Navigating a flooded forest at sunset
The peki-peki is a mainstay of local Amazonians. The small outboard motor with an outsized navigable propeller makes for economical travel and is especially useful for small dugout canoes used by many indigenous peoples. Navigating this flooded forest with such a long propeller shaft required deft maneuvering and locals are experts. Unfortunately these propellers are also a major culprit in injuries occurring to manatees and to a lesser extent, river dolphins:
Orchid bee (Euglossa sp.) in flight
Orchid bees (Euglossa spp.) typically spend their time in the canopy where they collect plant fragrances with specialized brush-feet on their forelegs. These are then transferred to into slits on the highly modified hind-legs wherein lies an absorbant, spongy material which sequesters the volatile esters. The males, the only ones to engage in this behaviour are thought to subsequently release these fragrances to attract females in the understory. Methyl salicylate and cineole present in some essential oils were used to attract the bees for these photos:
Orchid bee (Euglossa mixta):
Velvet mite:
Roots of a wandering palm armed with spines:
Sexually dimorphic pholcid spiders:
A leaf beetle rides a mushroom whose stem exhibits UV reflectance:
Water striders streaking across the sky on a gentle, clear meander of the river:
Thread-legged bug (Emesinae) with wood bug prey:
Thanks for looking and commenting,
Paul
Colombian Amazon part II
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