Unexpectedly cute observations - what are yours?

[justineenjoyslife]

This teeny tiny fly is adorable.

[s3alampr3y]

Erioptera vespertina is all eyes

[ItsMeLucy]

Condylostylus! I think of them as the supermodels of the fly-o-sphere since they have long legs, pose prettily and come in a lovely range of colors, color combos and wing patterns.

[aaravmishra]

Oxyrhachis krusadiensis (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/342266931) is so cute!

Phintella vittata (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/351169531)

[justineenjoyslife]

Love this!!! Thank you!!! Super models indeed!

[adrien_ferrand]

This aphid wasn’t doing any favours to the roses, but after having a closer look at it… hard to be mad at it.

[blinque]

I was watching this bee on some violets and witnessed it carefully set itself on the top of the blooms then crawl down into the flower until it looked like it was doing a handstand. I got some pretty good shots of this and the bee still needs to be ID’d if anyone would like to help out while checking out a cute bee butt

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/348654678

[adrien_ferrand]

Not sure if this counts as “unexpected” since among the iNaturalist community I’m pretty sure there’s consensus on the fact that jumping spiders are the cute ones of the arachnids. But this one was particularly adorable in its behaviour: it jumped on the table I was on, and then towards me, staring with its big eyes.

[Star3]

Off the top of my head, probably these coachwhips playing periscope/peekaboo from a concrete driveway joint

Especially when one seemed to turn around for a “kiss”

[macrotim]

Ah yes, cute, but quite a challenge to get photos of! Particularly their love of jumping on cameras…

[paul_dennehy]

Any time a diatom looks like it has a little face. lol

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/204218067

[smwhite]

This Promethea moth was adorable. And some people think bugs can’t be cute!

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/350146804

[adrien_ferrand]

If you look at its eyes, you can see the reflection of my phone lens into it. Clearly it was already planning the jump !

[arthrop0denthus1ast]

This heptageniid is probably a good contender with the pseudopupils making it look like it’s expectantly looking at you… even if half of its body is covered by glare from the water :p

[Drew_Baxter]

Were these Mexican Twig Ants communicating with each other? Or were they simply feeding on the same part of the flower at the same time? In some of the photos, one ant touched the other ant’s head with its foreleg. https://www.inaturalist.ca/observations/361274102

[jenna489]

This orchard orbweaver was pretty adorable :)

[NatePerk]

Saw this cute Rosey Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) while working in the woods. It looked like this large fluffy moth was holding onto the tiny twig for dear life while warming itself!

I also might just find moths adorable.

[justineenjoyslife]

I think this White-margined Burrowing Bug that I found in my garden is cute.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/364756964

[Star3]

@Drew_Baxter

Were these Mexican Twig Ants communicating with each other? Or were they simply feeding on the same part of the flower at the same time?

Neither. They’re reenacting the Spider-Man upside down kiss.

[daisan]

@ItsMeLucy

What are some examples of your unexpectedly cute observations? I do not mean axolotls or baby squirrels or anything generally expected to be cute but rather things that were a little surprising. Here are three of mine.

The euceras and blister beetles realized what was happening before I did. Until the very end, I hoped the clouds would pass by.