Odds and ends - Part 8

Moths have such pretty patterns even though their colors are dull.
An interesting fungus growning on a dead tree stump.

Was this ant trying to hide away? :) Not from my camera it doesn't.

This bee was giving me the beady eye.

A ladybug-to-be in just another day or two.

Now here is a cute little fellow. Too bad his color clashes so with the flower he is on.

He is liable to become a meal for someone...

Interesting adaptation - Citrus swallowtail Larvae

The Citrus Swallowtail is indigenous to South Africa and can be found flying around for most of the year although the pupa hibernates during the colder months.
Before citrus trees were brought here, they fed on various other plants but adapted to their new liking for citrus as there were no other insects on them.

Their systems developed a way to process the oils found in the plant.

The larvae use these oils to develop a noxious smell which is exuded in the red forked scent glands they put out when threatened by predators.

They are large butterflies but unlike most of the species, have no long tails.

Both male and female sip the nectar from various flowers for moisture and energy.

Stick Mantis

This mantis is about 2 1/2 inches in body length. The females are wingless.

Cars in the Park - Part 10 Final

They also had some very beautiful motorbikes on show, old and new.....

Caterpillar

I found this one at work but naturally, I do not have a clue what it will turn into.
The hairs on its back grows in clumps, each one on a blue spot.

I put it in my lunch box to take home with me for a photographing session......

...... and it had a great meal on the left-over crumbs in it. :)

Pilansberg - Wild flowers - Part 7

I was there just after the rain and this means the ticks are out in full force, especially this little red ones. Needless to say, I did not do much walking that day.

He was clinging for dear life onto this grass stalk.

It seems it was the time when all the dragonflies were eager to have their photograhs taken too.

Warmbaths - Part 5

The beautiful but destructive Elegant Grasshopper.
It was enjoying a meal of this orange blossom.

The ants have hairs on their butts which were golden in color.

A prickly pear shooting out a new flower.

Wild flower with its own fly to keep it company.

In trying to get a good shot of this medium size spider, I had to keep on doing a backward leopard crawl as it came nearer and nearer.

Poor Fruit Chafer!! I wonder if it was stuck on this blade of grass as it seemed to be clinging onto it for dear life and not moving and inch.

The tiny spider seemed quite at home in this ants nest .... or was it the other way around? :)

The park - Part 4

In some places you walk under this canopy of red flowers from the Coral Tree.
This pretty looking stalk is from the Parafin bush.....

...heaven alone knows what it was doing in the garden as it is a weed and one banned from our gardens.

Aren't these lovely? Such a lot of colors to please the eye.

I do know know what this shrub is called but it was full of these lovely buds.

Mainly aloes but this shows you some of the variety of plants they use in the gardens and come in all shapes and colors.

Dotted along the pathways are nice benches to sit on and enjoy the quiet harmony of the place or maybe eat some sandwiches. I do prefer sitting on the lawn though. Benches are for old people. LOL!!

A Cranefly sitting on a leaf next to a pond.

A pretty bush with these lovely flowers. The centre is in such contrast to the white petals.