A charming little Nut Leaf Weevil (Strophosoma melanogrammum) hanging on through the rainy winter weather.
The other thing I've been doing, either up at launch while "parawaiting" for good weather or after I've landed while I'm waiting for the retrieve vehicle, is to snap photos for iNaturalist. I recently started using my mostly-dormant account for fun. I've probably got 60 or 70 different species observations to upload, mostly plants. And this is just what are probably considered common weeds around roadsides and farm fields. I got 20 new plant species this afternoon alone, plus this really cool beetle and spider.
1/2 For Valentine’s Day here’s my watercolor & pen art of a pink flower (Black Dalea in bloom, Tucson, AZ) in my Perpetual Journal.
Found a beautiful #beetle in a young Acacia in Aranda, ACT this evening.
It's a #JewelBeetle, Diphucrania leucosticta.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/628938-Diphucrania-leucosticta
#TinLizzie once dominated the #car
market*, followed by the #Beetle
. How long will it take to break the #SpaceX
dominance ? *https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Motor_Vehicle_Prod_share_RITA_T1-23.svg/1280px-Motor_Vehicle_Prod_share_RITA_T1-23.svg.png
Sacred #scarab - I tried to create it in ancient temple/slightly psychedelic style. Cleaned and re-created few times and still not fully aligned with my vision.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle illustration, ink on bristol board.
Original Art: https://www.angyl.co.uk/shop/p/2014-volkswagen-beetle
Prints: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/168330325
Sketching video: https://youtu.be/ON9uxRGmViM?feature=shared
Ink and Colouring video: https://youtu.be/yOA7mUZJu6M?feature=shared
I post to most locations worldwide.
Well, word from today's lab meeting is thanks to the executive orders being issued, two of our projects for this year (working with NPS and National Forests) are now on indefinite hold. Grants were awarded, funding set, but it's all walked back now. This is how far these EO's are already reaching via "trickle-down effect" just four days in. We always figured we would get caught up in it; how swiftly it has happened is a bit shocking.
All we do is study caves and wildlife. Something that is generally very bipartisan - protection of and access to wild spaces. Feel free to use this as a talking point with those you know. You are more likely to sway people with common ground basis, than with arguing facts.