At this time of year—autumnal and all—you may be strolling through a forest and find a strange lady with a binocular or magnifying glass in one hand and a book of insects in another. Pay her no mind, unless you are truly curious. She’s harmless, but maybe just a bit preoccupied. You may notice her looking closely between the surrounding leaves or up and down a tree bark. That’s where she looks for her favourite woodland creatures: the insects, such cute little critters.
The spooky season has reached its peak once again! Building on the hype of last year and the year before that, I really put some thought into this year’s costume. But can we call it a costume when I’m just being myself? Yes, I’m a real-life bug lady. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my frequent insect indexing—I take pictures of them and run them through an app to identify them like a Pokédex. So, although this costume was pretty last-minute, I’ve already had every insect paraphernalia to make it work.
At this time of year—autumnal and all—you may be strolling through a forest and find a strange lady with a binocular or magnifying glass in one hand and a book of insects in another. Pay her no mind, unless you are truly curious. She’s harmless, but maybe just a bit preoccupied. You may notice her looking closely between the surrounding leaves or up and down a tree bark. That’s where she looks for her favourite woodland creatures: the insects, such cute little critters.
The spooky season has reached its peak once again! Building on the hype of last year and the year before that, I really put some thought into this year’s costume. But can we call it a costume when I’m just being myself? Yes, I’m a real-life bug lady. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my frequent insect indexing—I take pictures of them and run them through an app to identify them like a Pokédex. So, although this costume was pretty last-minute, I’ve already had every insect paraphernalia to make it work.
📷 Fujifilm X-T100 with Fujinon Aspherical Superb EBC XC 15-45mm lens
Embracing Inner Creepy Crawlies
Feels like it’s been so long since the last time I put together a conceptual costume. The last one, I feel, was in 2021. Now, this year’s was actually put together pretty last-minute, although it was the result of a lot of thought. Originally, I was thinking about dressing up as a forest ranger or bug catcher Pokémon trainer, but didn’t have all of the clothes for it—and after a little online thrifting mishap, I was disheartened. That’s when I stumbled upon this photo on Pinterest and immediately, I thought, “This is literally me!” I was instantly reminded of the insect-themed scarf that Agung got me for my birthday earlier this month, but then I also remembered the vintage moth-patterned shirt I got from Etsy ages ago. Crossed my fingers that it still fit—and it did, although barely.
As for the props, we’ve got a vintage book of insects that I got from Oh! The Pretty Books and an old binocular that I found once upon a time among my late mother’s things—you may remember it from this post, literally the only time I’ve ever whipped it out. Yes, yes, I understand that bug enthusiasts don’t use binoculars, but I don’t have a net so this is the next best thing. Just so you know, the left lens of this binocular still works. So, again, I ask you: is this a costume when it’s literally just everyday stuff from my wardrobe?
Feels like it’s been so long since the last time I put together a conceptual costume. The last one, I feel, was in 2021. Now, this year’s was actually put together pretty last-minute, although it was the result of a lot of thought. Originally, I was thinking about dressing up as a forest ranger or bug catcher Pokémon trainer, but didn’t have all of the clothes for it—and after a little online thrifting mishap, I was disheartened. That’s when I stumbled upon this photo on Pinterest and immediately, I thought, “This is literally me!” I was instantly reminded of the insect-themed scarf that Agung got me for my birthday earlier this month, but then I also remembered the vintage moth-patterned shirt I got from Etsy ages ago. Crossed my fingers that it still fit—and it did, although barely.
As for the props, we’ve got a vintage book of insects that I got from Oh! The Pretty Books and an old binocular that I found once upon a time among my late mother’s things—you may remember it from this post, literally the only time I’ve ever whipped it out. Yes, yes, I understand that bug enthusiasts don’t use binoculars, but I don’t have a net so this is the next best thing. Just so you know, the left lens of this binocular still works. So, again, I ask you: is this a costume when it’s literally just everyday stuff from my wardrobe?
The Horrors of Nature and Beyond
Since this costume is inspired partly by nature, perhaps I’ll recommend horror movies set in nature for you guys. The first one that pops into my mind is Gräns/Border (dir. Ali Abbasi). This film follows a Swedish border guard with a peculiar sixth sense when, one day, she meets a strange man who looks eerily similar to her…and turns out to be a mythical being. Written by the brilliant mind behind Låt den rätte komma in/Let the Right One In. There’s also La Nuée/The Swarm (dir. Just Philippot), a French horror film I’d forgotten up until this point. It’s a terrifyingly eerie film about a single mother who finds the locusts she’s breeding has a taste for blood. Lamb (dir. Valdimar Jóhannsson) is another one that I recently watched. An A24 production set in Iceland—what is with these Scandinavian people and the threat of nature? This one is pretty wild and absurd, to say the least.
As for horror movies I’ve watched recently, I think we all know the winner of the year—Weapons (dir. Zach Cregger). It’s my most anticipated movie of 2025—been waiting for it since late last year or so—and I was not disappointed. It wasn’t a terrifying kind of horror, in my view, but it was heartbreaking at best. On that same note, I also recently watched I Saw the TV Glow (dir. Jane Schoenbrun), which is an eerie coming-of-age film bordering on psychological horror. It actually holds a powerful metaphor for the queer community. Lastly, if you like something short but hauntingly traumatising, there’s The Blue Drum (dir. Angelita Mendoza). It has this somewhat B-movie feel to it, but still packs a mean punch.
Etsy vintage top (old) | Toko Bonbeen bug scarf (gifted) | Bobo Tokyo skirt (defect sale) | Docmart boots (old) |
Urban Outfitters hat (old) | photos by Agung
Since this costume is inspired partly by nature, perhaps I’ll recommend horror movies set in nature for you guys. The first one that pops into my mind is Gräns/Border (dir. Ali Abbasi). This film follows a Swedish border guard with a peculiar sixth sense when, one day, she meets a strange man who looks eerily similar to her…and turns out to be a mythical being. Written by the brilliant mind behind Låt den rätte komma in/Let the Right One In. There’s also La Nuée/The Swarm (dir. Just Philippot), a French horror film I’d forgotten up until this point. It’s a terrifyingly eerie film about a single mother who finds the locusts she’s breeding has a taste for blood. Lamb (dir. Valdimar Jóhannsson) is another one that I recently watched. An A24 production set in Iceland—what is with these Scandinavian people and the threat of nature? This one is pretty wild and absurd, to say the least.
As for horror movies I’ve watched recently, I think we all know the winner of the year—Weapons (dir. Zach Cregger). It’s my most anticipated movie of 2025—been waiting for it since late last year or so—and I was not disappointed. It wasn’t a terrifying kind of horror, in my view, but it was heartbreaking at best. On that same note, I also recently watched I Saw the TV Glow (dir. Jane Schoenbrun), which is an eerie coming-of-age film bordering on psychological horror. It actually holds a powerful metaphor for the queer community. Lastly, if you like something short but hauntingly traumatising, there’s The Blue Drum (dir. Angelita Mendoza). It has this somewhat B-movie feel to it, but still packs a mean punch.
Etsy vintage top (old) | Toko Bonbeen bug scarf (gifted) | Bobo Tokyo skirt (defect sale) | Docmart boots (old) | Urban Outfitters hat (old) | photos by Agung
Down the Foraging Rabbit Hole
Not only about mushrooms, I also learn about other parts of nature. I learn how to tell the difference between a poisonous nut and a walnut. I learn what snails look like when they mate. And I learn how we, too, can grow mushrooms at home—which is something I’ve been thinking about doing. Absolutely love these accounts who make it their mission to educate people on things found in the wild. Some of my favourite newly discovered foragers include @foraging_ky, @thenatureeducator, @daniinthewild and @blackforager. Finding this small corner of social media has been pretty healing for me, since I’ve felt stuck in a big city away from any wild nature.
Lately, I’ve been grateful for the turn my Instagram algorithm has taken. Starting with some reels about giant puffball mushrooms, it’s now led me down this gorgeous foraging rabbit hole and I can’t stop flipping through content after content about all sorts of mushrooms in the wild. Not going to lie, I’ve developed a sense of wanderlust and envy for everyone who lives close enough to the forest. Now I know the kinds of mushrooms I otherwise wouldn’t have known, such as Chicken of the Woods, Bolete, Shaggy Mane, Beefsteak Mushrooms, and Purple Fairy Club.
Lately, I’ve been grateful for the turn my Instagram algorithm has taken. Starting with some reels about giant puffball mushrooms, it’s now led me down this gorgeous foraging rabbit hole and I can’t stop flipping through content after content about all sorts of mushrooms in the wild. Not going to lie, I’ve developed a sense of wanderlust and envy for everyone who lives close enough to the forest. Now I know the kinds of mushrooms I otherwise wouldn’t have known, such as Chicken of the Woods, Bolete, Shaggy Mane, Beefsteak Mushrooms, and Purple Fairy Club.
Not only about mushrooms, I also learn about other parts of nature. I learn how to tell the difference between a poisonous nut and a walnut. I learn what snails look like when they mate. And I learn how we, too, can grow mushrooms at home—which is something I’ve been thinking about doing. Absolutely love these accounts who make it their mission to educate people on things found in the wild. Some of my favourite newly discovered foragers include @foraging_ky, @thenatureeducator, @daniinthewild and @blackforager. Finding this small corner of social media has been pretty healing for me, since I’ve felt stuck in a big city away from any wild nature.
Little Bits of the Wild
By this point, I feel like you would’ve already guessed that these photos were taken in the same spot as last year and the year before. What can I say? This is the only good place with little bits of nature in the city. We took this a day before my birthday on our weekly Sundate ♥︎ If the photos feel a bit haphazard here, let’s just say we were less prepared this time around. Nevertheless, I feel like we got some great shots with what little resource we had in the capital. It could only be more fun and perfect if we were to spot any real rare insects—but alas, we did not. Afterwards, we grabbed some dinner, coffee and cake. It was such a lovely day!
What are you doing to celebrate the spooky holiday? Please tell me you haven’t got tinsels or snowy cheer just yet. It’s STILL technically October, people! Sorry, I just hate it when the big ol’ Claus holiday traipse all over the spooky season. Wait your turn, goddammit! If you’re planning on catching some non-ghost spooky films, feel free to take a look at my recommendations (or its full updatable version). And, of course, if you have any recommendation of your own, feel free to leave it in the comments. Otherwise, if you’re in that autumnal mood to forage, do count me in.
By this point, I feel like you would’ve already guessed that these photos were taken in the same spot as last year and the year before. What can I say? This is the only good place with little bits of nature in the city. We took this a day before my birthday on our weekly Sundate ♥︎ If the photos feel a bit haphazard here, let’s just say we were less prepared this time around. Nevertheless, I feel like we got some great shots with what little resource we had in the capital. It could only be more fun and perfect if we were to spot any real rare insects—but alas, we did not. Afterwards, we grabbed some dinner, coffee and cake. It was such a lovely day!
What are you doing to celebrate the spooky holiday? Please tell me you haven’t got tinsels or snowy cheer just yet. It’s STILL technically October, people! Sorry, I just hate it when the big ol’ Claus holiday traipse all over the spooky season. Wait your turn, goddammit! If you’re planning on catching some non-ghost spooky films, feel free to take a look at my recommendations (or its full updatable version). And, of course, if you have any recommendation of your own, feel free to leave it in the comments. Otherwise, if you’re in that autumnal mood to forage, do count me in.
Here are some of the insect shots I’ve taken in my life.
Aren’t they beautiful?
Here are some of the insect shots I’ve taken in my life.
Aren’t they beautiful?