Umbonia crassicornis – Thorn Treehopper

Umbonia crassicornis - Thorn Treehopper
Umbonia crassicornis – Thorn Treehopper
Crassicornis is actually Latin for thick horn
11/22/2014 – Awesome camouflage. At a normal viewing distance they look like thorns on a tree until you get close and they begin walking around…

From Wiki:

Thorn bugs, due to their unusual appearance, have long interested naturalists. They are best known for their enlarged and ornate pronotum, which most often resembles thorns, apparently to aid camouflage. In some species, the pronotum is a horn-like extension, but can form more bizarre shapes. The specialised pronotum (or helmet) may not be simply an expansion of the prothoracic sclerite, but a fused pair of dorsal appendages of the first thoracic segment.

These may be serial homologues of insect wings, which are dorsal appendages of the second and/or third thoracic segments. Evidence for this theory includes the development of the helmet, which arises as a pair of appendages attached to each side of the dorsal prothorax by an articulation with muscles and a flexible membrane that allow it to be mobile. Also, the same genes are involved in development of the helmet and the wings.

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Who is the Observer?

Who is the observer?
Found many tiny tree frogs this morning at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in South Florida; Northern section of the everglades for the unfamiliar. This one was maybe the size of my thumbnail. I had a horrible angle at first and fortunately he turned directly towards me for a few seconds.

I’m not sure who was fascinated more.

Ms. Serious

Mrs. Serious

Mrs. Serious – Last night Deanna and I were talking about the dogs and their personalities.

1. Marley is the spoiled 2 year old boy who screams a lot and gets frustrated when the world can’t get past his bastardized use of the English language. Think the infamous Roman Maroni from Johnny Dangerously.

2. Mia is super sweet. I remember my Pokey Little Puppy book from when I was 5 and the dog depicted on the cover. It’s official folks. Deanna rescued the same dog. Pink snout, white body, brown patches, etc.

3. Kayla is Mrs. Serious. The dog who doesnt want to be a dog. If Kayla has a religious preference she is a believer in reincarnation and draws from her past life with her then human companions. She wants nothing to do with dogs. You’ve seen the videos as Marley throws his usual fits she just sits patiently, embarrassed, starring off into the distance contemplating “Who invited this animal?” The Margaret Thatcher of dogs

Charity – In Dog Terms

charity - In dog terms

Charity – In dog terms

The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one’s neighbors as objects of God’s love.

Do you wonder how you can be an instrument of God, but you don’t know where to begin? Simple. First start by extending love to someone. Not just your friends and family. That’s a given.

Help your elderly neighbor bring their groceries in. Seek out a stranger who is experiencing adversity and start a conversation – actually listen.

If you have been blessed financially share it with someone who struggles just to make ends meet – the young couple behind you with the baby at the supermarket.

Some of us have people to fall back on in our lives whiles others feel lost and alone. Be that special person to someone.

Acts 20:35 – In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”