Shadow Shots

I have seen this insect often near the bruised trunks of citrus trees. I am wondering if they are the adults of the small maggots developing in the cambium layer of the tree, feeding on the sap flowing from the cut phloem vessels. I am sure the sap is nutritious and sweet, as it is supposed to be the food of the plant manufactured in the leaves termed as photosynthates. They are transported downwards via the phloem vessels to the roots and other parts of the plants. This sap is a very high energy food, and it is nourishing the larvae to adulthood. The larvae continue to grow and the tree struggles for survival. 

However, a lot of frequent observations did not give me answers as to the identity of the insect, nor its actual relationship with the plant. Sometimes it alights on some leaves which almost serves as its camouflage, like in the following photos. Lastly, the length of the adult insect is only 1 centimeter, excluding the appendages.

 I love its shadow, mimicking a leaf spot!

An unusual body part at the front of its head is the pair of orange protrusions, which might have been serving as antenna. That is a bit funny as antenna, but maybe they are the later versions of antennae! hahaha, what do you think?

Updates: I just learned of this insect. It is a stilt-legged fly, of the Order Diptera. If you will google it, there are a lot of genus and species, and they are mostly in the tropical and subtropical regions. I even saw a video in you tube which is interesting as it seems to have a very simple but regular exercise with its front pair of legs.

Camera Critters

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Shadow Shot

Shadow shots are always fascinating to take. Most of us have at least taken our own shadow!

Shadows have a lot of things to tell us. And there are layers and layers of things to see and discern in these shadow shot. At the top layer is the most obvious, the shadow of some vines. Underneath are mosses and lichens now beginning to dry with our approaching dry season and absence of rain. Lichens are complex symbionts of many different organisms evolutionary finding peace in co-existence to be at peace for life. At the bottom of the lichens, you can glimpse some letters, because the parent material here is a can with embossed paint. And of course the tin can which supported all these convergences provide some iron to whichever organism needing it. And i think this small space is a world on its own, a lot of processes from food chain-to metabolic processes-to physiological processes-to weathering and decomposition happening at the same time. A real world on its own! This small space can make a big thesis to explore and study! Fascinating!