Odds and ends - 2

Odd things photographed around the garden.

Prong-tailed Weevil (Bronchus furvus) Family Curculionidae

We have Weevils (family Curculionidea) of all sizes and colors here. This one is of the larger species being almost 2 inches in body length.

Short Horned Grasshopper (Oxycatantops adustus) Family Acrididae

A medium size grasshopper with very interesting colours.

Amarilla - life cycle

The Amarilla is grown from a bulb and are summer flowering. They grow very well in pots for people who do not have gardens. When a flower dies off, cut the stem off just above the ground. In winter, take the bulb out and preserve is in a cool, dry place, packed in wood shavings. About 2/3 months before spring, take it out and begin to water it again.

Pygmy Emperor Moth (Rohaniella pygmaea) Saturniidae

Is this not the most beautiful moth you have ever seen???? It is large, 4-5 inches in width. They are nocturnal and only live for 3-5 days. The males have this comb-like antennae.

Speckled Ermine Moth (Ethmia circumdatella) Ethmiidae

 Small, about 1/2 an inch in length and unfortunately, not much is known about them.

Fluffball Chafer (xeloma tomentosa) Scarabaeidae

Also called Gold-haired Fruit Chafer  This is a small beetle being only about a half inch in body length. The adults feed on flowers.

Cicadas

I came across this unusual stack of cicadas and wondered what they were up to? Maybe it was just because of the coolish evening which had passed. LOL!!

Special occasions

I don't think there is a person on this planet who does not have a special flower. On special occasions, what more could anyone want?

CMR Bean Beetle (Mylabris oculata) Meloidae

These belong to the same family as blister beetles and are the bane of anyone who has a lovely garden. They eat every flower your have plus cotton, beans and citrus crops.
They are just over an inch in body length. The larvae however, regulate the numbers of grasshopper by parasitizing their egg pods.

I'M CELEBRATING!!

IT IS RAINING!!!

It is the first we have had since March/April!!

I thought this drought would NEVER end!! What a blessing!!

You can't see me....

DID YOU KNOW THAT FIGS ARE A FLOWER AND NOT A FRUIT??

This first one reminds me of John Cena on WWW ..... "You can't see me". LOL!!
When the figs are ripe you do not get the chance to pick any as they are covered in bees.

Common Fig is widely grown for its edible fruit throughout its natural range in Iran and also in the rest of the Mediterranean region and other areas of the world with a similar climate.

It has been an important food crop for thousands of years, and was also thought to be highly beneficial in the diet. The edible fig is one of the first plants that were cultivated by humans
Nine subfossil figs of a parthenocarpic type dating to about 9400–9200 BC were found in the early Neolithic village Gilgal I (in the Jordan Valley, 13 km north of Jericho). The find predates the domestication of wheat, barley and legumes, and may thus be the first known instance of agriculture.
Figs can be eaten fresh or dried, and used in jam-making. Most commercial production is in dried or otherwise processed forms, since the ripe fruit does not transport well, and once picked does not keep well. In Bengal, the fruit is called Dumur. It is cooked as a vegetable and is believed to be good for heart ailments.
Figs are one of the highest plant sources of calcium and fiber. According to USDA data for the Mission variety, dried figs are richest in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin K, relative to human needs. They have smaller amounts of many other nutrients. Figs have a laxative effect and contain many antioxidants.

Rhombic Egg-eater Snake (Dasypeltis scabra) Colubridae

This friendly little fellow belongs to a friend of mine who collects strange pets.