There are just over 320 iNaturalist observations of the Chilean Black Snail (Macrocyclis peruvianus), the largest land snail in Chile and the only living species in its genus. Read Pablo's story: www.inaturalist.org/blog/135712-...
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This adorable jumping spider is Fuentes yucatan — and you're looking at the first-ever iNaturalist record of the genus Fuentes! From the observer: "It's also the first record of the genus (and species) from Guatemala. Existing records are from Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama."
Look closely: this tortoise beetle is carrying around a dozen tiny hitchhikers. They're parasitoid wasps, each under 2mm, riding on a female Aspidomorpha chlorotica and waiting for her to lay her eggs, which they'll eventually parasitize.
It's always a good day to admire a snail. (You're looking at the species Plectostylus araucanus!)
In 2021, Kevin Faccenda started walking the University of Hawai'i campus, collecting every grass species he could find. Right outside the botany building, he found one that had never been recorded in Hawai'i. He's been working on grass taxonomy ever since.
Look closer at your local lilies! This one is Lori's Water-lily (Nymphaea loriana), which is known from only 3 populations in the wild. From naturalist Dustin Snider's notes on this observation: "Visited with local botanist Dave Biggs — a bucket lister for us both!"
Nankeen Night Herons (Nycticorax caledonicus): always majestic, never fail to bring the mood.
There are 31 iNaturalist observations of the harvestman Algidia viridata. Sebastian Doak has made 22 of them. Read his story: tr.ee/AwmgQ0_gh3
You're looking at the first and only iNaturalist record of a Puno Shade Lizard (Alopoglossus andeanus)! Reptile identifier Pete Zani noted the keeled scales on the side of its neck, smooth and bluntly pointed belly scales, and a few other features that align with the description of this species.
Meet the Indo-Pacific Rock-boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei) ... "boring" only in the sense of drilling a socket into solid rock with its spines and its teeth, then living in it. Dull it is not!
Behold: two Long-bodied Cellar Spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) preying on a centipede in Brazil. They're an introduced species there, and around much of the world ... you might have one near you, too!
"It is giving evil Olaf from Frozen," as said by the observant person who captured these amazing photos of an insect-colonizing fungus species, Erynia rhizospora, on a caddisfly.
Flatworm so green it could've been easy to miss among the moss ... but because this observer spotted it, we all get to experience these spectacular photos! There are currently only 6 iNaturalist observations of this species, Caenoplana tenuis.
You're looking at the first-ever iNaturalist record of the fungus Xylaria fulvella, both from close-up and *very* close-up.
May you never have a Moth Deficiency in your life. #MothWeek 2026 might be over, but these insects are still out there to be noticed!
YOUR 2026 MOTH CUP CHAMPION IS THE BLACK WITCH! 🏆 Ascalapha odorata takes the crown, with the Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa) coming in second place. Thank you to everyone who played along!
The Frosted Phoenix is sometimes called the “holy grail of New Zealand moths” — it was missing for about a century and thought to be extinct ... 🧵⤵️ 📷 by community members on iNaturalist: 1. pav_johnsson 2. carey_knox_southern_scales 3. jaega #Mothing #CommunityScience
THE MO(TH)MENT IS HERE TO CHOOSE YOUR CHAMPION! Final Moth Cup 2026 voting opens tomorrow, July 24 at 9am Pacific, in our Instagram stories. Who wins: the butterfly-like Tropical Swallowtail Moth, or the gargantuan Black Witch? These two earned their place in the finals thanks to your votes.
Meet Urodeta conocarpi, a leaf-mining moth so small you could easily go right past it without noticing. (Though, maybe not after reading this!) ⤵️
For 147 years, people thought this moth was extinct. Community scientists on iNaturalist changed that. 🧵⤵️
Semifinal matchups are here! The Moth Cup continues, and these four moths are up for a spot in the finals. (Psst, the Large Yellow Underwing was our wild card from the first round!) Voting starts the morning of 7/21 Pacific time in our Instagram stories, one match per day. Who's your pick?
📣 HAPPY MOTH WEEK! 📣 From now until July 26, things are going to be extremely moth-y on this page (prepare yourself). Here's a delightful little moth face (species Xanthodirphia amarilla) to kick things off.
The Moth Cup is on! Six moths from six continents, head to head, and it’s up to you to crown a champion for the year. Voting starts tomorrow in our Instagram stories, one match per day. And remember, the moth that loses by the smallest margin will have a second chance in the next round!
A rare find: Galeatus spinifrons, an Old World lace bug species introduced to North America. There are only 11 iNaturalist records of the species around the world, and you're looking at the only one from Eastern Canada (so far)!
Y'all hear we're hosting a totally serious and not at all silly competition in honor of #MothWeek? A peek at the contestants in thread. Voting starts July 17 in our Instagram Stories, so stay tuned. Feeling like we left out a moth that deserves to be in the competition? Let us know which one! ⤵️
Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix) primarily eat amphibians, but this one chose a different kind of snack.
Only ~10 iNaturalist observations exist of Pitcairnia alata — a stunning bromeliad endemic to Ecuador and known from just two subpopulations!
