why did they call it house of leaves if you can't leaves

Strange - the photo posted upside down. No real problem, though.

Anyway - Hydrophilids - yet another aquatic insect with an unfortunate propensity to be attracted to artificial lights when they’re flying from pond to pond at night. Note the lovely streamlining and big eyes. The hind legs are fringed with hairs to act as the blade of a paddle. Despite the common name, the larvae are usually carnivores, and the adults can have a wide diet. Some species are pests at fish hatcheries, and others devour mosquito larvae with admirable enthusiasm.

There’s less than ten species known from Australia, but I don’t know which one this is. The Hydrophilidae was recently broken up into multiple families (although given that many of these ‘hydrophilids’ are primarily terrestrial I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner) and Hydrophilus itself into three subgenera.

Found this magnificent beastie hiding under the porch stoop. Thanks to v. belov at bugguide for confirming it’s a giant water scavenger beetle, Hydrophilus ovatus.

Velvet ant (Dasymutilla vestita)

Hemilepistus (crenulatus, aphganicus, reaumurii)

Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle (Cicindela albissima)

I think the velvet ant is my favorite, and the only one painted from life. Maybe I should've driven up to utah for the tiger beetles, next time!

Yellow mantidfly, Spaminta minjerribae, Mantispidae

Found on the southeastern coast of Australia

Name: Monsieur Cheesburg

Skill: Speedy Buggy Strike

Quote: “Let me tell you, I went to the store yesterday and they were all out of cookies! Unbelievable, is it not?“

Bug of the Day

"Whose Larva Is This?"

I caught a mantidfly,