Gil Wizen
@wizentrop.bsky.social
Entomologist and award-winning photographer. Professional breeder and wrangler of insects and arachnids for educational, research and display purposes.
Another cool find at Emerald Arch in Ecuador was this membracid treehopper (Anchistrotus sp.) with its enormous helmet. While much more sluggish compared to other treehoppers, this species is quick to break off and drop its helmet when disturbed, allowing it to take off swiftly to escape danger.
November 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Another cool find at Emerald Arch in Ecuador was this membracid treehopper (Anchistrotus sp.) with its enormous helmet. While much more sluggish compared to other treehoppers, this species is quick to break off and drop its helmet when disturbed, allowing it to take off swiftly to escape danger.
This beautiful ant-mimicking mantis (Acontista festae) was one of the first finds on our survey at Emerald Arch in Ecuador! The adult may not look much like an ant, but its babies will fool you. Acontista nymphs sit on flower heads, so it seems that ants and flying pollinators are their main prey.
November 27, 2025 at 5:10 PM
This beautiful ant-mimicking mantis (Acontista festae) was one of the first finds on our survey at Emerald Arch in Ecuador! The adult may not look much like an ant, but its babies will fool you. Acontista nymphs sit on flower heads, so it seems that ants and flying pollinators are their main prey.
Reposted by Gil Wizen
let me share a little story about a remarkable wasp that I encountered yesterday in our local deserts
I stumbled across her, and scrambled to get a few crappy photos .... but then realized that she had a burrow, perhaps a better photo op was possible ??
here she is at her burrow entrance.
I stumbled across her, and scrambled to get a few crappy photos .... but then realized that she had a burrow, perhaps a better photo op was possible ??
here she is at her burrow entrance.
September 23, 2025 at 1:25 AM
let me share a little story about a remarkable wasp that I encountered yesterday in our local deserts
I stumbled across her, and scrambled to get a few crappy photos .... but then realized that she had a burrow, perhaps a better photo op was possible ??
here she is at her burrow entrance.
I stumbled across her, and scrambled to get a few crappy photos .... but then realized that she had a burrow, perhaps a better photo op was possible ??
here she is at her burrow entrance.
Reposted by Gil Wizen
An ALIEN on earth!? 🤯👽
CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! 🌳
Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! 🐦😳
CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! 🌳
Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! 🐦😳
September 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
An ALIEN on earth!? 🤯👽
CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! 🌳
Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! 🐦😳
CHECK OUT this insane Treehopper from the Peruvian Amazon! 🌳
Membracids are known for their bizarre shapes and protrusions, but this genus goes to a whole new level! It is thought this crazy C shape is to aid in camouflage to avoid predation from birds! 🐦😳
The beautiful Titaea lemoulti from Ecuador. Titaea moths sit on leaves during the day, but if disturbed they display an interesting escape response: they fly high, then suddenly stop and slowly glide down to the ground like a falling dry leaf. It's very difficult to find the moth in the leaf litter!
September 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The beautiful Titaea lemoulti from Ecuador. Titaea moths sit on leaves during the day, but if disturbed they display an interesting escape response: they fly high, then suddenly stop and slowly glide down to the ground like a falling dry leaf. It's very difficult to find the moth in the leaf litter!
I'm heading off to my next adventure in Ecuador so I will be quiet here for a while. In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with this video of a fringe tree frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus) I found on my previous visit to Ecuador. I never get tired of seeing them, such an iconic species!
August 27, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I'm heading off to my next adventure in Ecuador so I will be quiet here for a while. In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with this video of a fringe tree frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus) I found on my previous visit to Ecuador. I never get tired of seeing them, such an iconic species!
Notodontid moth caterpillar (Rhuda decepta) from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The spine is all for show, it's soft and squishy! This is one of the most visually striking caterpillars you can find in the rainforest, however you'd be disappointed to learn the adult moth is brown and quite boring looking.
August 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Notodontid moth caterpillar (Rhuda decepta) from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The spine is all for show, it's soft and squishy! This is one of the most visually striking caterpillars you can find in the rainforest, however you'd be disappointed to learn the adult moth is brown and quite boring looking.
Gives a fresh new meaning to "we are so, so screwed"
August 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Gives a fresh new meaning to "we are so, so screwed"
If you know me you know that I LOVE leaf-mimicking katydids. Here's Typophyllum morrisi, one of the smallest species from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The male looks like a rigid dried leaf. First pic shows an extremely rare color morph where the limbs are green. Second pic shows the typical color morph.
August 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
If you know me you know that I LOVE leaf-mimicking katydids. Here's Typophyllum morrisi, one of the smallest species from the Ecuadorian Amazon. The male looks like a rigid dried leaf. First pic shows an extremely rare color morph where the limbs are green. Second pic shows the typical color morph.
Reposted by Gil Wizen
I’ve seen over 50 of these in August already but I love it every time I get at eye level with these laser beams. Oriental Whip Snake - Ahaetulla prasina
August 24, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I’ve seen over 50 of these in August already but I love it every time I get at eye level with these laser beams. Oriental Whip Snake - Ahaetulla prasina
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Caladenia discoidea - Dancing Spider Orchid
Endemic to the southwest of Western Australia, this distinctive orchid was growing in a sandy area east of Perth
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #bloomscrolling
Endemic to the southwest of Western Australia, this distinctive orchid was growing in a sandy area east of Perth
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #bloomscrolling
August 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Caladenia discoidea - Dancing Spider Orchid
Endemic to the southwest of Western Australia, this distinctive orchid was growing in a sandy area east of Perth
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #bloomscrolling
Endemic to the southwest of Western Australia, this distinctive orchid was growing in a sandy area east of Perth
#orchids #ozflora #wildoz #nativeplants #inaturalist #bloomscrolling
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Look at this creature, chinchilla in an emo phase
August 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Look at this creature, chinchilla in an emo phase
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Special edition (today) versus original edition. Much has changed: I’m doing my own casting, have better tools, and have better understanding of finishing. Inside, these bugs are totally different—the rear pairs of legs are now cast separately and assembled to increase control and details. Growth!
August 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Special edition (today) versus original edition. Much has changed: I’m doing my own casting, have better tools, and have better understanding of finishing. Inside, these bugs are totally different—the rear pairs of legs are now cast separately and assembled to increase control and details. Growth!
Reposted by Gil Wizen
August 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Deep in the Malaysian rainforest in the dead of night, Bell's anglehead lizard (Gonocephalus belli) appeared to be in an intense conversation with a stick insect.
No insects got eaten in the making of this image.
No insects got eaten in the making of this image.
August 25, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Deep in the Malaysian rainforest in the dead of night, Bell's anglehead lizard (Gonocephalus belli) appeared to be in an intense conversation with a stick insect.
No insects got eaten in the making of this image.
No insects got eaten in the making of this image.
Reposted by Gil Wizen
It's the last week of August so it must be #InverteFest time!
This praying #mantis was seen in a coastal area north of Perth, likely a Mallee Grass Mantis (Archimantis sobrina) it has impressively spiky raptorial forelegs
#ausinverts #wildoz #mantodea #bugsky #inverts
This praying #mantis was seen in a coastal area north of Perth, likely a Mallee Grass Mantis (Archimantis sobrina) it has impressively spiky raptorial forelegs
#ausinverts #wildoz #mantodea #bugsky #inverts
August 25, 2025 at 8:21 AM
It's the last week of August so it must be #InverteFest time!
This praying #mantis was seen in a coastal area north of Perth, likely a Mallee Grass Mantis (Archimantis sobrina) it has impressively spiky raptorial forelegs
#ausinverts #wildoz #mantodea #bugsky #inverts
This praying #mantis was seen in a coastal area north of Perth, likely a Mallee Grass Mantis (Archimantis sobrina) it has impressively spiky raptorial forelegs
#ausinverts #wildoz #mantodea #bugsky #inverts
Reposted by Gil Wizen
With larvae weighing over 250 grams and adults weighing only a quarter of its larval weight, Megasoma rex is the heaviest insect in the world.
It is split from Megasoma actaeon in 2018, based on small morphological differences and geographical isolation.
#invertefest
It is split from Megasoma actaeon in 2018, based on small morphological differences and geographical isolation.
#invertefest
August 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
With larvae weighing over 250 grams and adults weighing only a quarter of its larval weight, Megasoma rex is the heaviest insect in the world.
It is split from Megasoma actaeon in 2018, based on small morphological differences and geographical isolation.
#invertefest
It is split from Megasoma actaeon in 2018, based on small morphological differences and geographical isolation.
#invertefest
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Happy #InverteFest! I know a lot of the artists who follow me have some beautiful inverte art they can share. Here's one of my favorites because crab... always 🦀
August 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Happy #InverteFest! I know a lot of the artists who follow me have some beautiful inverte art they can share. Here's one of my favorites because crab... always 🦀
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Gliophorus psittacinus, the parrot mushroom, looking a bit dreamy
📷 Canon 5D Mk III
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 800
Stack of 38 images
11/24/21
Olympia area, Washington
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
📷 Canon 5D Mk III
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 800
Stack of 38 images
11/24/21
Olympia area, Washington
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
August 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Gliophorus psittacinus, the parrot mushroom, looking a bit dreamy
📷 Canon 5D Mk III
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 800
Stack of 38 images
11/24/21
Olympia area, Washington
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
📷 Canon 5D Mk III
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 800
Stack of 38 images
11/24/21
Olympia area, Washington
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
What great big eyes you have, Piazurus.
- "All the better to see you with, my dear" the weevil replied.
And what great long snout you have.
- "All the better to.. drill into woody branches with"
Piazurus is a small weevil with eyes so big they take up its entire head. So it can stare into your soul
- "All the better to see you with, my dear" the weevil replied.
And what great long snout you have.
- "All the better to.. drill into woody branches with"
Piazurus is a small weevil with eyes so big they take up its entire head. So it can stare into your soul
August 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
What great big eyes you have, Piazurus.
- "All the better to see you with, my dear" the weevil replied.
And what great long snout you have.
- "All the better to.. drill into woody branches with"
Piazurus is a small weevil with eyes so big they take up its entire head. So it can stare into your soul
- "All the better to see you with, my dear" the weevil replied.
And what great long snout you have.
- "All the better to.. drill into woody branches with"
Piazurus is a small weevil with eyes so big they take up its entire head. So it can stare into your soul
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Just an incredible sight 🥹
August 22, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Just an incredible sight 🥹
The white witch moth (Thysania agrippina) is arguably one of the largest insects in the world by wingspan (~30cm), competing with the Atlas and Hercules moths. Photos like this one make it look small, until you notice the katydid (4cm), spitting spider (1.8cm) and ground beetle (1cm) in the photo.
August 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The white witch moth (Thysania agrippina) is arguably one of the largest insects in the world by wingspan (~30cm), competing with the Atlas and Hercules moths. Photos like this one make it look small, until you notice the katydid (4cm), spitting spider (1.8cm) and ground beetle (1cm) in the photo.
Reposted by Gil Wizen
Dead leaf or BUTTERFLY!? 🤯🍂
Zaretis sp. from the Peruvian Amazon! 🦋
This one got very comfortable on our sweaty clothes and hands! 😅 So lucky!
Zaretis sp. from the Peruvian Amazon! 🦋
This one got very comfortable on our sweaty clothes and hands! 😅 So lucky!
August 22, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Dead leaf or BUTTERFLY!? 🤯🍂
Zaretis sp. from the Peruvian Amazon! 🦋
This one got very comfortable on our sweaty clothes and hands! 😅 So lucky!
Zaretis sp. from the Peruvian Amazon! 🦋
This one got very comfortable on our sweaty clothes and hands! 😅 So lucky!
A beautiful flower beetle (Cyclidius lacordairei) from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Normally, true flower beetles are encountered much less frequently in the rainforest compared to other scarab beetles. Even with multiple visits to the same site spanning across 20 years, I have only seen this beetle once.
August 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A beautiful flower beetle (Cyclidius lacordairei) from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Normally, true flower beetles are encountered much less frequently in the rainforest compared to other scarab beetles. Even with multiple visits to the same site spanning across 20 years, I have only seen this beetle once.