Bugz n Slugz
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moistmacro.bsky.social
Bugz n Slugz
@moistmacro.bsky.social
3.5K followers 2.1K following 780 posts
Nudibranch obsessive, underwater photographer, citizen scientist, bug photographer and thalassophile.
Now in the Abu Dhabi. ♾️🧩🦑
All photos by me.
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moistmacro.bsky.social
So this morning I give you a big. Pycanum rubens - Giant Shorld bug from Thailand.
Not the best camouflage if I’m honest - but suspect it’s a warning of something distasteful to a predator.
#invertebrate #bug #red #thailand
A photograph of a bright red shield bug resting on a green leaf.
December 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Spood time! I believe this is Carrhotus sannio. It’s from Thailand and has snagged something tasty for dinner.
#Spiders #Invertebrates #Thailand
A photo of a golden yellow jumping spider on a green leaf. It has a long black bug in its mouth - dinner no doubt
December 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Giant Golden Orbweavers (Nephila pilipes) are a stunning spider. Also the fact that they apparently manipulate UV light reflections on their body to attract prey - makes them a great little marvel of nature.
#Invertebrates #Spiders #Arachnids #Thailand
A photo of a large Orbweaver spider perched in the middle of its web. The long legs are black, with a white thorax and yellow markings. Its abdomen has thin longitudinal black and white markings.
December 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This believe is Ideopsis vulgaris, the Blue Glassy Tiger. Another one from Koh Yao Yai in Thailand.
#invertebrates #Butterfly #Thailand #insects #lepidoptera
A photo of a blue butterfly with ice blue patterns on its wings bordered by black. Almost resembling stained glass windows - it’s is feeding on white flowers A photo of a blue butterfly with ice blue patterns on its wings bordered by black. Almost resembling stained glass windows - it’s is feeding on white flowers
December 7, 2025 at 3:41 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Another one from Thailand - Pantala flavescens - The Wandering Glider.
#Invertebrates #thailand #dragonfly
A photo of a dragonfly that has a golden coloured body with an orange oblong patch on its eye - it is resting on a plant talk A photo of a dragonfly that has a golden coloured body. The picture shows off the intricate lace like detail of the wings
December 5, 2025 at 4:37 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So here we have a little green invertebrate from Thailand - not sure of the species but it appears to be a type of Shining Leaf Chafer (according to iNat) #Invertebrates #Beetles #Insects #Thailand #Chafer #Green
A photo from the front of a bright green metallic looking beetle perched on a leaf
December 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Now that I am back to Thailand I can start processing some of my pictures. Here is the helpful house gecko that hung around our jungle villa for the duration of our sojourn keeping the mosquitoes at bay.
#Lizards #Gecko #Thailand
Photo of the front end of an Asian house gecko. It is lying on a window frame and is a mottled brown colour
December 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So this was a nice spot the other morning - Phintella vittata (Banded Phintella). I was disappointed that I couldn’t get it to face me properly so I could get a shot of its spoody face. #Invertebrates #Spiders #Spood #Thailand
A photo of a small jumping spider that has a metallic looking colouration across its head and back interspersed with solid black bands.
November 28, 2025 at 6:45 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Here is the first bug/insect - straight out of the camera as all my editing stuff is back home. This is Argiope versicolor - Multi-coloured Saint Andrew’s Cross Spider from Koh Yao Yai in Thailand.
A photo of a very colourful Orbweaver spider. It has red, black, white and yellow bands across its back and a hairy grey head.
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Saw a Tree Puppy this morning on the way back from breakfast
A picture of a Clouded Monitor Lizard hanging on a tree in Koh Yao Yai island in Thailand
November 27, 2025 at 6:54 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So I’ve been finding a fair few bugs - but everything has been surpassed by what my wife spotted in the trees on our way back from dinner tonight. A true bucket list moment - Nycticebus coucang in the wild - female I believe and possibly pregnant
November 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Off to Koh Yao Yai Island tomorrow - hopefully will find some interesting bugs to shoot. Hopefully will stop raining
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So it’s International Sea Slug Day (Happy Birthday Dr Terry Gosliner)
So here is the Branch of the Week featuring yours truly on one of my favourite little websites.

slugsite.us/bow2007/nudw...
Opisthobranch of the Week is Goniobranchus alius
Nudibranch of the Week is Goniobranchus alius
slugsite.us
October 29, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Bugz n Slugz
bcwarwickshire.bsky.social
Work at Ettington Cutting site has now been completed for this year ✅ Many thanks to our hard working volunteers. Summer & Autumn photos of this site below.
Summer photo of the site, showing wildflowers & grasses, blue skies & fluffy clouds. Autumnal photo of the site being cut & raked by our volunteers. 📷 Tara Higgs
October 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
Some potential great news from today - looks like I may have finally found a way to get some real scientists to start describing some of the many undescribed #Nudibranch we have here in the UAE. This spectacular creature will hopefully be the first on the list.
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a sea slug that is mainly white with a yellow marginal band. It has large purple wine stain like blotches covering its notum A photo of a sea slug that is mainly white with a yellow marginal band. It has large purple wine stain like blotches covering its notum A photo of a sea slug that is mainly white with a yellow marginal band. It has large purple wine stain like blotches covering its notum
October 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So no #Nudibranch today - but something almost as cool - a little snail from the genus Diminovula.
#🦑 #🦐 #Mollusc
A photo of a small sea snail that has a white base colour but is covered in shocking pink splodges
October 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This #Nudibranch is Caloria indica and is one of the slugs seen quite often here in the UAE.
Hopefully I can get back in the water soon to find some more.
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a sea slug from the side. The main body is translucent white with a series of cerata on its back that are orange and blue tipped with yellow.
September 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So this morning we have a bug rather than a slug. This is Allogalathea elegans - the elegant squat lobster who are generally found hanging out on crinoids. This one is from the east coast of the #UAE
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a small squat lobster. It is coloured in alternating bars of white, brown and grey. This helps it to camouflage amongst the arms of its Crinoid host.
September 29, 2025 at 4:49 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This one is not so common here - probably only the second time in 15 years I’ve found this in the UAE. Goniobranchus alius is the name
#🦑 #🦐 #Nudibranch
A photo of a sea slug that has a pale background cover that is interspersed with little orange markings. The mantle is bordered with broken yellow and purple lines.
September 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So for today’s #Nudibranch we have this zigzag emblazoned slug. This is Hypselodoris nigrostriata from the UAE.
#MarineLife #Invertebrates
A sea slug that has a pale blue background colour interspersed with yellow patches. It then has a series of black lines crossing its body. The rhinophores and gills are bright red
September 24, 2025 at 4:58 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
This tiny little Crustacean was hiding in a piece of old coral thinking nobody would spot them. Not sure of the genus - iNat suggested Pilodius
#🦐 #🦑
A photo of a tiny crab wedged in a hole. It is brownish red in couloir and a bumpy texture. It has some small growths on it also
September 23, 2025 at 7:34 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So apparently it’s #MolluscMonday so here is one of our local star #Nudibranch in the UAE. Hypselodoris dollfusi is relatively common but no less spectacular.
#Invertebrates #MarineLife #SeaSlugs
A photo of a sea slug that is predominantly ivory in colour with a yellow margin. Its body is interspersed with red circular patterns with some tinted blue inside.
September 22, 2025 at 3:39 PM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So for this shrimp I am leaning towards Dasycaris symbiotes- problem being it isn’t included in iNaturalist. It could also be D. ceratops but I’m not an expert so who knows. From the UAE.
#Invertebrates #MarineLife
A photo of a shrimp sat on a stone covered in marine slug eggs. The shrimp has white eye stalks and a translucent body with red markings. The slug eggs are apricot coloured.
September 22, 2025 at 11:51 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So this is one that shows up a few times here in the UAE - was historically referred to as Hypselodoris capensis - but is now more likely to be undescribed. This was found on a wreck down at 21m.
A photo of a bright White Sea slug with longitudinal lines along its body. The mantle is fringed with blue spots and edging. Rhinophores and gill is bright red. The picture is taken from above looking down on the creature.
September 22, 2025 at 3:26 AM
moistmacro.bsky.social
So first dive in over a year - and first dive in the UAE in about 4 years. A few Nudibranch were around which makes it nice. Here is the first one - an undescribed Phyllodesmium down at 21m.
A photo of a Nudibranch that is light apricot in colour with worm like cerata that are orange with hints of blue
September 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM