Acanthocephala declivis--this was found while driving to work one morning on the hood of my car! I was just picking up speed on my neighborhood road when my field assistant (in the passenger seat) noticed it flailing, upside-down, on the hood. We stopped and captured it for later study. It likely fell onnto my hood from an oak tree above, and it was immobilized by the cold weather--about 45F. I've not seen this species previously in the NC Piedmont--I usually find only Acanthocephala terminalis. Length is 31 mm (measured, tip of abdomen to base of tylus)--really large!
Summary[edit] Description: English: Photo of Acanthocephala declivis missing a hind leg taken in southeastern United States during mid fall. Date: 18 September 2013, 14:57:56. Source: Own work. Author: Sesamehoneytart.
Acanthocephala declivis--as I manipulated it on a craft foam stage, it would occasionally tilt one side of its body up in this fashion. I got a whiff and realized it was presenting its defensive scent gland to me. The inset shows full detail from the same frame. The odor was strongly aromatic, but not really unpleasant.
Description: Acanthocephala femorata modeling her "Florida Gators orange" socks and antler mittens! (I know they are antennae :) Juno Dunes Natural Area, Palm Beach County, Florida (for my friends in other countries-the Florida Gators are a college football team :). Date: 11 June 2011, 09:10. Source: Florida leaf-footed bug (Go Gators!) Uploaded by Jacopo Werther. Author: Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth!. Camera location26° 53′ 15.2″ N, 80° 03′ 38.79″ WView all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 26.887555; -80.060774.
Summary[edit] Description: English: Photo of Acanthocephala declivis missing a hind leg taken in southeastern United States during mid fall. Date: 18 September 2013, 14:56:55. Source: Own work. Author: Sesamehoneytart.