Flat mass with scale-like texture, presumably eggs.
The eggs to the left of the firefly
Help! WTH is this?! It's about 7mm tall, and I noticed it because the top white section was wiggling about. It never moved otherwise. It looks like plant material attached to the body, like larval lacewings & antlions do. My first impression was a lepidoptera of some sort, but I'm really not sure. iNat AI suggests planthopper. Host plant Pecan.
small transparent caterpillar...?
Galls form in base of paired leaflets.
3rd and 4th photos show interior of gall and typical gall maker larva.
Host is Prosopis velutina
Not looking for the tree, but for the little1 “ long delicate spikes attached to it. After the March 2021 Texas freeze, I lost a lot of plants. My 20 year old kumquat tree may have succumbed. I just found these attached to the trunks. I don’t know if this is something coming out of the tree, attached to the tree, a fungus or mold, or some kind of insect eggs.
Being eaten by Scolopendra heros
Foamy egg deposit on the bottom of a leaf, found on forest floor.
From what I could find in a brief search, these structures are built by caterpillars of various moth species, often called fern leaf-tiers. They stay inside the ball, feeding on the inner fronds until they are ready to pupate inside the ball in safety. Once the moth develops and leaves the structure, many different spider species are glad to adopt this fern globe as their own home. I did not open any structures to see exactly which critter was inside, but next time I see one, I will!
Here is the article I found, with other links in the body of the article: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1302
Sleeping on Desert Milkweed. Several back after not observed since early August.
Possibly assessing the chance of a light rain or monsoon from inside her nest/burrow or nest guarding. This appeared to be a communal burrow. A male bee, possibly a son, guarding the same nest can be viewed here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/123141023
Posing for a picture :)
They called these guys the most dangerous animal in the grand canyon, as the most amount of animal-related injuries come from these guys. They're completely desensitized to people and will take food out of your hand.
Dozens of these "egg cases" on bush. Saw a casing attached to one as if some small "worm" had emerged. When case was broken open, observed 4 round holes. Life in one of them.
UPDATE: final photo shows small flying insect that definitely emerged from this case. Diptera?
Eggs? Algae? Sitting above the tideline.