Tim Gibb, Insect Diagnostician, Department of Entomology, Purdue University
Occasionally we see photographs of insects that are so bizarre or odd that
we really have to question their validity. Certainly the ease of posting
and the distribution potential that the web offers a freakish photograph,
makes this more than an unusual occurrence. The technical capabilities of
most high school students with a bit of extra time and a good imagination,
makes the electronic manipulation of digital photographs relatively easy.
As a result it is not uncommon to see photographs on the web of outlandishly
large or menacing looking insects, with equally fantastic stories to
accompany them.
The photograph below, for example, was sent to me for identification. It is
actually a picture of a common bed bug. However, to make the bug look more
startling, someone has added color enhancements; a green face, blue eyes and
a red ominous looking mouth.
We must be careful about how we respond to digital photographs with unknown
origins. Certainly we do not want to validate or propagate inaccurate
stories or digital images. If there is a question, common sense and a quick
comparison to published text books or field guides is in order.
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