Thomas Shahan
@tshahan.bsky.social
Spiders! Art?
most active on iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&user_id=tshahan
most active on iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&user_id=tshahan
mileage rolled to this just as I parked for a bird-hike this morning 🫡
December 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM
mileage rolled to this just as I parked for a bird-hike this morning 🫡
For all the Diabrotica fans out there - 4 species I've seen in this large genus of leaf beetles :
1 Diabrotica limitata, Colombia
2 Diabrotica sp(?), Colombia
3 Diabrotica trifasciata, Costa Rica
4 Diabrotica undecimpunctata, the "Spotted Cucumber Beetle", a major agricultural pest 🤩, Oklahoma, USA
1 Diabrotica limitata, Colombia
2 Diabrotica sp(?), Colombia
3 Diabrotica trifasciata, Costa Rica
4 Diabrotica undecimpunctata, the "Spotted Cucumber Beetle", a major agricultural pest 🤩, Oklahoma, USA
November 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM
For all the Diabrotica fans out there - 4 species I've seen in this large genus of leaf beetles :
1 Diabrotica limitata, Colombia
2 Diabrotica sp(?), Colombia
3 Diabrotica trifasciata, Costa Rica
4 Diabrotica undecimpunctata, the "Spotted Cucumber Beetle", a major agricultural pest 🤩, Oklahoma, USA
1 Diabrotica limitata, Colombia
2 Diabrotica sp(?), Colombia
3 Diabrotica trifasciata, Costa Rica
4 Diabrotica undecimpunctata, the "Spotted Cucumber Beetle", a major agricultural pest 🤩, Oklahoma, USA
a lateral view
and some screenshots of things I'm only noticing since Frans Janssens' passing - him cropping/labeling some images I uploaded to Bugguide (for him to see since he wasn't on iNat) for his website collembola.org 😭
and some screenshots of things I'm only noticing since Frans Janssens' passing - him cropping/labeling some images I uploaded to Bugguide (for him to see since he wasn't on iNat) for his website collembola.org 😭
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 AM
a lateral view
and some screenshots of things I'm only noticing since Frans Janssens' passing - him cropping/labeling some images I uploaded to Bugguide (for him to see since he wasn't on iNat) for his website collembola.org 😭
and some screenshots of things I'm only noticing since Frans Janssens' passing - him cropping/labeling some images I uploaded to Bugguide (for him to see since he wasn't on iNat) for his website collembola.org 😭
went springtail hunting this morning after a rainy night. Here's a portrait of a beautiful yellow "short-legged springtail" of the family Neaunuridae. Note the "pointed mouthcone" as Frans would always point out 😭
November 21, 2025 at 2:44 AM
went springtail hunting this morning after a rainy night. Here's a portrait of a beautiful yellow "short-legged springtail" of the family Neaunuridae. Note the "pointed mouthcone" as Frans would always point out 😭
ooh! iNat shows I've observed 100 bird species so far in 2025 🥳 some exciting moments:
1 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on thistle - Oklahoma
2 Potoo (Nyctibius sp), cryptic on a broken branch - Costa Rica
3 Barred Owl (Strix varia) looking back in my yard - OK
4 RWBB (Agelaius phoeniceus) -OK
1 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on thistle - Oklahoma
2 Potoo (Nyctibius sp), cryptic on a broken branch - Costa Rica
3 Barred Owl (Strix varia) looking back in my yard - OK
4 RWBB (Agelaius phoeniceus) -OK
November 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
ooh! iNat shows I've observed 100 bird species so far in 2025 🥳 some exciting moments:
1 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on thistle - Oklahoma
2 Potoo (Nyctibius sp), cryptic on a broken branch - Costa Rica
3 Barred Owl (Strix varia) looking back in my yard - OK
4 RWBB (Agelaius phoeniceus) -OK
1 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on thistle - Oklahoma
2 Potoo (Nyctibius sp), cryptic on a broken branch - Costa Rica
3 Barred Owl (Strix varia) looking back in my yard - OK
4 RWBB (Agelaius phoeniceus) -OK
2025, in snake portraits:
1 Lampropeltis holbrooki "Speckled Kingsnake"✨ - Oklahoma
2 Pantherophis obsoletus "Western Ratsnake"🐀 - Oklahoma
3 Bothriechis nigroadspersus "Central American Eyelash-Viper"🐍 - Costa Rica
4 Thamnophis proximus "Western Ribbon Snake"🎀 - Oklahoma
1 Lampropeltis holbrooki "Speckled Kingsnake"✨ - Oklahoma
2 Pantherophis obsoletus "Western Ratsnake"🐀 - Oklahoma
3 Bothriechis nigroadspersus "Central American Eyelash-Viper"🐍 - Costa Rica
4 Thamnophis proximus "Western Ribbon Snake"🎀 - Oklahoma
November 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
2025, in snake portraits:
1 Lampropeltis holbrooki "Speckled Kingsnake"✨ - Oklahoma
2 Pantherophis obsoletus "Western Ratsnake"🐀 - Oklahoma
3 Bothriechis nigroadspersus "Central American Eyelash-Viper"🐍 - Costa Rica
4 Thamnophis proximus "Western Ribbon Snake"🎀 - Oklahoma
1 Lampropeltis holbrooki "Speckled Kingsnake"✨ - Oklahoma
2 Pantherophis obsoletus "Western Ratsnake"🐀 - Oklahoma
3 Bothriechis nigroadspersus "Central American Eyelash-Viper"🐍 - Costa Rica
4 Thamnophis proximus "Western Ribbon Snake"🎀 - Oklahoma
🧡 a few late season butters enjoying the backyard a couple of weeks ago - Burnsius, Euptoieta, Anthanassa, Phyciodes 🤎
November 8, 2025 at 11:04 PM
🧡 a few late season butters enjoying the backyard a couple of weeks ago - Burnsius, Euptoieta, Anthanassa, Phyciodes 🤎
intimidating stare of a female Platycryptus undatus 🙇
#arachtober #jumpingspiders #salticidae
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
#arachtober #jumpingspiders #salticidae
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
October 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
intimidating stare of a female Platycryptus undatus 🙇
#arachtober #jumpingspiders #salticidae
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
#arachtober #jumpingspiders #salticidae
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
It’s not #arachtober without Phidippus mystaceus 😮💨
Was lucky enough to photograph some super handsome P mystaceus males on a recent trip to Texas! Scanning fences and railing beneath trees paid off!
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
Was lucky enough to photograph some super handsome P mystaceus males on a recent trip to Texas! Scanning fences and railing beneath trees paid off!
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
October 24, 2025 at 2:37 AM
It’s not #arachtober without Phidippus mystaceus 😮💨
Was lucky enough to photograph some super handsome P mystaceus males on a recent trip to Texas! Scanning fences and railing beneath trees paid off!
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
Was lucky enough to photograph some super handsome P mystaceus males on a recent trip to Texas! Scanning fences and railing beneath trees paid off!
in situ, fuji, laowa 65mm
🍊Video's up! Here's 15 minutes of Paraphidippus aurantius footage, thoughts, and questions: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRByaUcKSgU
featuring courtship behavior, silk production, possible mate-guarding, cannibalism and more!
#arachtober
featuring courtship behavior, silk production, possible mate-guarding, cannibalism and more!
#arachtober
October 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
🍊Video's up! Here's 15 minutes of Paraphidippus aurantius footage, thoughts, and questions: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRByaUcKSgU
featuring courtship behavior, silk production, possible mate-guarding, cannibalism and more!
#arachtober
featuring courtship behavior, silk production, possible mate-guarding, cannibalism and more!
#arachtober
Getting close to wrapping up a big Paraphidippus aurantius 🍊video featuring courtship behavior, silk production, possible mate-guarding, cannibalism and more 🫡
here's a big female w/ a lot of orange scales - July, 2021, NE Oklahoma
here's a big female w/ a lot of orange scales - July, 2021, NE Oklahoma
October 15, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Getting close to wrapping up a big Paraphidippus aurantius 🍊video featuring courtship behavior, silk production, possible mate-guarding, cannibalism and more 🫡
here's a big female w/ a lot of orange scales - July, 2021, NE Oklahoma
here's a big female w/ a lot of orange scales - July, 2021, NE Oklahoma
Beautiful, spooky wings of the "Halloween Pennant" dragonfly (Celithemis eponina) 🎃
seen near water - June, July - NE OK
seen near water - June, July - NE OK
October 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Beautiful, spooky wings of the "Halloween Pennant" dragonfly (Celithemis eponina) 🎃
seen near water - June, July - NE OK
seen near water - June, July - NE OK
I don't know anything about this pink worm-like millipede other than its name (Rhinotus purpureus) and that is has a tiny head with two cute black ocelli (simple eyes). Under a log, in situ, Costa Rica, Jun 2025
September 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I don't know anything about this pink worm-like millipede other than its name (Rhinotus purpureus) and that is has a tiny head with two cute black ocelli (simple eyes). Under a log, in situ, Costa Rica, Jun 2025
Strange snouted millipede found in Costa Rica while rooting through a wet decomposing log. Siphonophoridae, I believe - note the elongate beak-like rostrum... and those little spots on antennae may be sensory bits.
September 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Strange snouted millipede found in Costa Rica while rooting through a wet decomposing log. Siphonophoridae, I believe - note the elongate beak-like rostrum... and those little spots on antennae may be sensory bits.
Hentzia palmarum also has an orange cap and white face - but with bald protruding chelicerae and dark forelegs. Here's a male (on oak) feeding on a caterpillar. NE OK, April 2024
September 16, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Hentzia palmarum also has an orange cap and white face - but with bald protruding chelicerae and dark forelegs. Here's a male (on oak) feeding on a caterpillar. NE OK, April 2024
portrait of a male Hentzia mitrata or "White-jawed Jumping Spider" found beneath oak, NE Oklahoma, April 2025
September 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
portrait of a male Hentzia mitrata or "White-jawed Jumping Spider" found beneath oak, NE Oklahoma, April 2025
the flattened thallus of a liverwort reaches across a pad of moss
on rock, shaded area among large boulders, in woods, NE Oklahoma, July 2025
on rock, shaded area among large boulders, in woods, NE Oklahoma, July 2025
August 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
the flattened thallus of a liverwort reaches across a pad of moss
on rock, shaded area among large boulders, in woods, NE Oklahoma, July 2025
on rock, shaded area among large boulders, in woods, NE Oklahoma, July 2025
Some stills and an iNat link for this monster: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
August 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Some stills and an iNat link for this monster: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Microstylum morosum or the "Giant Prairie Robber Fly" living up to their name - what a HUGE fly! 🫡
NE Oklahoma, iphone video (wish it would've locked the color balance while filming!)
NE Oklahoma, iphone video (wish it would've locked the color balance while filming!)
August 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Microstylum morosum or the "Giant Prairie Robber Fly" living up to their name - what a HUGE fly! 🫡
NE Oklahoma, iphone video (wish it would've locked the color balance while filming!)
NE Oklahoma, iphone video (wish it would've locked the color balance while filming!)
...a few more shots - including a straight-on portrait lol
July 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
...a few more shots - including a straight-on portrait lol
Sarota acantus! 😍
Extremely cute butterfly we spotted one afternoon in Costa Rica - a male (note reduced front legs) metalmark butterfly (family Riodinidae) - one of several fluttering about a plant at chest height - a pleasure to photograph!
Extremely cute butterfly we spotted one afternoon in Costa Rica - a male (note reduced front legs) metalmark butterfly (family Riodinidae) - one of several fluttering about a plant at chest height - a pleasure to photograph!
July 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Sarota acantus! 😍
Extremely cute butterfly we spotted one afternoon in Costa Rica - a male (note reduced front legs) metalmark butterfly (family Riodinidae) - one of several fluttering about a plant at chest height - a pleasure to photograph!
Extremely cute butterfly we spotted one afternoon in Costa Rica - a male (note reduced front legs) metalmark butterfly (family Riodinidae) - one of several fluttering about a plant at chest height - a pleasure to photograph!
Beautiful Peucetia viridans AKA the "Green Lynx Spider" in my backyard
July 20, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Beautiful Peucetia viridans AKA the "Green Lynx Spider" in my backyard
🕷️🍽️🕷️SALTICIDS EATING SALTICIDS🕷️🍽️🕷️
1 Phidippus eating Platycryptus
2 Hentzia eating Pelegrina
3 Eris eating Admestina
4 Colonus eating young Phidippus(?)
1 Phidippus eating Platycryptus
2 Hentzia eating Pelegrina
3 Eris eating Admestina
4 Colonus eating young Phidippus(?)
July 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
🕷️🍽️🕷️SALTICIDS EATING SALTICIDS🕷️🍽️🕷️
1 Phidippus eating Platycryptus
2 Hentzia eating Pelegrina
3 Eris eating Admestina
4 Colonus eating young Phidippus(?)
1 Phidippus eating Platycryptus
2 Hentzia eating Pelegrina
3 Eris eating Admestina
4 Colonus eating young Phidippus(?)
Ummidia sp seen on a hike recently - first non-spiderling trapdoor spider! 🫡
NE Oklahoma, in situ, fuji + laowa 65mm
NE Oklahoma, in situ, fuji + laowa 65mm
July 11, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Ummidia sp seen on a hike recently - first non-spiderling trapdoor spider! 🫡
NE Oklahoma, in situ, fuji + laowa 65mm
NE Oklahoma, in situ, fuji + laowa 65mm
To illustrate what I mean about the colors having similar values - here are the images changed to grayscale in photoshop:
July 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM
To illustrate what I mean about the colors having similar values - here are the images changed to grayscale in photoshop: