For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Vacation Time - Day 4 Part 5

Skinks can get to about 4-5 inches in body length and all have this basic skin pattern. The bask in the sun and will allow one to get fairly close before disappearing but are very fast at moving to catch prey if one comes close.
Most skinks give birth to live young and have a very rapid growth rate. They have the cutest feet and use their nails to crawl up almost smooth surfaces.
This Red-sided Skink has highly polished scales. The males develop a bright red on their flanks during breeding season.
An unknown species of dropwing skimmer. Going by the color, it is probably a female and so many of them are similar, they are difficult to tell apart.
There are about 60 species in the area and most nymphs are found in stagnant water.
The tiniest weevil, about 5mm in length. It is not in my book so I cannot tell you what it is called.
Another pretty but “no-name” moth. Although it looks very much like one I posted earlier, it is not the same as this one does not have the see-through spots on its wings.
Update: This is Paradise Skipper (Abantis paradisea) family Hesperiidae
I think it is a Handmaiden (family Ctenuchinae) which are day-flying moths.
Once again, the eyes on this fascinated me. They are of medium size with a wingspan of about 2 inches.

Before heading out, I decided to have a sandwich and some coffee as it was about 10:30am and I was starving. I placed my order and went to sit at one of the tables and felt a tap on my shoulder. A very old lady sat down next to me and said “My dear, are you and artist or something?” I was quite puzzled by this and shook my head saying “Nooo. Why do you ask?” She answered “Well my dear, I have been sitting here watching you take photographs and I though you might be taking pictures of textures and patterns.” I smiled and told her that I was actually taking them of insects and my interest in them. She said that her niece is studying to be an entomologist and off we went on a long conversation while my food came and I had my coffee. What a sweet lady. It is not often I have people asking me what I am doing, most of them just look at me and hide their kids away in case I am crazy. LOL!!

18 comments:

Jo said...

Beautiful photos, Joan. I love the nameless weevil image. What a dear old lady you met while having a bite to ear. It's not often people ask with interest what you're doing when taking photos or watching something. Amazing how suspicious people are and how we run the risk of skulking past each other becuase of this. Thanks for a lovely post.

MadSnapper said...

the skink is fascinating up close. we have really pretty ones here with blue tails, have not seen one in a while. I did get a photo of a shield (stink) bug yesterday, coming up soon in a post near you. don't you just LOVE to run into people who talk like this lady. the camera is a good conversation starter. i love talking to strangers, what fun and glad you shared it. a small world we live in that we all connect on some level if we allow it.

Gaelyn said...

You are an Artist! Well, and crazy too. But that goes together.

I've seen skinks in the Pacific Northwest, very cool.

Unknown said...

When I post the skink shot I have to come to your blog and look for the name as I will surely forget it! :-))) Beautiful moth!

Diane said...

Amazing photos, I love the skink. I agree with Gaelyn, you are an artist in your own right, she know you better than I do, so maybe the crazy bit is right as well.LOL. The little old lady sound interesting. Diane

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jo. It is not often that people ask me what I am doing although they do stare with curiosity. This was really a sweet lady and I enjoyed our chat. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

We have the blue-tailed one here too Sandra and they are pretty common too. I look forward to seeing your bug. When I go out I mostly avoid contact with people as I live very much like a recluse but do chat to people like this lady occasionally.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Gaelyn. SO I am crazy am I? LOL!! Well okay, I will admit to just a teeny, tiny part of that but once again you are blurting out all my secrets. LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Anytime you want names, I am sure you will find a post on it somewhere here Jose. :) That moth was astounding with its beautiful colours.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Diane. You and Gaelyn are too kind but she should not be telling everyone I am crazy!! She was supposed to keep that info to herself. LOL!!

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Isn't it wonderful when somebody is curious about what you do and start an interesting conversation like that? I'm sure you showed her a couple of the pics you just took as well.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

We had a wonderful conversation. It turns out that here niece or someone is studying entomology/bugs and she wanted my blog address etc also, we were dicussing where I go to take the pictures etc. A really wonderful lady.

Times in Pilansberg, I have had people actually coming over to ask what I am taking pics of and I have shown them and this has always created a spark of interest as they tell me that they would never have seen or found it for themselves.

Gaelyn said...

I don't think that's a Secret. ;)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! Not anymore it isn't. :) Okay, instead of "crazy", let's settle on "different"?

Rambling Woods said...

Now that woman was observant too...

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I agree Michelle. It is not often I have someone coming up to me like that and I was quite pleasantly surprised.

Mary said...

A very pretty skink. In that head shot if you couldn't see the legs it would look like a snake. Pretty moth and dragonfly!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

We have some which are legless and they do look like snakes Mary.