Nicky Bay
@nickybay.bsky.social
Macro photographer, cat slave, dedicated to flood your feed with cool spiders, insects, snakes, or anything small that moves.
Blind cave spiders~
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
November 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Blind cave spiders~
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
This occurs due to the process of regressive evolution. In an environment without light, vision provides no advantage in finding prey or avoiding predators. The loss of their eyes means that energy and resources once used for eyes are instead allocated to other traits.
Meet bob the red velvet mite
November 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Meet bob the red velvet mite
Tarantula foot-pad. Who knew they could be so pretty?
November 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Tarantula foot-pad. Who knew they could be so pretty?
Been looking for a fresh specimen of Leucauge sarawakensis for a long time! Each time we found one, someone walked into its web. Hence, the ex situ shots.
October 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Been looking for a fresh specimen of Leucauge sarawakensis for a long time! Each time we found one, someone walked into its web. Hence, the ex situ shots.
A collection of pretty stag beetles that fight with their mandibles. I had one grasping my lens before. They are ridiculously strong!
bit.ly/lucanidae
bit.ly/lucanidae
Lucanidae Checklist: Stag Beetles - Macro Photography by Nicky Bay
Stag Beetles from the family Lucanidae are strikingly charismatic beetles, easily recognised by the males' oversized, antler-like jaws that resemble a stag's horns. These impressive mandibles are used...
bit.ly
October 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
A collection of pretty stag beetles that fight with their mandibles. I had one grasping my lens before. They are ridiculously strong!
bit.ly/lucanidae
bit.ly/lucanidae
Here are 3 incredibly beautiful mantids that I saw last month.
Toxodera fimbriata
Paratoxodera meggitti
Hymenopus coronatus
Toxodera fimbriata
Paratoxodera meggitti
Hymenopus coronatus
April 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Here are 3 incredibly beautiful mantids that I saw last month.
Toxodera fimbriata
Paratoxodera meggitti
Hymenopus coronatus
Toxodera fimbriata
Paratoxodera meggitti
Hymenopus coronatus
All of them are Dundubia vaginata.
April 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
All of them are Dundubia vaginata.
Here are 3 beautiful mantidflies that I saw last month!
They are neither mantises nor flies; their larvae are parasitoids of spider eggs, and these adults appear to mimic wasps.
Euclimacia rufocincta
Tuberonotha sp.
Euclimacia sp.
They are neither mantises nor flies; their larvae are parasitoids of spider eggs, and these adults appear to mimic wasps.
Euclimacia rufocincta
Tuberonotha sp.
Euclimacia sp.
April 11, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Here are 3 beautiful mantidflies that I saw last month!
They are neither mantises nor flies; their larvae are parasitoids of spider eggs, and these adults appear to mimic wasps.
Euclimacia rufocincta
Tuberonotha sp.
Euclimacia sp.
They are neither mantises nor flies; their larvae are parasitoids of spider eggs, and these adults appear to mimic wasps.
Euclimacia rufocincta
Tuberonotha sp.
Euclimacia sp.
A pair of treehoppers tending to their eggs. The dorsal fin seems to be variable, as we've seen individuals nearby without any dorsal fin at all. Some also have a red longitudinal stripe on their wings.
Pyrgauchenia sp.
Gunung Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
Pyrgauchenia sp.
Gunung Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
April 11, 2025 at 2:39 PM
A pair of treehoppers tending to their eggs. The dorsal fin seems to be variable, as we've seen individuals nearby without any dorsal fin at all. Some also have a red longitudinal stripe on their wings.
Pyrgauchenia sp.
Gunung Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
Pyrgauchenia sp.
Gunung Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
Black-femur Selenocosmia, a mini gorilla.
EM10m4, Laowa 50mm 2:1, dual Raynox, 2.1mm cctv fisheye, lighted with Godox V350 diffused, handheld without looking through the viewfinder nor LCD screen. Working distance about 1cm to its face.
EM10m4, Laowa 50mm 2:1, dual Raynox, 2.1mm cctv fisheye, lighted with Godox V350 diffused, handheld without looking through the viewfinder nor LCD screen. Working distance about 1cm to its face.
March 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Black-femur Selenocosmia, a mini gorilla.
EM10m4, Laowa 50mm 2:1, dual Raynox, 2.1mm cctv fisheye, lighted with Godox V350 diffused, handheld without looking through the viewfinder nor LCD screen. Working distance about 1cm to its face.
EM10m4, Laowa 50mm 2:1, dual Raynox, 2.1mm cctv fisheye, lighted with Godox V350 diffused, handheld without looking through the viewfinder nor LCD screen. Working distance about 1cm to its face.
The primary eyes of spiders are known to exhibit a pigment ring shortly after ecdysis (moulting). During this phase, the lens grows until the pigment ring is no longer visible.
The pigment rings are typically more visible in salticids and deinopids.
The pigment rings are typically more visible in salticids and deinopids.
February 1, 2025 at 2:50 PM
The primary eyes of spiders are known to exhibit a pigment ring shortly after ecdysis (moulting). During this phase, the lens grows until the pigment ring is no longer visible.
The pigment rings are typically more visible in salticids and deinopids.
The pigment rings are typically more visible in salticids and deinopids.
This is the mystery spider egg sac covered with a veil of pink silk that was determined to be woven by a Poltys based on several rounds of discussion on iNaturalist and Twitter.
Thanks to @arachnonaut.bsky.social for the lead!
Thanks to @arachnonaut.bsky.social for the lead!
January 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
This is the mystery spider egg sac covered with a veil of pink silk that was determined to be woven by a Poltys based on several rounds of discussion on iNaturalist and Twitter.
Thanks to @arachnonaut.bsky.social for the lead!
Thanks to @arachnonaut.bsky.social for the lead!
The biology of scale insects is a mystery to me. What's their life cycle like? How do they eat? How do they mate? How do they lay eggs? What do their larvae look like? How do they even move?
January 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The biology of scale insects is a mystery to me. What's their life cycle like? How do they eat? How do they mate? How do they lay eggs? What do their larvae look like? How do they even move?
Has anyone seen and identified these large (~10mm) male araneids before? Longitudinal fovea, shoulder horns and stout tibia II with a distal pair of spines.
Not many araneids have large males so that narrows down quite a bit. Specimens found in Singapore.
Not many araneids have large males so that narrows down quite a bit. Specimens found in Singapore.
January 16, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Has anyone seen and identified these large (~10mm) male araneids before? Longitudinal fovea, shoulder horns and stout tibia II with a distal pair of spines.
Not many araneids have large males so that narrows down quite a bit. Specimens found in Singapore.
Not many araneids have large males so that narrows down quite a bit. Specimens found in Singapore.
Taking a pause on lantern bugs. Not sure what's next so here's a pleasing fungus beetle (why pleasing?) from the Peruvian Amazon. It's blue, so enjoy it!
Probably Cypherotylus debauvei, previously under the genus Gibbifer.
Probably Cypherotylus debauvei, previously under the genus Gibbifer.
January 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Taking a pause on lantern bugs. Not sure what's next so here's a pleasing fungus beetle (why pleasing?) from the Peruvian Amazon. It's blue, so enjoy it!
Probably Cypherotylus debauvei, previously under the genus Gibbifer.
Probably Cypherotylus debauvei, previously under the genus Gibbifer.
I happen to photograph stuff other than lantern bugs. Which is your favourite?
www.nickybay.com/macro-highli...
www.nickybay.com/macro-highli...
Macro Highlights – The Best of 2024 - Macro Photography by Nicky Bay
2024 has been a very special year. For many of us, going to another country for macro photography is a huge endeavor which involves a myriad of work and family logistics planning while we are away. Mo...
www.nickybay.com
December 29, 2024 at 3:11 PM
I happen to photograph stuff other than lantern bugs. Which is your favourite?
www.nickybay.com/macro-highli...
www.nickybay.com/macro-highli...
Not a parent caring for its young, but 2 species of lantern bugs from Ecuador.
The smaller Scaralis cf. nigronotata had scampered under Scaralis cf. picta for shelter.
Some trees attract more lantern bugs. We found at least 4 species on this tree alone. Yummy sap?
The smaller Scaralis cf. nigronotata had scampered under Scaralis cf. picta for shelter.
Some trees attract more lantern bugs. We found at least 4 species on this tree alone. Yummy sap?
December 26, 2024 at 2:16 AM
Not a parent caring for its young, but 2 species of lantern bugs from Ecuador.
The smaller Scaralis cf. nigronotata had scampered under Scaralis cf. picta for shelter.
Some trees attract more lantern bugs. We found at least 4 species on this tree alone. Yummy sap?
The smaller Scaralis cf. nigronotata had scampered under Scaralis cf. picta for shelter.
Some trees attract more lantern bugs. We found at least 4 species on this tree alone. Yummy sap?
Pyrops clavatus is typically covered with a white waxy layer, but has one of the largest bulbous tips at the end of its "snout".
Are you all sick of my lantern bug posts yet? What should I focus on next? 😅
Are you all sick of my lantern bug posts yet? What should I focus on next? 😅
December 20, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Pyrops clavatus is typically covered with a white waxy layer, but has one of the largest bulbous tips at the end of its "snout".
Are you all sick of my lantern bug posts yet? What should I focus on next? 😅
Are you all sick of my lantern bug posts yet? What should I focus on next? 😅
I found this beautiful pair of Pyrops intricatus on this tree and waited for several hours in hope that they would... you know you know.
But it didn't happen.
But it didn't happen.
December 17, 2024 at 12:56 PM
I found this beautiful pair of Pyrops intricatus on this tree and waited for several hours in hope that they would... you know you know.
But it didn't happen.
But it didn't happen.
Zanna nobilis is a unique saw-toothed lantern bug with multiple tubercles lining its "snout". If you look up close, you would see patterns like those found on a blue-ringed octopus.
December 13, 2024 at 2:02 PM
Zanna nobilis is a unique saw-toothed lantern bug with multiple tubercles lining its "snout". If you look up close, you would see patterns like those found on a blue-ringed octopus.
Pyrops whiteheadi is endemic to Borneo and pretty common in Sabah. It sports a shorter and crooked looking blue "snout" with pretty yellow galaxy-spots adoring its green-veined wings.
December 10, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Pyrops whiteheadi is endemic to Borneo and pretty common in Sabah. It sports a shorter and crooked looking blue "snout" with pretty yellow galaxy-spots adoring its green-veined wings.
Lantern bugs usually exhibit bright and beautiful colours while in flight. That's when their hind wings are exposed. Sometimes they may open their wings for a split second, especially when wet.
Here's Pyrops spinolae photographed in the rain. This particular morph exists only in Northern Thailand.
Here's Pyrops spinolae photographed in the rain. This particular morph exists only in Northern Thailand.
December 6, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Lantern bugs usually exhibit bright and beautiful colours while in flight. That's when their hind wings are exposed. Sometimes they may open their wings for a split second, especially when wet.
Here's Pyrops spinolae photographed in the rain. This particular morph exists only in Northern Thailand.
Here's Pyrops spinolae photographed in the rain. This particular morph exists only in Northern Thailand.
It is the month of Christmas and I'm spamming lantern bug photos so....
December 4, 2024 at 1:48 PM
It is the month of Christmas and I'm spamming lantern bug photos so....
Many species of lantern bugs tend to roost on the same host tree. On this particular tree in the Ecuadorian Amazon, we saw at least 4 species of lantern bugs in the day and another few others at night.
Here's a rockband of Scaralis cf. picta.
Here's a rockband of Scaralis cf. picta.
December 2, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Many species of lantern bugs tend to roost on the same host tree. On this particular tree in the Ecuadorian Amazon, we saw at least 4 species of lantern bugs in the day and another few others at night.
Here's a rockband of Scaralis cf. picta.
Here's a rockband of Scaralis cf. picta.