Cucurbit Ladybird (Henosepilachna bifasciata)

 Family Coccinellidae

Each elytra has 6 large black patches and their bodies are covered in down.

Both adults and larvae feed on the leaves on various species of the pumpkin family including watermelons and cucumbers.

They are found throughout SA.



Larvae



White-barred Gypsy Moth (Palasea albimacula)

 Family Lymantriidae

Besides a description, I cannot find any interesting information on this pretty moth.

I was however able to take pictures of both sides of this one which is good for identification purposes.

Spotted Maize Beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)

 Family Melyridae

These are small beetles with scattered erect black hairs on their body.

Adults eat pollen and so they are seen clustered on various flowers and maize heads.


The eggs are laid under dry leaves.

 The larvae lives in the ground and feed on decaying vegetable matter sometimes causing damage to germinating maize seeds.



They were introduced here in 1916 from South America and is now a major pest in gardens and agricultural lands.


Ingestion of adult beetles has caused cattle deaths.

Spotted Joker (Byblia ilithyia)

Family Nymphalidae

Female - darker

 In the winter season, the colors of both  sexes are not as bright as in the summer.

Male

During the dry season the female had chocolate-brown bands replacing the underside hind wing orange bands.

Female

They are common in the north eastern parts of the region.

Male

Their habitat is grasslands and savanah.

Female

 

Male



Millipedes – Family Myriapoda

Fossils found of their ancestors date back to 450 million years ago and then they were 2m (6’) in length.

They have poor eyesight and depend on pheromone scents to find a mating partner.

 Females hollow out a chamber in which she lays up to 300 eggs at a time and they take 2-4 weeks to hatch.



The larger species of millipedes encase each egg with a clay capsule but smaller species do it around the whole batch.

Millipedes do moult and this process can take up to three weeks to complete as they have to extract each leg from the old sheath.

Their lifespan can be as long as 10 years and the Giant Millipede who has dormant periods, even longer.

Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)

The Harlequin Ladybird varies from yellow to orange to red and the number of spots it has is variable.

 Originally from East Asia, it is now an invasive species on four continents and can be recognized by the white cheeks and the black “M” on its face.

 It competes with local species for food and potentially causes disastrous, far-reaching ecological cascade effects.

Some people are allergic to its secretions and can be severely toxic to pets.

IT BITES!!!!!!!!! Unlike other ladybirds which are harmless.

 These ladybirds adversely affects wine-making, potentially causing large financial losses.

 They have been identified in South Africa from 2001.

 It is an almost indiscriminate predator of soft-bodied arthropods.

Larvae

Longhorn Moths - Adelidae family

Longhorn Moths belong to the Adelidae family and unfortunately there is not much information to be found on them.

There are about 70 species in the region but this is the first one I have come across. It is a very tiny moth, hardly more than about 4mm in length.

They feed on flowers and the larvae of some of the species form meandering scribbles in leaves which increase in diameter as the larvae grows. Others make cases like small bagworms.

Golden Bishop

These are small birds about the size of a Sparrow and flock together with the Red Bishop and other Euplectes species eating mostly seeds and herbs.

 Their territory is only the central and northern areas of SA.



They frequent wetlands and fields of wheat and sorgum.

Both parents feed caterpillars to the young.

Flower Mantis (Harpagomantis tricolor)

 Family Hymenopodidae

 This mantis can be recognized by the pink eyes with white dots and the double spine which projects forward from the middle of the head.

 It differs from the Eyed-flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi) in that it does not have the ringed “eye” on the wings.

 When they are older, the colours get darker but this is a baby, about 2.5cm in length (1”).

 They are widespread and common but not easily seen as they blend in very well with flowers.

 They stay immobile for long periods of time waiting for prey to come within reach.

Wisp Wing (Coenina poecilaria)

Family Geometridae

These are unmistakable moths with their wing shape and colours.

They are found in the north eastern part of SA only.

 heir habitat preference is the bushveld and its larvae has been recorded on potato plants.