Kip’s Comments - January 13, 2023

Looking for Eyes or a Mouth

Every few weeks or so I travel with a family member to the state to our north. Our trips are necessary and trump any wandering outside with my Nikon.

When we are on the road I have camera equipment with me to document any scenic observations or wildlife sightings. Today we had nothing to record as far as scenery was considered. All wildlife observations were at too far of a distance to make efforts worthwhile.

Since I came home with no picture to share for my “Picture a Day” project (beginning 18th year on February 1), I was left with few options other than what I could work with at home.

I gathered all of my macro equipment - extension tubes and close-up filters - so that I could photograph at very close range the face of a waxworm. My goal was to clearly see the mouth parts or eyes, if they exist, on the waxworm.

Even with my magnification I was unable to enlarge the “head end” of the waxworm large enough to see a mouth or eyes. What I did notice was the waxworm sports intermittent stiff hairs on its body.

Do waxworms have eyes or a brain? Maybe… we have to remember that waxworms are not actually worms. They are the larvae of wax moths, I will need to research moth larva rather than worms to learn these details. This could get interesting!

Waxworm - Close-up - Image 788143

Waxworm - Close-up - Image 788140