Emergence …

Posted in Bugs, Consciousness, Insects, Life, Love, Macro Photography, Meditation, Nature, Photography, Relaxation, Spirituality, Sustainability, Truth? by Mark on 09/09/2016

*Click on pictures for a better view.

Then it quickly found it’s legs and ran up the tree towards the light, away from the shadow of my lens, born again again.

Walking the edge of the water treatment plant, that borders the local wilds, I saw a strange – even to these experienced eyes – thing.

I couldn’t make it out at first, it looked so oddly shaped, but after a few shots – so I could see closer – it became apparent it was a form of Shield-bug, in the midst of a rarely observed transition.

They outgrow their shell, exoskeleton actually, and periodically have to moult – usually there is a split along the back through which the new form pushes out. A very dangerous time for them, being immobile for the duration and soft, vulnerable – to some degree held back by the tight fit of the old skin.

Springtime is here again and small creatures are emerging everywhere. At first in smaller size, visible by their increasing numbers. With spiders hatching in the hundreds, a feasting of expendable form, everything is living off something else.

A cascade of life and death begins, by which another emergence takes place, those relative few that live to maturity, who make up the cast of earthy characters.

… and I’ll probably get a few pictures of this burgeoning operatic show.

34 comments

34 Responses

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treesshrubs said, on 10/09/2016 at 9:05 am

Amazing! I’m looking at it and thinking its kind of complicated!!
Till i read the fine print!! Well spotted

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- Mark said, on 10/09/2016 at 10:48 am
  
  There was nothing really difficult about it. It presented … I was prepared.
  
  Reply
woodlandgnome said, on 10/09/2016 at 3:20 am

What an absolutely amazing transformation you’ve documented. It is just miraculous that such a thing is possible. Thank you for being there as witness, and for sharing these gorgeous photos. What a beautiful creature. Happy spring!

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- Mark said, on 10/09/2016 at 5:53 am
  
  Amazing little things, yes. Thanks WG.
  
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Lunar Euphoria said, on 09/09/2016 at 10:32 pm

That first picture has a violent vibe to it – like horror movie type stuff. It registered to me like a giant squishy caterpillar alien eating another bug. Then the sequence of pictures began to tell another story.

Have you ever made macro videos?

Thank you for sharing such an usual event!

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- Mark said, on 10/09/2016 at 5:51 am
  
  Thanks Lunar. No, video (with available equipment) doesn’t match stills for clarity. Too much downside to video.
  
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Michael Watt said, on 09/09/2016 at 7:41 pm

Both are Completely awesome, the insect and photographer !

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 9:02 pm
  
  Amazing creatures perhaps … :-)
  
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macmsue said, on 09/09/2016 at 6:22 pm

Magic!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 9:01 pm
  
  A little …
  
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Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature said, on 09/09/2016 at 2:32 pm

Wow, wow, wow!!! This is amazing. I’ve never seen such a creature. I have seen locusts do that and spiders, but I have never seen anything like that. The color is spectacular. We don’t have those here. Great shots!! I love how you showed us the progression. And yes, the metaphor is wonderful too. :)
Peace
Mary

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 3:59 pm
  
  Thanks Mary. These often live under the peeling bark of trees here.
  
  It’s all symbolic, isn’t it …
  
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krikitarts said, on 09/09/2016 at 1:05 pm

Such an opportunity only comes to the patient and the prepared. This series is worthy of sci-fi attention and inspiration. I can easily see Ridley Scott latching onto this metamorphosis and expanding it to create a new alien.

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 3:55 pm
  
  Yes, and only if the time is right.
  
  This is where sci-fi comes from, our own fantastic nature.
  
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rhudgins said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:20 am

Wonderful pictures!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 1:15 pm
  
  Thanks Rhonda.
  
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Tammie said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:09 am

my goodness, what a special find.
so good it was you that watched over it as it morphed into a new shell or rather removed it’s old shell.
such amazing photos of it. Thank you for having such a good sense of curiosity to find it and share it with us.

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:29 am
  
  If you stand or sit for a few minutes in a part of the garden you rarely visit chances are something unusual will show itself, providing there are green-ish plants there.
  
  Thanks Tammie.
  
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Deb said, on 09/09/2016 at 8:25 am

Spectacular series Mark, great work!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:27 am
  
  Thanks Deb. It’s a good time for the unusual.
  
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bodyandsoulnourishmentblog said, on 09/09/2016 at 8:14 am

This is really amazing! I would probably never see anything like this, in so much detail. It’s truly remarkable.
Fantastic shots!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:25 am
  
  Thanks Amira.
  
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Ron Minler said, on 09/09/2016 at 7:19 am

Fantastic Mark!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:24 am
  
  Thanks Ron.
  
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Lisa said, on 09/09/2016 at 7:02 am

Oh wow – what a metaphor for my life at the moment!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:24 am
  
  I suspect there are a few could say that, who see the reflection.
  
  Thanks Lisa.
  
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einfachtilda said, on 09/09/2016 at 6:51 am

Fantastisch !!

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:22 am
  
  Fantastic is right. Thanks Mathilda.
  
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standingoutinmyfield said, on 09/09/2016 at 6:42 am

As always, your burgeoning life is our senescence…as we head into autumn and then the long cold winter.

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:20 am
  
  It’s an upside down world … :-)
  
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Lissa said, on 09/09/2016 at 5:57 am

Wow Mark!! Wow!! What a capture!! Right man there (with his camera) at the right moment. Incredible shots.

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:15 am
  
  A reflection caught …
  
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David said, on 09/09/2016 at 5:47 am

Great series of photos Mark.

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- Mark said, on 09/09/2016 at 11:11 am
  
  Thanks David.
  
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