Real Monstrosities: Orthonevra nitida

Friday 2 January 2015

Tattooed eyes? Whatever will they think of next?

I'd be up for some lung piercings and a peroxide blonde skeleton.

Image: Chuck

Orthonevra nitida is a member of the Hoverfly family, found mostly in the eastern side of the United States.

They're teeny-tiny! Just 5 mm (0.2 in) long. And they lack the bright, stripy colours found in lots of other Hoverflies...

They have a certain charm all of their own, though. I could get lost in those eyes. They look a ot like a maze, after all.

Esther said...: They certainly are mesmerizing! Do you know if the patterns mean anything?; 2 January 2015 at 12:30
Joseph JG said...: I saw some ideas here:
http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2013/07/orthonevra-niti.html

It's not clear what they're for. It might improve their sight or help out camouflage or something like that.

It's pretty weird!; 2 January 2015 at 12:58
Crunchy said...: They look like they fell asleep at a frat party and their mathematics major roommate sketched perfectly symmetrical patterns on their eyeballs.

And that's why that dude doesn't get invited to parties or any attention from the damselflies.; 2 January 2015 at 14:04
Joseph JG said...: NEEEEERRRD!!; 2 January 2015 at 14:07
TexWisGirl said...: so funky cool!; 2 January 2015 at 16:20