New York Is home to all sorts of creatures, from birds and beasts to beetles and butterflies— plus everything in between. While most of our attention is focused on the recognizable and the charismatic, its important to remember the foundations of our complex ecosystems are often smaller than a fingernail. The alien and the unbelievable inhabit our parks and gardens too.

These critters may look less like familiar, with their numerous appendages and eyes, but a closer inspection will reveal more than their utility. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if you’re looking for the secrets of the universe, you only need to turn over a log.