Bug on lace cactus
From February 3, 2013, at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, here you have a bug that’s nicely camouflaged on a lace cactus, Echinocereus reichenbachii.
——–
I’m away from home. You’re welcome to leave comments, but please understand if I’m slow in responding.
© 2015 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
The cactus almost looks like a ball of yarn! Cool photo, as usual.
Cathy Testa
February 3, 2015 at 5:36 AM
But if you ran your fingers over this ball of yarn you’d have quite a yarn to tell about it.
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 11:54 AM
The bug almost looks as though it could be orchestrating the lace making.
Gallivanta
February 3, 2015 at 6:29 AM
It’s a veritable cactus symphony.
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 2:40 PM
A leaf-footed bug, I think. Nice intricacy in the spines.
Steve Gingold
February 3, 2015 at 6:38 AM
Possibly or related: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1021137
Steve Gingold
February 3, 2015 at 6:40 AM
Thanks for your suggestion about this leaffooted bug. It certainly looks like you could be right about the species.
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 2:42 PM
The store where I work gets its siding covered with these in the fall on warm days. They also come indoors.
Steve Gingold
February 3, 2015 at 3:16 PM
Do you sell any of them to your store’s customers?
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 9:30 PM
Hopefully not. A bug in a sofa leads to a returned sofa.
Steve Gingold
February 4, 2015 at 4:10 AM
Look at that — Godot’s siblings. Weird as it might sound, I still miss that cactus. Marvelous camouflage that little bug is wearing, too.
shoreacres
February 3, 2015 at 7:59 AM
I know you miss your Godot and Godette. I suspect you wouldn’t miss a leaffooted bug, although you might miss a camouflaged one.
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 9:21 PM
I thought of Godot as soon as I saw this photo.
georgettesullins
February 5, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Super photograph, Steve. I find true bugs so satisfying.
melissabluefineart
February 3, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Thanks, Melissa. Your mention of true bugs suddenly reminded me of the Cole Porter song “True Love.”
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 9:23 PM
You’re hilarious 🙂
melissabluefineart
February 4, 2015 at 9:37 AM
Can’t you hear it? “While I give to you and you give to me, true bugs, true bugs. So on and on it will always be, true bugs, true bugs…. Bugs forever true.”
Steve Schwartzman
February 4, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Thank you!
AERS Associazione Emilia Romagna Succulente
February 3, 2015 at 12:57 PM
You’re welcome.
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 10:00 PM
This picture makes the spines look deceptively soft, Steve. Close-ups, lighting and change of angle can transform a scene and give us a different impression or highlight a feature in a way that allows us to gain a different appreciation for it. The magic and art of photography. It does fascinate me so.
Jane
February 3, 2015 at 9:11 PM
You’re correct that these spines are actually firm, even if the photograph suggests softness. The patterns on a lace cactus have long fascinated me, but this was the first time I ever managed to combine a bug with one, and a similarly colored bug at that. You’re also right that when I photograph a subject I often try out different angles, looking for one that will make magic.
Steve Schwartzman
February 3, 2015 at 9:29 PM