Bugsnapz

Name: Bugsnapz
Address: Winnipeg, MB, CA
Telephone: +14312787795

🇱🇰🇨🇦 Bug lover here! Join me on my journey of discovery as I explore the incredible world.

08/08/2026

This plate illustrates two spectacular species of the giant, flightless ground beetle genus 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢: 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘢 and 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘹𝘢 (right), photographed and arranged by me for an article by Robert E. Wrigley.

𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢 beetles are among the largest members of the ground beetle family (Carabidae), reaching up to 59 mm in length. Their striking metallic green, copper, and orange margins contrast beautifully with their velvety black bodies, making them some of the most spectacular beetles in Southeast Asia.

📸 Olympus OMD E-M1 Mark II, M.Zuiko 60mm macro lens, & Godox V350o flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld stacked shots 🖐
cameras

©Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

08/03/2026

This striking green huntsman spider is most likely a species of 𝘎𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴 (Family: Sparassidae), although its identity is still uncertain.

It is one of the most beautiful spiders I've encountered in the forests of Sri Lanka. Its brilliant fluorescent green coloration, combined with the bold pattern on its abdomen, makes it truly unforgettable.

Nature never ceases to amaze with its incredible diversity. 💚🕷️🇱🇰

Rathnapura, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

📸 Olympus OMD em1 mark ii, 60mm Zuiko macro lens, & Godax V350o flash with diffuser
cameras@bbcearth@bbcwildlifemagazine@earth

©Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/31/2026

Is this spider really changing its eye color? 👀🕷️

While photographing this beautiful jumping spider, (𝘈𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴), I noticed something fascinating. Across the image series, its large forward-facing eyes seem to change from bright green to almost black.

This isn't because the spider is actually changing eye color. The apparent change is caused by the angle of light and the unique structure of a jumping spider's eyes. As either the spider or the camera moves, reflections from the layered retina change, producing different colors and brightness.

Nature never stops surprising me. Have you ever noticed this effect in jumping spiders before?

📍 Wariyapola, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

📸 Olympus OMD em1 mark ii, 60mm Zuiko macro lens, Raynox dcr 250 & Godax V350o flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld single shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/29/2026

Motherhood, spider style. 🕷️🤍

This is a Tailed Cellar Spider (𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘢 𝘭𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘪) carrying her precious egg sac. She protects and carries her eggs everywhere until they're ready to hatch.

📍 Wariyapola, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

📸 Olympus OMD em1 mark ii, 60mm Zuiko macro lens, Raynox dcr 250 & Godax V350o flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld stacked shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/23/2026

Bees, bees, and cool bees! 🐝🤍

I've been experimenting with photographing wild bees on a white background to reveal the incredible details that are often overlooked in the field.

1. Red-footed Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (𝘊𝘰𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘹𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘴) ♀
2. Modest Pebble Bee (𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘱𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮) ♂
3. Drury's Long-horned Bee (𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴) ♀

Which one is your favorite? 🐝✨

📍 Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦

📸 Olympus OMD E-M1 Mark II, M.Zuiko 90mm Macro IS PRO, Godox V860IIIo flash with AK OM-90 Pro

📌 Handheld stacked shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/22/2026

What's your first thought when you see this? 👀 What's actually happening?

At first glance, it looks like one insect is feeding on another. But that's not the case.

These are velvet ants, which are actually wasps rather than true ants. The much larger winged male has grasped the smaller wingless female, likely as part of courtship before mating.

A fascinating example of the extreme difference in size and appearance between males and females in velvet ants.

Wariyapola, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

📸 Olympus OMD em1 mark ii, 60mm Zuiko macro lens, Raynox dcr 250 & Godax V350o flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld single shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/21/2026

A tiny helicopter in the flower patch. 🚁🌼

Orange-tipped Wood-Digger (𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴) holding perfectly still in mid-air.

📍 Spurcewoods Prov. Park, Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦

📸 Olympus OMD E-M1 Mark II, M.Zuiko 90mm Macro IS PRO, Godox V860IIIo flash with AK OM-90 Pro

📌 Handheld single shot 🖐
cameras

©Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/17/2026

𝘊𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘢 (Walker, 1870) is a flightless species of short-horned grasshopper endemic to the lush rainforests of Sri Lanka. 🇱🇰

One of its most distinctive features is the bold white band across its head, which has earned it the common name White-faced Grasshopper.

📍 Sinharaja Forest Reserve, 🇱🇰

📸 Olympus OMD em1 mark ii, 60mm Zuiko macro lens, Raynox dcr 250 & Godax V350o flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld single shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/15/2026

Hi, I'm Thilina Hettiarachchi, an entomologist, bee taxonomist, and macrophotographer behind Bugsnapz.

I'm currently a PhD student at the University of Manitoba, where I study the phylogenomic diversity of prairie bees.

Most of my work focuses on insects and other arthropods, but today I'm sharing a few unforgettable reptile encounters from my trip to Sri Lanka last year. None of these were planned. I found every one of them while searching for bugs.

This collection includes several endemic Sri Lankan species, including the rare Karu's Horned Lizard.
Swipe through and let me know which one is your favorite! 🦎🐍🌿

📸 OM System OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M.Zuiko 60mm Macro, Raynox DCR-250, Godox V350O flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld single shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

07/14/2026

A tiny battlefield hidden beneath the leaves. ⚔️🍃

A swarm of ants overwhelms a helpless plant hopper. Nature can be as ruthless as it is beautiful.

📍 SinharajaForestReserve, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

📸 Olympus OMD em1 mark ii, 60mm Zuiko macro lens, Raynox dcr 250 & Godax V350o flash with diffuser

📌 Handheld single shots 🖐
cameras

© Thilina Hettiarachchi | TH

Address

Winnipeg, MB

Telephone

+14312787795

Website

https://linktr.ee/thilinabugs

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