Glass Beach is a protected beach, but not for its natural beauty. Located just outside of Fort Bragg, California it became an illegal dumping ground for residents in the late nineteenth century who lacked any kind of refuse pickup. It wasn’t until 1967 that the illegal dump was finally closed by city leaders and the local water board. The beach was cleaned of large refuse, but small pieces of glass and plastic that had been worn down by the elements remain, giving the beach its name and its unusual beauty.
Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) - Malaysia
From Wikipedia:
This species is characterized by brilliant and beautiful coloring and unusual structure; their four walking legs resemble flower petals, and the coloration of the bodies tends to match the environment in which they were raised. H. coronatus shows some of the most pronounced sexual dimorphism of any species of mantis; the males are generally less than half the size of the females. Young nymphs resemble ants with orange and black bodies. As the mantis grows in its environment, its color comes to more closely match the coloration of its surroundings with each passing molt. It has been theorized that humidity and intensity of light play a large role in the final coloration of the adult.
(Various photos from Google Images)
