Invertober Day 6: I did this coconut octopus walking around with a shell for the prompt for October 6, but it's fitting that I'm uploading this more detailed version on World Octopus Day, October 8. I probably should've placed the octopus a little higher on the page. Pentel brushpen, Faber-Castell brushpen, Prismacolor fine-line markers, and Sharpie fine-line marker on Canson mixed-media.
New art? New art! Got inspired and decided to participate in Invertober hosted by the wonderful @fossilforager!
Day 1 is the Sunburst Diving Beetle!
Some fun facts under the cut!
Thermonectus marmoratus is a diving beetle native to southern California, southern Utah, Arizona, Texas, and Mexico. These beetles primarily inhabit slow-moving and shallow freshwater habitats, exhibiting the ability to relocate by flight when their water source becomes depleted. To facilitate breathing while underwater, these beetles carry a bubble of air beneath their wings!
As predators and scavengers, they prey upon small aquatic animals such as other aquatic insects, snails, young fish, and tadpoles.
It's also worth mentioning that the aquatic larval stage of this beetle holds historical significance, as it was the first recorded instance of bifocals being employed in the animal kingdom!
Invertober Day 7: A common banded hoverfly referenced from some Encyclopedia of Life photos. Proportions are a bit off and I initially miscalulated the number of bands, which called for some correction. Pentel brushpen and Prismacolor fine-line marker on Canson mixed media.