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Eeeuwwwww! (WC 610)
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Eeeuwwwww! (WC 610)

by Wayne Jones

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted November 13, 2013148 views8 comments
OK, I think it's time we get away from "pretty" pictures, and take this "scary to look at or just creeps you out" theme seriously. Alright, we don't really need to be serious at all, so I hope this one is not TOO creepy!

These are carrion beetle larvae feeding on a rotting raccoon skull. (Along with a fly, and at at least eight other kinds of arthropods you can't see here, that showed up while I was shooting.) The ecology of decomposition is actually fascinating. The adults of this kind of carrion beetle actually are good parents; protecting their larvae from predators, and feeding the younger larvae by regurgitating food (partially digested maggots) into the mouths of the "kids." I know: Eeeuwwwwwww! to that, too. But ya gotta admit, that's pretty advanced parenting for an insect. :smile:

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Gary Reed on November 13, 2013 at 9:58 PM
LOL....EWWWWW was the first thing out of my mouth before I even saw the title..... :jump:
Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments
Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 13, 2013 at 10:19 PM
This is really creepy, Wayne. How could you have tolerated what must have been a terrible stench?
Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on November 13, 2013 at 11:17 PM
This is really gross, and really cool too. . . and it really fits the theme.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on November 14, 2013 at 7:55 AM
I used to have very similar photos of green bottle flies on a very nasty possum carrion. I had to hold my breath to take the photos. I think, I finally erased them, as it grossed me out just to look at them! Yours, definitely gives me the same feeling......ewwwe :eek:
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 15, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Arghh, I've entered the 'dead zone'.. or is that the 'twilight zone' :eek:
I think you did a fine job of pulling out this interesting comp.. from this stinky mess :wink:
Great techs, well done!:toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on November 15, 2013 at 12:05 PM
I am with the Eeeuwwwww group on this one !! I am at a loss for anything else to say :biggrin:
Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 15, 2013 at 5:23 PM
Jeez, I think I'll go brush my teeth.... :biggrin: What a neat look at natural processes and nice play on the fact that raccoon teeth strongly resemble human teeth. The details in that larvae are great and the overall colors well coordinated.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on November 18, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Oh Wayne! Euwww is right! :eek: However, it certainly does fit the theme well. :biggrin: Good view of the natural processes of life and death. . .but this is a way too close up view for me! :rolleyes:
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments