Creatures of the Night - Goblin Valley, UT

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Moab Man

Senior Member
I went to Goblin Valley to shoot the Milky Way. Unfortunately the clouds did not cooperate so I turned my attention in another direction - the creatures of the night.

This first one is similar looking to a dragon fly. However, these guys came out at night and normally have their wings folded down along their body. The flash of my picture taking seemed to irritate him and he puffed his wings out.



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Moab Man

Senior Member
No idea what this creature is. The eyes are identical to a scorpion. Body is very similar to a spider. Back part of the body is similar to a cricket.

[h=1]Solifugae - Camel Spider or Wind Scorpion[/h]DSC_4559.jpg
 
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Moab Man

Senior Member
This little blue creature was very interesting to look at. Not sure how he gets around or if he flies. He had no intentions of moving for me.


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Moab Man

Senior Member
One of the deadly creatures of the night... the Black Widow. These little ladies were everywhere and really come out at night. Most interesting is that they seem to reside upside down as a normal. Some did not mind my lights and others ran at the first sign of light.

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Not every Black Widow is black.
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Moab Man

Senior Member
These little beetles were hyper and more than happy to let you know they didn't appreciate your presence and had no fear of you. As I was laying on the ground shooting these guys they would charge me, scamper around, and even cock themselves to the side to get a better view up at me. Really amusing little guys.

[h=1]Cicindela formosa - Tiger Beetle[/h]DSC_4630.jpg

In the bug world they do seem to be nasty guys as I saw them go head-to-head with the wasps from above. I also found this guy chomping on a bug right behind me while photographing a scorpion.
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Moab Man

Senior Member
This is some kind of ugly night cricket (I believe). It lacked coloring and blended in very well in the desert sand.


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Finally, one of the many scorpions I found running around.
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Most interesting is how much activity is running around under the cover of night in the desert. Hope everyone enjoyed.
 
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Deezey

Senior Member
Moab Man said:
These little beetles were hyper and more than happy to let you know they didn't appreciate your presence and had no fear of you. As I was laying on the ground shooting these guys they would charge me, scamper around, and even cock themselves to the side to get a better view up at me. Really amusing little guys.


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In the bug world they do seem to be nasty guys as I saw them go head-to-head with the wasps from above. I also found this guy chomping on a bug right behind me while photographing a scorpion.
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​This looks like a Tiger Beetle.
 
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Deezey

Senior Member
We had an RV when I was a kid. Traveled all over the US in the summers. I used to go bug hunting in all the new states we went to. I still have quite a few books left.

The desert insects always seemed to draw my attention the most.

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WhiteLight

Senior Member
Deezey said:
We had an RV when I was a kid. Traveled all over the US in the summers. I used to go bug hunting in all the new states we went to. I still have quite a few books left.

The desert insects always seemed to draw my attention the most.

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Thats interesting for me too!
Would be super helpful if there is some way to identify bugs (and flowers) without having any idea about it

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