Amazing Blue Bugs, Insects, Frogs, Fish, and Butterflies
If you were looking at a full-length photo of a blue damselfly, you might not realize just how strange and beautiful it is. Thank goodness for macro photography and the many photographers who get us up close to tiny creatures.
If you were to ask a group (just about any group) of people to name their favorite color, more than any other color, they would reply "blue." But, of course, some might change their minds after seeing some of the spiders in this article. The color blue is also considered the most beautiful for the eyes. Blue eyes, blue skies, blue oceans, bluebirds, and blue flowers; we love them all.
But blue pigments are rare in nature, and Mother Nature has always favored green, brown, and other more subdued colors. So with this article, we have set out to showcase some creatures that even Mother Nature would say have the "wow" factor!
This amazing blue arachnid is known by many names, including Peacock tarantula, Gooty tarantula, metallic Tarantula, Peacock Parachute Spider, and Salepurgu.
Blue Spiders Are a Mystery to Scientists
After reading several scientific journals and reports, it's safe to say that scientists still haven't presented a definitive reason as to why some spiders are blue. However, according to a study at www.sciencemag.org, the glowing blue—rarely found in animal pigments—is structural.
But, a recent study by www.thesun.co.uk suggested that it may have something to do with their evolution pattern.
Just because something's beautiful, there is no need to touch it! This beauty's toxic secretions are deadly. This is the Blue Cloud Forest Millipede, the largest millipede on earth.
The critically-endangered blue iguana is found in the wild only on the Grand Caymen Island in the Caribbean, where they are considered emblematic creatures.
There's no need to be afraid of this beautiful blue dragonfly. He won't sting or bite, but can fly up to about 30 miles per hour, so if you blink you may miss him. Check for these guys around water.
You may never get to see a blue dragonfly up close, but macro nature photographers continue to keep us entertained and informed.
This is the blue poison dart frog, commonly found in rainforests in the southern part of Suriname.
Blue Poison Dart Frogs
Poison dart frogs (of any color) are considered one of Earth's most poisonous species, each with enough poison to kill thousands of mice. In addition, the color serves as a warning for potential predators to stay away. Scientists usually agree that these frogs get toxicity from the insects they slurp up with their long, sticky tongues. Some insects they like to dine on include small beetles, ants, fruit flies, termites, and crickets. Poison dart frogs can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America.
This male Silver-studded Blue Butterfly has an almost mystical look about it with its glistening, silvery metallic spots. They are commonly found in England and Wales.
This is a blue mud dauber, which preys upon spiders.
The Blue Flower Wasp is also sometimes called the Black Flower Wasp or Hairy Flower Wasp. They are most commonly found in Australia, where they are very much appreciated by gardeners.
A Blue Mint Beetle, native to the United Kingdom.
A non-aggressive blue carpenter bee, a large, hairy bee with long, black eyes found in Southeast Asia, India, and the southern parts of China.
This gorgeous, deadly sea slug is known as Glaucus atlanticus or the blue dragon, which gets its name from its striking blue coloration and its flattened, wing-like appendages that resemble the wings of a dragon.
The Carpathian Blue Slug is endemic to the Carpathian Mountains, a range in Central and Eastern Europe.
References
- https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151127-blue-tarantula-science-explain-animals, Retrieved 2/15/2018
- Hsiung, B., D.D. Deheyn, M.D. Shawkey and T. A. Blackledge (2015), Blue Reflectance in Tarantulas is Evolutionarily Conserved Despite Nanostructural Diversity. Sci. Adv. 1, e1500709
- Hsiung, B., T. A. Blackledge and M. D. Shawkey (2015), Spiders Do Have Melanin After All. J. Exp. Biol. 218, 3632–3635
- Sabatini, M. 2008. Cyanea lamarckii Blue jellyfish. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. (eds) Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 18-02-2018]
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2018 Mike and Dorothy McKenney
Comments
Mike and Dorothy McKenney (author) from United States on February 20, 2018:
Thank you so much! Mother nature is pretty amazing.
Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on February 20, 2018:
Wow! Beautiful and colorful photos. Interesting facts about the wonderful creatures which we often ignore on our planet.
