooked ... but ...
... they are usually no less amazing. This spider, resting on the small fallen leaf definitely doesn't look particularly interesting. You can encounter many similarly shaped arachnids around. This one is not especially colorful ... or large ... or anything ... at first glance ... but ...
... if he feels endangered ... he will go to hide under the leaf ... and ...
... if you take a better look, you'll see that the dried out leaf isn't just any fallen leaf, but this leaf is a home ...
... some sort of tent ... carefully shaped and carpeted with silk.
I found this spider at the end of a long summer day. I harassed him a bit to get these shots and the complete little story about his behavior ... then, when I return to this place half an hour later, and the setting sun was near to the horizon ... the spider was again outside the shelter.
Many biological jewels and surprises are hidden in these woods.
(Enlargeable)
Some of them appear mostly in autumn ...
(Enlargeable)
... in dark and humid corners.
(Enlargeable)
Some of these fungal organisms on the forest floor ...
... wouldn't look out of place on the ocean floor.
They often look like sponges ... corals ... stuff like that.
(Enlargeable)
There is a nice variety of shapes among the fungi.
Upstairs, on the leaves in springtime and summer ...
... you can find some other mysterious shapes and protuberances. Some of them are made by various small wasps ... and some are a product of aphids activities. I don't know the exact facts behind these ones. On the following photograph ...
... you can see the Aphrophora alni froghopper in the strange little landscape on the upper surface of the leaf.
Some interesting species and situations can be seen only when the sun goes down.
The Amphimallon solstitiale beetles, smaller Cockchafer relatives, are mating in the almost - dark.
(Enlargeable)
This pretty large lacewing is active only at night.
(Enlargeable)
I saw it only a few times in nature. This is Italochrysa italica, the biggest lacewing in this area. This insect is a predator of the Crematogaster scutellaris ants ...
... very numerous species with colonies under the bark of rooting tree or branches. The Italochrysa italica lacewing is always present near these colonies. These ants are also pretty aggressive predatory species ... that does also some scavenging and aphids shepherding by the way.
(Enlargeable)
Some strange creatures that are usually hidden under the rocks and fallen leaves can also be seen walking on the open at night. Like this Trogulus tricarinatus. This small species of Harvestman feeds on snails and lays eggs in the empty shells.
Back in the daylight ... and upstairs on branches of the trees ...
... a bigger Harvestman is resting. The very common Phalangium opilio.
Surrounded by many small flowers ...
... and some fresh new fruits and seeds.
The Marpissa muscosa jumping spider are patrolling the branches.
This woodland species builds a nest under the bark of dead trees ... and is very well camouflaged on the surface of moss and lichens - covered bark.
Many caterpillars are present on the trees ...
... these will become yponomeuta cagnagella moths after the metamorphosis.
I don't know the name of this small ...
... recently hatched caterpillar.
(Enlargeable)
Not many flowers are growing in the shade under the trees ...
... but those that are here ...
(Enlargeable)
... can be very extravagant and beautiful.
On the last three shots you just saw the Himantoglossum adriaticum orchid.
(Enlargeable)
I don't know the name of this white flower covered with dew ...
(Enlargeable)
... nor the name of this blue one ... that looks like some lamp ... or sculpture ... and has a small ant on it ... nicely visible if you enlarge the photograph.
(Enlargeable)
This other blue one is also a mystery to me ... currently ... maybe one day I'll find out the names of all these species.
Various Armadillidium species are crawling on the rotting wood surrounded by young plants and sporadic flowers ...
... while upstairs on the branches ... at the borders of the woodland area ...
(Enlargeable)
... the large and beautiful Minois dryas butterflies ...
... and smaller but lovely Pararge aegeria ... are resting among the leaves before visiting the feeding grounds on the nearby meadows.
This shield bug has a very good camouflage for the bark of the trees ... but when caught on the green of the foliage, becomes very visible. Also, on exactly these leaves ...
... a few years ago ...
... I found this interesting little thing ... attached to the leaf with some silk ... and soon ...
... a minuscule pale spider came out of it.
I had only a small compact camera on that occasion, not an ideal thing for these very small stuff, so I could take only some low quality, muddled pictures ... but I'm glad that I have them because I never saw this kind of situation again.
This Soldier fly was also running around and exploring the leaf.
As always in these posts on HIVE, all the photographs, the low and the high quality ones - are my work ... THE END.
Congratulations @borjan! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your board And compare to others on the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!
Hey Borjan look here!
https://hive.blog/hive-193212/@discovery-it/behind-hive-meeting-with-borjan
Wow :) Thanks ! This is an amazing surprise !
As so often, you show fantastic shots again. The moth is the blood-vein (Timandra comae).
Great :) Thanks for the name.
You're welcome 😁
These photos are epic! Incredible world of insects, mushrooms and flowers. The mushrooms look really majestic and sophisticated while the blue flowers were my favourite colours. One could get lost for hours in this realm of reality.
You have come a long way and a great job.
Great macros. Do you carry a light source with you?
I have never before been involved in night shooting and insect hunting. I will have to try, it’s very interesting :)
Cheers! аnd !BEER
!invest_vote
Thanks :) I go sometimes at night with one of those lamps that you can mount on the head. It's fun and everything looks mysterious. Here in summer when the days get dry and hot there is much more to see during the night ... if you have some light at hand.
Yes, I will have to try. This is a fun hunt :D
View or trade
BEER.Hey @borjan, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @bambuka for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.@bambuka denkt du hast ein Vote durch @investinthefutur verdient!
@bambuka thinks you have earned a vote of @investinthefutur !
Votet @cervisia for Witness
Absolutley amazing ! .. I really love this picture compilations, full of the variety that nature offer. You are showing u so much great content in just one post that I had to look over it three times ^^ .. I like the black and white pictures in between these macro shots. Excellent post !
Thank you :)
That is quite an amazing collection of pictures you got - I especially love the sponges and fungi :)
Thanks :)
What hidden gems you have seen in your trails through the forest during the day and night.
Noted in comments you use a headlamp which is a great tip and something to consider to assist with night photography.
Thoroughly enjoyed this picturesque rendezvous in amazing nature and learned a lot from your insights of what you found.
!tip
Thank you. :) Glad you like this forest compilation from my area in Southern Europe.
🎁 Hi @borjan! You have received 0.1 HIVE tip from @joanstewart!
@joanstewart wrote lately about: Disguised As A Dead Leaf Feel free to follow @joanstewart if you like it :)
Sending tips with @tipU - how to guide.
Thanks for your contribution to the STEMsocial community. Feel free to join us on discord to get to know the rest of us!
Please consider supporting our funding proposal, approving our witness (@stem.witness) or delegating to the @stemsocial account (for some ROI).
Please consider using the STEMsocial app app and including @stemsocial as a beneficiary to get a stronger support.
Very beautiful photos, you really like photos.
True :) photographing flora & fauna is my favorite pastime.
Very beautiful photos, you really like photos.