Ladybird/Ladybug (Psyllobora variegata Sp)

Family Coccinellidae

 Members of this genus feed on fungus and in the case of Psyllobora variegata, it feeds mainly on downy mildew on grape vines.

 Above: Larvae

An African winter sunset

Yesterday I found myself on top of a high hill at sunset and took these pictures. Now I have taken pictures of sunsets before but wanted to try something different and came up with these. It is more a play on light, shadow and shapes than actual sunsets. The photographs have not been cropped or manipulated in any way. I am not sure if they are good or bad so would appreciate comments.

Longhorn Beetle (Gahania pinheyeri)

Family Cerambycidae

 This beetle is about 3cm in length but besides that, I can tell you nothing about it because there is no further info available.

Streaked Ermine (Estigmene linea)

Family Arctiinae

 A medium-size moth with a yellow body which has black dots along its sides.

 Common in SA in all but the arid regions.

 Larve feeds on Wandering Jew (Cyanotis) and Bitter Teabush (Veronia).

Desert Locust (Gastrimargus)

Family Acrididae

A large locust with both green and brown forms. Eggs overwinter with one generation per year. Feed on both tough and soft grass. Found throughout SA.

Long Spinnered Bark Spider - Hersilia Sp

The Hersiliidae is a family of spiders noted for their elongated posterior lateral spinnerets which can be as long as the abdomen in long-spinnered bark spiders and less in rock living species. Hersiliids are small to medium (4.5-12.5mm body length) dorso-ventrally flattened spiders, especially the arboreal genera. They are cryptically coloured in variegated shades of cream, orange, green, brown, grey and black, features they share with the family Selenopidae. Both families are quick and difficult to capture as they disappear into the narrowest of crevices.

 Their spinnerets are used in prey capture by swaying over the victim thus wrapping them in silk.

 Two genera are found in South Africa:

Hirsilia is usually found in trees and Tyrotama is usually found under rocks.

Their body is covered with a thick layer of hair.

Info:

http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/arachnids/spiders/hersiliidae/index.htm

Sibyllid Mantis (Sibylla pretiosa)

Family Sibyllidae - This is the only one of this family known in SA

It is of medium size - body length about 4.5cm

 It is usually found on the trunk of trees where it moves around feeding off insects.

 Thank you Barry for the confirmation of the species.

Longtailed Widow

These birds have very small bodies but in summer, the males grow a long tail of 40-50cm in order to impress the ladies.

They are found in large flocks where they feed on seeds and insects on the ground.

 Their area is inland (north) upwards from Port Elizabeth and covers most of the provinces where there are grasslands.


Their flight is low and laboured over the ground as the tail brings them down.

 At night they roost in reedbeds where they also build their nests during breeding season.


The males will have up to 6 females which he mates with at any one time and the female lays 2-4 eggs at a time which are a dull greenish white with brown and grey blotches.

Looper moth (Petovia marginata)

Family Geometridae - Loopers or measuring worms

Besides the name, I cannot find any information on this moth.

Tropical Tent Web Spider (Cyrtophora citricola)

Family Araneidae

The female moves around in the central area of the web and there also attaches the egg sac.

 The web is often found in plants such as aloes.

 They are medium-size spiders with eight eyes in two rows.

 Often seen with legs retracted, they do not look like spiders at all and are easily overlooked in the clutter of the nest.

 When attacked these spiders will drop to the ground where their colour helps them to blend in and become almost invisible.

Info from: Goggo Guide