Garden bug. One of my kids said it was an “oil bug”. It fell into this little bowl and couldn’t get out, which is where we found it. Tucked in some tall grass by the side of our playhouse. In the photos you can see it’s really tiny wing cases. In one of the photos it’s wings seem to be unfolding. It used its middle legs to comb the wings, I think to get them to open. it was also arching all its legs and body backwards and holding that posture, kind of like bug yoga. I don’t know why, maybe also helpful in opening the wings. Seems to have really good eyesight. When I get close with my fingers it leaps into a defensive display, arcing abdomen upwards and opening its jaws. We think if we touch it, the abdomen will spray us with something gross
Worm from a mussel colony attached to dock at Lake Merritt
near Alameda Creek, across from family camp area
On the hood of a car, my pointing fingertip for comparison.
On the hood of a car, my pointing fingertip for comparison.