Gil Wizen
@wizentrop.bsky.social
Entomologist and award-winning photographer. Professional breeder and wrangler of insects and arachnids for educational, research and display purposes.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
This amazing crab spider from Ecuador (Epicadus granulatus) has the exact size, color, and texture of a fern's sorus (=spore patch), which helps it blending in with the fern leaf both to avoid detection by predators and to ambush passing prey insects.
It's also a plus that it is super cute 😊
It's also a plus that it is super cute 😊
August 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This amazing crab spider from Ecuador (Epicadus granulatus) has the exact size, color, and texture of a fern's sorus (=spore patch), which helps it blending in with the fern leaf both to avoid detection by predators and to ambush passing prey insects.
It's also a plus that it is super cute 😊
It's also a plus that it is super cute 😊
Hemikyptha marginata, the Loki treehopper (relax, I just made that name up), sports long curved horns on his helmet. At 2.5cm he is the largest membracid in the world. Also, he has an army.
(of ants)
...but we have a hulk.
Eurymetopa obesa is a jacked conehead katydid that lacks a cone but has 💪
(of ants)
...but we have a hulk.
Eurymetopa obesa is a jacked conehead katydid that lacks a cone but has 💪
August 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Hemikyptha marginata, the Loki treehopper (relax, I just made that name up), sports long curved horns on his helmet. At 2.5cm he is the largest membracid in the world. Also, he has an army.
(of ants)
...but we have a hulk.
Eurymetopa obesa is a jacked conehead katydid that lacks a cone but has 💪
(of ants)
...but we have a hulk.
Eurymetopa obesa is a jacked conehead katydid that lacks a cone but has 💪
I can't wait to get bitten again by this absolute stunner so I can take more photos like this one!
Soon, very soon 🤩
Beautiful bloodsucker. Sabethes mosquito from the Ecuadorian Amazon in mid-bite. This photo was highly commended in the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2021.
Soon, very soon 🤩
Beautiful bloodsucker. Sabethes mosquito from the Ecuadorian Amazon in mid-bite. This photo was highly commended in the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2021.
August 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I can't wait to get bitten again by this absolute stunner so I can take more photos like this one!
Soon, very soon 🤩
Beautiful bloodsucker. Sabethes mosquito from the Ecuadorian Amazon in mid-bite. This photo was highly commended in the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2021.
Soon, very soon 🤩
Beautiful bloodsucker. Sabethes mosquito from the Ecuadorian Amazon in mid-bite. This photo was highly commended in the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2021.
This pretty leaf-mimicking katydid is Hetaira smaragdina. It belongs to the Pycnopalpina group, consisting mainly of delicately-built species. Instead of mimicking broad tree leaves like other leaf-mimics, this group mimics small and narrow bush leaves, often featuring fake sunburn and fungus spots.
August 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This pretty leaf-mimicking katydid is Hetaira smaragdina. It belongs to the Pycnopalpina group, consisting mainly of delicately-built species. Instead of mimicking broad tree leaves like other leaf-mimics, this group mimics small and narrow bush leaves, often featuring fake sunburn and fungus spots.
Here's a beautiful green chafer (Anomala albopilosa) from Japan. There's a long story behind this photo and what I was doing in Japan, but the character limit prevents me from pasting it here.
The conclusion of the story is still very important, so I will include it in the following post -
The conclusion of the story is still very important, so I will include it in the following post -
August 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Here's a beautiful green chafer (Anomala albopilosa) from Japan. There's a long story behind this photo and what I was doing in Japan, but the character limit prevents me from pasting it here.
The conclusion of the story is still very important, so I will include it in the following post -
The conclusion of the story is still very important, so I will include it in the following post -
Paranomala cupricollis is a shining leaf chafer found in many types of habitats across north and central South America. Because it is fairly common and brown it receives less love and attention compared to its green relatives, but I think it is simply stunning! Like a piece of copper jewellery.
August 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Paranomala cupricollis is a shining leaf chafer found in many types of habitats across north and central South America. Because it is fairly common and brown it receives less love and attention compared to its green relatives, but I think it is simply stunning! Like a piece of copper jewellery.
Following my previous post, some people asked me how come it is more difficult to find the brightly-colored spiny devil katydid (Panacanthus varius) compared to its relative. This photo shows why. Despite the intense colors, it is well camouflaged on moss-covered branches in the cloud forest.
August 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Following my previous post, some people asked me how come it is more difficult to find the brightly-colored spiny devil katydid (Panacanthus varius) compared to its relative. This photo shows why. Despite the intense colors, it is well camouflaged on moss-covered branches in the cloud forest.
It's a tale of two katydid brothers from Ecuador.
One brother (Panacanthus cuspidatus, on the right) lives in the thick lowland forests. He enjoys life in the sweaty swamp, as they call it, raving with his flamboyant friends in the hot humid nights. He is everyone's favorite party person.
1/5
One brother (Panacanthus cuspidatus, on the right) lives in the thick lowland forests. He enjoys life in the sweaty swamp, as they call it, raving with his flamboyant friends in the hot humid nights. He is everyone's favorite party person.
1/5
August 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM
It's a tale of two katydid brothers from Ecuador.
One brother (Panacanthus cuspidatus, on the right) lives in the thick lowland forests. He enjoys life in the sweaty swamp, as they call it, raving with his flamboyant friends in the hot humid nights. He is everyone's favorite party person.
1/5
One brother (Panacanthus cuspidatus, on the right) lives in the thick lowland forests. He enjoys life in the sweaty swamp, as they call it, raving with his flamboyant friends in the hot humid nights. He is everyone's favorite party person.
1/5
Continuing from yesterday, another target for me on my upcoming trip to Ecuador is Psecas jumping spiders. I want new photos... The joke is on me here because I saw one on my last trip in May and I'm now kicking myself for not taking any photos. These jumpers are not too common and they so lovely!
August 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Continuing from yesterday, another target for me on my upcoming trip to Ecuador is Psecas jumping spiders. I want new photos... The joke is on me here because I saw one on my last trip in May and I'm now kicking myself for not taking any photos. These jumpers are not too common and they so lovely!
I'll be returning to Ecuador soon, and what I am hoping to find again is one of the giant longhorn beetles like this Macrodontia cervicornis. It may look scary, but... well, IT IS actually scary! That is one feisty beetle that will not hesitate to snap its jaws at your soft sausage fingers. Chomp.
August 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I'll be returning to Ecuador soon, and what I am hoping to find again is one of the giant longhorn beetles like this Macrodontia cervicornis. It may look scary, but... well, IT IS actually scary! That is one feisty beetle that will not hesitate to snap its jaws at your soft sausage fingers. Chomp.
Rhescyntis hippodamia is by far the moth species I encounter the most on my visits to the Ecuadorian Amazon. So much so, that seeing these giants now feels like catching up with an old friend. Interestingly, despite their dead leaf color scheme they prefer to sit in the green canopy during the day.
August 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Rhescyntis hippodamia is by far the moth species I encounter the most on my visits to the Ecuadorian Amazon. So much so, that seeing these giants now feels like catching up with an old friend. Interestingly, despite their dead leaf color scheme they prefer to sit in the green canopy during the day.
Recently I saw a post saying all earwigs look the same. The truth is, it's a diverse group with many beautiful species.
I wish I could say the same about mole crickets. By now I've seen them in almost every continent, and they're all very uniform.
Here's a Neoscapteriscus from WildSumaco in Ecuador.
I wish I could say the same about mole crickets. By now I've seen them in almost every continent, and they're all very uniform.
Here's a Neoscapteriscus from WildSumaco in Ecuador.
August 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Recently I saw a post saying all earwigs look the same. The truth is, it's a diverse group with many beautiful species.
I wish I could say the same about mole crickets. By now I've seen them in almost every continent, and they're all very uniform.
Here's a Neoscapteriscus from WildSumaco in Ecuador.
I wish I could say the same about mole crickets. By now I've seen them in almost every continent, and they're all very uniform.
Here's a Neoscapteriscus from WildSumaco in Ecuador.
A membracid treehopper nymph (Phyllotropis fasciata) enjoying protection from ants while feeding on the sap of a young cecropia tree in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
For those interested - This photo was taken using KuangRen K42 wide angle macro lens that I've been experimenting with recently.
For those interested - This photo was taken using KuangRen K42 wide angle macro lens that I've been experimenting with recently.
August 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
A membracid treehopper nymph (Phyllotropis fasciata) enjoying protection from ants while feeding on the sap of a young cecropia tree in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
For those interested - This photo was taken using KuangRen K42 wide angle macro lens that I've been experimenting with recently.
For those interested - This photo was taken using KuangRen K42 wide angle macro lens that I've been experimenting with recently.
This leaf-mimicking katydid (Mimetica sp.) from Belize is doing a remarkable job at looking like a typical leaf, including some fake sunburn spots and even signs of necrosis.
This katydid was also featured in the latest @zefrank.bsky.social video, which you should totally watch (link in next post)
This katydid was also featured in the latest @zefrank.bsky.social video, which you should totally watch (link in next post)
July 31, 2025 at 5:39 PM
This leaf-mimicking katydid (Mimetica sp.) from Belize is doing a remarkable job at looking like a typical leaf, including some fake sunburn spots and even signs of necrosis.
This katydid was also featured in the latest @zefrank.bsky.social video, which you should totally watch (link in next post)
This katydid was also featured in the latest @zefrank.bsky.social video, which you should totally watch (link in next post)
Leaf chafers like this Platycoelia has many "friend-shaped" attributes: Round. Smooth. Shiny. Big eyes. Green.
This photo isn't the best way to show these traits, but it shows the one thing about it that isn't friendly - its sharp curved claws, which are used for climbing branches just like a sloth!
This photo isn't the best way to show these traits, but it shows the one thing about it that isn't friendly - its sharp curved claws, which are used for climbing branches just like a sloth!
July 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Leaf chafers like this Platycoelia has many "friend-shaped" attributes: Round. Smooth. Shiny. Big eyes. Green.
This photo isn't the best way to show these traits, but it shows the one thing about it that isn't friendly - its sharp curved claws, which are used for climbing branches just like a sloth!
This photo isn't the best way to show these traits, but it shows the one thing about it that isn't friendly - its sharp curved claws, which are used for climbing branches just like a sloth!
This colorful tropical cockroach (Rochaina metae) from the Ecuadorian Amazon is something I always hope to encounter on plants when I am visiting the region. It serves as a great example against the common misconception that all roaches are filthy and have dull colors. Just look how stunning it is!
July 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
This colorful tropical cockroach (Rochaina metae) from the Ecuadorian Amazon is something I always hope to encounter on plants when I am visiting the region. It serves as a great example against the common misconception that all roaches are filthy and have dull colors. Just look how stunning it is!
This mystery has been keeping some people busy on iNaturalist. Observations span through south Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with a strong presence in Tena area in Ecuador, where this individual was photographed.
July 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This mystery has been keeping some people busy on iNaturalist. Observations span through south Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with a strong presence in Tena area in Ecuador, where this individual was photographed.
This beautiful hawkmoth caterpillar is yet to have a name. We have no idea what species it is. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that it is a new species (although the possibility certainly exists), but more that we have not linked this caterpillar to its adult form.
July 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This beautiful hawkmoth caterpillar is yet to have a name. We have no idea what species it is. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that it is a new species (although the possibility certainly exists), but more that we have not linked this caterpillar to its adult form.