Sunday, March 20, 2011
Farm - Part 2
Rock Pigeons are very distinctive with a large red circle around their eyes and are the largest of the species here.
Weavers collect pieces of palm fronds, grass and anything else in that line with which they build and line their nest.
Considering they only have a beak to build with, the nests are something which we cannot duplicate using two hands!! They are strong and can withstand very harsh storms.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Odds and Ends - Part 14
This is a very strange creature, about 4" in length and I think it belongs to the Stick Insect. This was a very nice description of them:
"The Phasmida (stick and leaf insects) are plant-eating insects often resembling sticks or broad leaves. They do not have their hindlegs adapted for jumping as in the closely related order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, katydids and crickets.) Whilst there are about 3000 species, only about 30 are leaf insects.
In the daytime these typically long, slender stick-like insects remain remarkably well camouflaged in their habitat, commonly in woodlands, jungle or gardens. In fact, they may be present in gardens for years without being noticed. Go out at night with a torchlight and they are then active, walking about and feeding. Many are not the boring, placid twigs people imagine them to be. Some species have an amazing range of behaviour, including using spiny legs in defence, as well as chemical defences. They are prepared to shed a leg in an effort to escape (capable of re-growing later if the insects are pre-adults). A number of species are winged in at least one sex – sometimes the wings are brightly coloured and flashed open to startle a potential predator. In the absence of males, many species are able to reproduce by parthenogenesis (egg development without fertilisation) – a handy means of survival.
Eggs are often seed-like in appearance. They are usually dropped onto the ground, where knobs on the eggs of some species are attractive to certain ants. Some species glue eggs to branches, or deposit them in crevices. Despite good camouflage, predators such as birds and animals eat all stages of stick insects; hence females lay many eggs (over 2000 in some species)."
This spider was very small, maybe 4mm in length and most of it was legs.
"The Phasmida (stick and leaf insects) are plant-eating insects often resembling sticks or broad leaves. They do not have their hindlegs adapted for jumping as in the closely related order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, katydids and crickets.) Whilst there are about 3000 species, only about 30 are leaf insects.
In the daytime these typically long, slender stick-like insects remain remarkably well camouflaged in their habitat, commonly in woodlands, jungle or gardens. In fact, they may be present in gardens for years without being noticed. Go out at night with a torchlight and they are then active, walking about and feeding. Many are not the boring, placid twigs people imagine them to be. Some species have an amazing range of behaviour, including using spiny legs in defence, as well as chemical defences. They are prepared to shed a leg in an effort to escape (capable of re-growing later if the insects are pre-adults). A number of species are winged in at least one sex – sometimes the wings are brightly coloured and flashed open to startle a potential predator. In the absence of males, many species are able to reproduce by parthenogenesis (egg development without fertilisation) – a handy means of survival.
Eggs are often seed-like in appearance. They are usually dropped onto the ground, where knobs on the eggs of some species are attractive to certain ants. Some species glue eggs to branches, or deposit them in crevices. Despite good camouflage, predators such as birds and animals eat all stages of stick insects; hence females lay many eggs (over 2000 in some species)."
This spider was very small, maybe 4mm in length and most of it was legs.Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Flower Mantis (Harpagomantis tricolor) Hymenopodidae
An update of the Flower Mantis (Harpagomantis tricolor): he has now lost his curled up body, got his first wings and is very pretty. The danger is of him flying away when I feed him.
This is exactly what he did on day and I was so sad it happened as I was hoping to get pictures of him into adulthood. Maybe I will be lucky enough to find another one.
In searching for him, I found another strange one. Below: Cone-headed Mantis Family Empusidae
I have never seen so many different species of Mantis as I do not living back in the bush. Some of them have very larh forefeet and others not. Below: Stick Mantis (Hoplocoryphella grandis) Family Thespidae
This is exactly what he did on day and I was so sad it happened as I was hoping to get pictures of him into adulthood. Maybe I will be lucky enough to find another one.Monday, March 14, 2011
Leeufontein - Part 2
Has there ever been a plant which is more thorny than this? Yet, these thistles are very pretty when they flower.
Well I sure had my share or running and leopard crawling after this pretty butterfly!! :) This is a Common Bush Brown (Bicyclus Safitza) and belongs to the Nymphalidae family.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
I have learnt a new trick……
As one goes along in life, you always learn new things in life plus tips and tricks.
Taking pictures of butterflies and moths are always a problem as you can get one side of the wings but not the other.
Now I have discovered a way to do it…. Put it in a glass jar and take a picture through it. :) Simple!! LOL!!
This is a Guinea Fowl butterfly (Hamanumida daedakus) - not to be confused with a bird of the same name. :) They are large and belong to the Nymphalidae family. Their markings are very distinct so they are easy to recognize. I actually thing his underside more attractive than the top.
Taking pictures of butterflies and moths are always a problem as you can get one side of the wings but not the other.
Now I have discovered a way to do it…. Put it in a glass jar and take a picture through it. :) Simple!! LOL!!
This is a Guinea Fowl butterfly (Hamanumida daedakus) - not to be confused with a bird of the same name. :) They are large and belong to the Nymphalidae family. Their markings are very distinct so they are easy to recognize. I actually thing his underside more attractive than the top.Thursday, March 10, 2011
Leeufontein Part 1
One weekend I was asked to join a friend of mine in a private game reserve to go bug hunting and naturally I do not need to be asked twice.
The place is called Leeufontein which translates to Lions Fountain but it has been many, many years since a lion was actually seen there. We arrived just after sun up and found that there were miles of paths we could walk through.
On of the first things I found was this…..can you make out what it is?
Yes, a Stick Grasshopper disguising itself as a piece of grass. :)
The place is called Leeufontein which translates to Lions Fountain but it has been many, many years since a lion was actually seen there. We arrived just after sun up and found that there were miles of paths we could walk through.
On of the first things I found was this…..can you make out what it is?
Yes, a Stick Grasshopper disguising itself as a piece of grass. :)Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I found someone....
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tangle-veined Fly Family Nemestrinidae
Yeah, those names got your attention didn't they? LOL!! Mine too!! :) Sometimes I think it a good thing I did not study entomology as I would have turned grey trying to remember these names one can hardly even pronounce. LOL!!
In trying to identify insects, I have been told that the only way to do so is under a microscope in some instances. Take a look at these pictures and you will see what I mean.

In trying to identify insects, I have been told that the only way to do so is under a microscope in some instances. Take a look at these pictures and you will see what I mean.

Labels:
diptera,
Nemestrinidae,
Tangle-veined flies
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Bush - Part 12
My walk took me into the more civilized world of the garden and this tiny crab spider caught my eye.
It was right in the centre of the pink rose but its colors and size made it very difficult to spot as he blended in so well.
I liked the color of this rose.....
But my most unusual find of the day was this....... It was extremely small, maybe about 4mm in length and because of the most unusual large, stiped eyes and mouth parts and waht looked at first to me like two upper bodies, I could not identify it at all so I sent it away to someone who could help me with it.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wasps and Mantis
Females of Spider-hunting Wasps run about the ground flicking and jerking their wings.
They provision their nests with one paralyzed spider usually many times larger than themselves and which they drag along the ground to get it there..
They provision their nests with one paralyzed spider usually many times larger than themselves and which they drag along the ground to get it there..
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