Summary

The website content is a personal essay by Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages, detailing their fascination and appreciation for the beauty and diversity of insects they have encountered during their nomadic travels, particularly in Uganda and other tropical regions.

Abstract

In a heartfelt exploration of the natural world, Jill and Chris share their enduring love for insects, which began in their childhood in Canmore, Alberta, Canada, and has continued to flourish throughout their nomadic journey. They recount memories of observing ants as a child and express their ongoing enchantment with the intricate beauty of insects, ranging from shiny beetles and colorful butterflies to the impressive praying mantis and a helicopter-sounding beetle. Through captivating photographs and vivid descriptions, they highlight the endless variety of insects and the joy they find in documenting and sharing their encounters with these "tiny packages" of nature's artistry. The essay is a response to Dennett's writing prompt "Tiny Packages" and serves as an invitation to appreciate the vast and fascinating world of insects.

Opinions

The authors express a deep and lasting fascination with insects, considering them beautiful and fascinating tiny creatures.
They believe that the diversity of insects is endless, with each species offering a unique aesthetic, from ornate to shiny, and even mimicking predators like snakes.
The authors emphasize the joy of observing insect behavior, such as a chain of ants creating a tunnel or a praying mantis found in their cottage.
They convey a sense of wonder and respect for insects, often taking the time to photograph and video them, suggesting that these creatures are worthy of attention and admiration.
The essay reflects an opinion that travel provides an excellent opportunity to encounter a wide variety of insects, which they find plentiful in most places they visit.
They share a cautionary note about certain insects, like a fuzzy caterpillar with stinging hairs, indicating an awareness of the potential dangers alongside their admiration.
The authors nostalgically reference popular culture, such as the opening segment of The Lion King, to draw parallels between their experiences and familiar imagery.
They encourage readers to explore and appreciate the insect world, suggesting that there is much to discover and that this appreciation adds richness to the experience of life.
The essay concludes with gratitude towards Dennett for the writing prompt, indicating that it has inspired them to share their passion for insects through multiple posts.

WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE

Insects Can Be Beautiful Tiny Packages

I will always be enamored with the variety of insects that grace our planet.

A small beetle was found on a bright-leafed plant in Uganda. Photo Credit: Author

Let’s be clear. I love tiny insects!

One of my oldest memories is of an old stump that was down by the river where I grew up in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. It was a rotting stump and there were constantly thousands of ants crawling on it.

Whenever I would go for a walk with my parents, I couldn’t wait to get to that stump so I could crouch down on my haunches and watch the ants crawl in and out of their little holes.

I could have sat there for hours, I am sure.

I can’t say that I am much different these days either. In fact, just today, here in Uganda, I was crouched down to inspect a strange chain of ants that had created a sort of tunnel across the road where we are staying. The locals were watching me curiously as I pulled out my camera to video them doing their strange ant things.

I have always been, and will always be, fascinated by the tiny creatures that inhabit our planet.

Below are just a few shots of some of the interesting insects that we have discovered along the path of our nomadic journey these last 4+ years.

Thanks to Dennett for her prompt “Tiny Packages” in her publication Weeds and Wildflowers.

Tiny Packages

April Weeds & Wildflowers Writing Prompt

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I’ll never tire of the variety of small beetle-type insects that we see. From very ornate, to downright shiny, the possibilities are endless.

We see praying mantes quite often in the tropics. The biggest one we saw was in Costa Rica, but one that we just found in our cottage while staying at the Entebbe Zoo (above left), was pretty large as well. We called her Tony.

A fuzzy caterpillar. Photo Credit: Author

We saw this fuzzy caterpillar crawling on the beach in Costa Rica while we were out on a kayaking expedition. Our guide told us to be careful because he said that the hairs will leave a nasty sting if one tries to touch them.

We always love to see dragonflies. Both of these were shot in Uganda in the same area. I was lucky to have them both pose for me for quite some time while I got some good shots.

Butterflies and moths are plentiful in most places that we travel. The first photo was taken in the jungle of Guatemala. This butterfly was at least 7–10cm (3–4") tall. As we got closer, we noticed that the top right of the wing looked like a snakehead.

The moth was shot in Costa Rica and it was bubblegum pink! Body, wings, and all!

A colorful grasshopper and another interesting beetle. Photo Credits: Author

We often see grasshoppers as well, but this one was super colorful and also in the mood for a photo shoot. The little black beetle with a long nose is a common one that we see, but not common enough that we don’t inspect it each time we see it.

I’m pretty sure that he is featured in the opening segment of The Lion King. Does anyone else remember that?

This beetle sounded like a helicopter flying by! Photo Credit: Author

This beetle was spotted in Botswana. We were out wandering around the garden where we were staying, and we heard the loudest buzz fly by us. We followed the noise and found that it had landed. It was about 5cm (2") long and so beautiful!

As I’ve been recalling these insects, I am also remembering others that I have not posted here. But like all things in this life, it is impossible to share it all.

I do hope that you have enjoyed my tour of some of the insects that we have seen during our travels. The insect world is vast and fascinating and I will never tire of seeing them all!

Thanks again to Dennett for your April writing prompt “Tiny Packages”. I have enjoyed sharing a few different posts for this prompt, and I do have one or two more to share if I get around to posting them before the end of the month.

Our Ugandan Praying Mantis Friend

We called him Freddy.

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Not All Tiny Things Bring Joy

We are under attack!

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The Beauty of Life Is Found In the Tiny Things

And I relish in the joy of finding them!

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Hi there, we are 2 Canadians, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages. We have been nomadic since 2017 living in numerous different countries, and experiencing the life and diversity of our planet on the ground and firsthand. We have now been on the African continent for over 2 years! Join our adventure by hitting the links below! Subscribe to Medium through my referral link to get full access to my writing plus thousands of others!