All sorts of bugs and ticks: The clockwork creepy crawlies you'll come to love in time

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Clockwork colours: This life-like meat fly even has the wings and colourful shell found on real flies but is actually made from metal

Anyone swatting these bugs may be in for a surprise - the creepy crawlies are filled with clockwork innards.

Artist Mike Libby, 34, customises real insects and creatures with antique watch parts and electronic components to create new hybrid species.

His 2011 range of beasties includes beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers and even a fearsome-looking cyborg crab.


That's a bit nippy: A crab has been crafted from rusted metal to give it the unique orange colour that it has in the wild


Mike's inspiration for what he calls the Insect Lab came when he found a deceased bug in his garden in Portland, Oregon.

'One day I found a dead intact beetle,' he said.

'I then located an old wristwatch, thinking of how the beetle also operated and looked like a little mechanical device and so decided to combine the two.

'After some time dissecting the beetle and outfitting it with watch parts and gears, I had a convincing little cybernetic sculpture.

'I soon made many more with other found insects and have been exploring and developing the theme ever since.'


Hopping mad: A grasshopper made from watch components adopts a regal pose while right, a close up of a blue butterfly shows how minute and second hands are used for its antennae


Mike has created specimens in many shapes, sizes and colours, with each insect adorned differently to make it truly unique.

He even creates insects to order from his Portland studio and was recently requested to make three clockwork scorpions by a New York stockbroker.

'I get the insects through scientific dealers who provide high quality specimens from all around the world; from Africa, China, New Guinea, Brazil and more,' he says.


Emerging into life: A clockwork butterfly sits on Mr Libby's workshop tables surrounded by pins and tiny watch components as it is constructed for the artist's 2011 collection


Jumping nowhere: This cricket with delicate copper parts giving it a realistic colour is fixed firmly to the ground inside its jar


Ornamental: A bug is housed like an intricate decoration inside a glass bowl. To the right, some of the pocket watches that would have donated parts can be seen


Hairy moment: This clockwork Tarantula appears to have been made from the body of a real spider with small cogs and brass fixings added to its back


Buzzing: This carefully painted bud has four legs and two pairs of wings, but how long will it be before it's time comes?

Each piece takes a number of hours to complete as Mike painstakingly crafts each of the insect;s features.

Once the pieces of art are finished, they can sell for up to $2,000 each. Many of the creatures, such as spiders and scorpions, are so life-like that they could pass at first glance for real animals.

He added: 'Though I do salvage insects that I find right at hand, the occasional bumblebee or dragonfly. Also, people are welcome to send me specimens of their own for a piece.'

As for the mechanical ingredients he uses parts 'mostly from antique pocket watches and wristwatches' and tries to use almost every component 'from the swipe hands and screws to the gears and springs'.


Sting: This life-like scorpion looks so real that it could give people a fright is they spotted it lurking on the mantle piece


Taking off: A dragonfly has delicate wings similar to those found on the real insects. The tiny ornament is small enough to be held in the palm of a hand

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Hide 'n' peek! The damselfly who thought he was hidden... but was given away by his bug eyes

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Peek-a-bug: This little Damselfly was caught hiding behind a blade of grass in Fordwich Lakes, near Kent


This little damselfly thought it was cleverly hiding behind a blade of grass at a British lake, but didn’t realise its big bug eyes gave away its disguise.

The tiny insect concealed its two-inch body and transparent wings by clinging onto the grass with its black legs.

But instead of being incognito, photographer Tony Flashman captured the common blue damselfly’s piercing eyes with his camera at Fordwich Lakes, near Kent.

Mr Flashman crawled around the lake’s meadows at 5am to try and photograph the flies before they become too active at sunrise.

And the Kent-born photographer said: ‘This little fly thought it was being clever by hiding behind the grass in a game of hide and seek but he didn’t do a very good job.

‘I could see his eyes peeking out from either side and its legs wrapped around the grass.
‘It needs to move from the thin long grass to the reeds, where it will have a bit more cover.’



We can see you! The long blue damselfly was captured by photographer Tony Flashman, from Kent


He added: ‘This fly behaved himself and allowed me to get a good photograph but I had to get there early.

‘As soon as it warms up, they start to move around too much.’

From another angle the slender damselfly is seen holding itself up against the grass as morning dew drops trickle down onto its wings.

Damselflies are similar to dragonflies but the adults differ by holding their wings long and parallel to the body when resting.

They are also usually smaller and weaker fliers than dragonflies and their eyes are wide apart – as seen poking out from behind this blade of grass.

Damselflies eat flies, mosquitoes and other small insects.


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A bug's eye view

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful: The Devil's Flower Mantis is one of the largest flower mantis' and takes its name form its ability to mimic flowers to avoid dangers


With their bulging goggle-eyes and technicolour skin tones, these bizarre but beautiful creatures could be aliens sent from outer space.

But as foreign as they may seem, they are in fact some of the world's most unusual creepy crawlies, caught on camera in minute detail.

From a Giant Malaysian Shield Praying Mantis posing with elegance for the camera, to a Schizocephala mantis capturing a fly in mid-air, these incredible close up pictures of insects are a sight to behold.


Strike a pose: This Giant Malaysian Shield Praying Mantis looks almost as though it is about to break into a dance in Igor's studio in Munich, Germany


They were taken by biochemist and photographer Igor Siwanowicz who has spent the last seven years carefully acquiring and breeding these strange insects.

He has worked to painstakingly document these beautiful creatures, who, mimicking flowers to growing fearsome horns, have all developed their own ways of surviving the wild.



Tough guy: This Malaysian Jungle Nymph, left, has rows of razor-sharp spikes on it's head to ward off predators while the Plain Mantis, right, can mimic a butterfly


Cunning: A Schizocephala Mantis captures a fly mid air. Igor studies the habits and physiology of these compelling creatures, which gives him the edge when it comes to producing thought-provoking imagery


Taken in a home studio in Munich, Germany, these are the latest images from his ever growing collection.

Igor studies the habits and physiology of these compelling creatures, which gives him the edge when it comes to producing thought-provoking imagery.

Igor cites his main influence as the works of the designer of the monster from the Alien films, HR Giger who was obsessed with the paradox of turning the human form into an alien one.


Don't mess: When threatened, the Spiny Flower Mantis shows the yellow from their un-opened wings. They are a small species growing to aprox. 40 mm in length


Leaf me alone: The South American dead leaf mantis mimics dead leaves to both hide from predators and prey


The Conehead Mantis, left, lives and hides in long grass and can grow up to 10cm. Right, a Leaf Grasshopper on a bud



Bizarre: A close-up of a the head of Dragonhead Eumegalodon


The Preying Mantis: When directly threatened, many Preying mantises, left and right, stand tall and spread their forelegs, with their wings fanning out wide


Girl power: This female Malaysian Orchid Praying Mantis is, at 60mm, long, twice the size of it's diminutive male counterpart


Silent but deadly: A Leaf Bug, left, hides on a leaf while a Spiny Flower Mantis eats another bug, right


Phone home: A Heterohaeta, left, is the world's largest mantis pictured, while a giant devil's flower mantis, right, could easily be an alien sent from space


Committed: Igor Siwanowicz, left, studies the habits and physiology of these compelling creatures, which gives him the edge when it comes to producing thought-provoking imagery, right

source: dailymail

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A bug's eye view

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Beautiful: The Devil's Flower Mantis is one of the largest flower mantis' and takes its name form its ability to mimic flowers to avoid dangers


With their bulging goggle-eyes and technicolour skin tones, these bizarre but beautiful creatures could be aliens sent from outer space.

But as foreign as they may seem, they are in fact some of the world's most unusual creepy crawlies, caught on camera in minute detail.

From a Giant Malaysian Shield Praying Mantis posing with elegance for the camera, to a Schizocephala mantis capturing a fly in mid-air, these incredible close up pictures of insects are a sight to behold.


Strike a pose: This Giant Malaysian Shield Praying Mantis looks almost as though it is about to break into a dance in Igor's studio in Munich, Germany


They were taken by biochemist and photographer Igor Siwanowicz who has spent the last seven years carefully acquiring and breeding these strange insects.

He has worked to painstakingly document these beautiful creatures, who, mimicking flowers to growing fearsome horns, have all developed their own ways of surviving the wild.



Tough guy: This Malaysian Jungle Nymph, left, has rows of razor-sharp spikes on it's head to ward off predators while the Plain Mantis, right, can mimic a butterfly


Cunning: A Schizocephala Mantis captures a fly mid air. Igor studies the habits and physiology of these compelling creatures, which gives him the edge when it comes to producing thought-provoking imagery


Taken in a home studio in Munich, Germany, these are the latest images from his ever growing collection.

Igor studies the habits and physiology of these compelling creatures, which gives him the edge when it comes to producing thought-provoking imagery.

Igor cites his main influence as the works of the designer of the monster from the Alien films, HR Giger who was obsessed with the paradox of turning the human form into an alien one.


Don't mess: When threatened, the Spiny Flower Mantis shows the yellow from their un-opened wings. They are a small species growing to aprox. 40 mm in length


Leaf me alone: The South American dead leaf mantis mimics dead leaves to both hide from predators and prey


The Conehead Mantis, left, lives and hides in long grass and can grow up to 10cm. Right, a Leaf Grasshopper on a bud



Bizarre: A close-up of a the head of Dragonhead Eumegalodon


The Preying Mantis: When directly threatened, many Preying mantises, left and right, stand tall and spread their forelegs, with their wings fanning out wide


Girl power: This female Malaysian Orchid Praying Mantis is, at 60mm, long, twice the size of it's diminutive male counterpart


Silent but deadly: A Leaf Bug, left, hides on a leaf while a Spiny Flower Mantis eats another bug, right


Phone home: A Heterohaeta, left, is the world's largest mantis pictured, while a giant devil's flower mantis, right, could easily be an alien sent from space


Committed: Igor Siwanowicz, left, studies the habits and physiology of these compelling creatures, which gives him the edge when it comes to producing thought-provoking imagery, right

source: dailymail

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Look at this, Ernie: Sesame Street character Bert's face found on stink bug

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

The stink bug in a Singapore forest that bears a striking resemblance to Sesame Street character Bert


His sketches with best friend Ernie, his love of the letter W and his fondness for pigeons have bought happiness to millions of children around the globe.

And now it appears that Sesame Street character Bert's popularity has even reached the natural world - with this tribute from a stink beetle in a Singapore forest.

Creeping through the branches, this creature looks strikingly like the character whose relationship with Ernie formed the centre-piece of the show.

The remarkable image was captured by Winston Jansen, an amateur photographer who lives in the country.

After passing hundreds of other insects in the forest, this bug caught Mr Jansen's eye due to its 'stunning colour and intricate camouflage'.

Spotting the insect he quickly picked up his camera to get up close - and discovered the face of the TV character branded across its back.

Winston, 32, said: 'I was simply in awe at the beauty of the camouflage - I know many insects use it to avoid being preyed upon but I'd never seen anything like it before.

'I was just captivated by the bright colours. Then on closer inspection it just hit me there is actually a face on its back.

'I had to be very careful not to startle it as I approached it because I'd had a few insects scurry away earlier that day - but there was no way this one was getting away.'

Winston, a banker from Singapore, first picked up a camera in 2009 and specialises in macro photography - a unique skill revealing details hidden in normal photography.


Amateur photographer Winston Jansen was left stunned after capturing the image while on an expedition in the forests of western Singapore


He was visiting the forests specifically to shoot insects on a macro photography trip.

He added: 'It was about midday, I chanced upon this stink bug and fortunately it was actually quite co-operative so I managed to take a number of shots at different angles.

'After I shot this bug I did some research when I got home and found out there are so many more variations of this species.

'I'm still hoping I will be able to capture more variations of it.'


Sesame Street's Bert has entertained millions of children during his time on the show and has a fondness for number six and the tuba

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Bugging the bugs: Scientists use tiny microphones to record the 'rasping' of stag beetle larvae

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Bugged: Scientists are using tiny microphones to record stag beetle larvae


Scientists involved in a conservation project have been bugging the homes of stag beetle larvae.

Tiny microphones are being used to eavesdrop on the white grubs which live in buried rotting wood.

The larvae make rasping sounds known as 'stridulation' which experts believe are used as a form of communication.

Listening to the larvae is one new technique being tried out to get a better idea of stag beetle numbers.

The stag beetle, Lucanus cervus, can reach a length of several centimetres. Well known for the dramatic 'antlers' sported by males, it was once common but is now classified as 'nationally scarce' in the UK.

Stag beetles are still found in southern England but rare or extinct in the midlands and north.

Attempts to conserve the insect have been hampered by the lack of reliable population monitoring.

Scientists are also experimenting with ginger to lure flying beetles into aerial traps so they can be counted.

They discovered that adult stag beetles find ginger irresistible. It contains large amounts of alpha copaene, a chemical known to attract insects that live in dead and decaying wood.


Study: Microphones help track larvae without damaging their underground habitats while sensors which detect chemicals emitted by the grubs


The mini-microphones provide a means of detecting and tracking larvae without damaging their underground habitats.

They are being used alongside sensors which detect chemicals emitted by the grubs.
The team found that stag beetle larvae stridulation patterns are very different from those of other insect species, such as the rose chafer.

'Stridulation is likely to be a form of communication between larvae,' said study leader Dr Deborah Harvey, from Royal Holloway, University of London.

'It increases if larvae are handled or placed in solitary confinement.'

The new technique could be used to help conserve other rare species, she said.

'Acoustic detection of insects as a sampling method is very underused, but we believe it could have great potential in detecting larvae in the field,' said Dr Harvey.

The research, published in the journal Insect Conservation and Diversity, was funded by the British Ecological Society, the Forestry Commission, the People's Trust for Endangered Species, and the Suffolk Naturalists' Society.


source: dailymail

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A bed bug's eye view: The terrifying insects that lurk in our homes as seen under a microscope

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a bluebottle fly


They may look like gruesome monsters from a horror film but these tiny creatures inhabit our homes, clothes and even our bodies.

Showcased in an extraordinary new book, 'Micro Monsters', features over 80 of the world's most horrible insects and microscopic beasts in incredible 3D images.

UK author and trained zoologist, Tom Jackson, spent three months compiling the eye-watering images to create the book.



A yellow dung fly appears to stare into the microscope


Using some of the most up to date technology to hand, scientists coated the tiny creatures in gold and deep froze them in liquid nitrogen.

Firing a beam of electrons at the subjects from a scanning electron microscopy, the incredible detail can be seen in these results.

Revealing how invertebrates even look like they have expressions, as shown by the smiling ragworm head with its many tentacle like protrusions crowning what looks to be its face.

Even the dark side of the cute-looking garden variety ladybird is shown as it ferociously consumes desperately scattering aphids on a plant stem.

Other highlights include a colourful coiled sandworm into its hairy body, the bared fangs of a hook worm ready to feed, a head louse tending to its egg on a human hair and an amazing portrait of a drosophila fruit fly.


A human head louse with an egg is enough to make your head itch just by looking at it


'I wanted to get together all the most gruesome and beastly pictures I could,' said 38 year-old Tom from Bristol. 'This book shows everything that's around children, in the home, the garden and the playground.

'Things they will already be familiar with such as worms and spiders, but many they will not be aware of like parasites and dust mites.

'The point is they will be able to relate to these images yet be amazed by the new perspective it gives them.' Mr Jackson, who has written over 80 books for adults and children, explained that his new Micro Monsters photographic book is an opportunity for him to show what's going on around us that we cannot see it with our own eyes.

'Some of the best science at the moment is going on at this level but this type of work often gets overshadowed by some of the literally larger projects.

'Once you get up close you can see what's going on.' A scanning electron microscopy is used to fire a beam of electrons at the subjects, in this case insects and other mini-beasts.


Even the individual hairs on the legs of this parasitic wasp are visible


A European hornet appears to glower into the camera


A common house spider looks like it is wearing a glum or bemused expression in this frightening shot


Electrons have shorter wavelengths than lights waves so by using them smaller objects can be captured.

'What's different about the techniques we've used is to scan them in 3-D so we can make the subjects really come alive.

'We've coated them in gold and deep frozen them in liquid nitrogen to record the images.

'The pictures I'm most pleased with are the close up portraits of insects that show the intricate details of their eyes, mandibles and even the hairs on their heads.
'I've tested the book out on my son Ned and it hasn't given him any bad dreams, in fact he loves it.

'In particular Ned likes like the nasty worms.

'It's always a relief to finish a book and greatly satisfying to see the finished product.

Micro Monsters is shortly to be launched in the UK by Amber Book.


An earwig on a leaf looks rather more like a terrifying scorpion in this close-up image


Two water bears (or tardigrades) are seen crawling on a leaf


An aphid (greenfly) feeding on a leaf glows bright green under the electron microscope


source: dailymail

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