Ant-like/Dark Sac Spiders (Apochinomma formicaeforme)

Family Corinnidae

The next time you see what looks like an ant on its own, count the legs as it may have 8 and not 6 which means it is a Dark Sac Spider or Ant-like Spider.

 When moving, they move their front legs up and down to mimic the antennae of ants. They eat ants, termites other insects and spiders.

Info: Spiders of the Kalahari (Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman)

Whiteheaded Vulture

They have a body length of 78-82cm and males a wingspan of 202-220cm.

 They are not found anywhere else in SA except for the KNP area where they are seen in pairs or solitary.

The females lay only one egg per season with an incubation period of about 55 days.

 Although they are carrion eaters, they will also eats hares, francolin, lizards etc. This one was feeding on the carcass of an Impala.

Wavy Owl Moth (Calliodes pretiossima)

Family Noctuidae

Medium size wingspan of about 44mm.

 Found in subtropical and bushveld areas around the north western and eastern regions.

Marula and elephant myth

Ever heard of elephants getting drunk on Marula fruit? I do not know where the story started or came from but it is NOT true. They do love Marulas and in the process of eating them, they break off huge branches from the trees sometimes destroying the whole tree but the fruit passes through their bodies within 24 hours. They do not chew it so it comes out the other side still whole as can be seen in this picture resulting in the fruit not even being digested let alone having time to ferment. I cannot see why they bother to eat it as they can derive no nutritional value from them and yet they continue to love eating them. Maybe like us, it just fills up that little hollow space they have in their daily 300kg need.

Plum Dung Beetle (Anachalcos convexus)

Family Scarabaeidae

A large nocturnal species of dung beetle.

The adults feed on carrion as well as dung.

 Males and females jointly roll balls of dung away from source. After it is buried, an egg is laid in another ball and added to the nest.


Females, sometimes accompanied by males, care for their progeny until they emerge as adults.

Info: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa

Frog in postbox

On leaving one of the camps I walked past the postbox into which people put their chalet keys when they leave.

 To my surprise, there seated at the entrance was a frog. LOL!! I wonder when last keys were actually put in there? Unfortunately from the side glimpse I have of him, I could not identify it.

Hover Fly (Asarkina Africana)

Family Syrphidae 

I never seem to have much luck at catching flying insects as my camera is set much too low to get the movement in focus so it was surprising that these came out okay for a change.

For more information on this species, please go to: http://saphotographs.blogspot.com/2012/10/hover-fly-asarkina-africana.html

Zebra colouration

No two zebra have the same colouration and pattern as can be seen here by the thickness of the stripes, the colour and shadow stripes.. It even differs on each side of their bodies so when the young are born, the mother has to keep her foal seperate from the rest of the herd for a few days in order for him to learn it and be able to recognise her.

Spider Dung Beetle (Sisyphus bornemisszanus)

Family Scarabaeidae 

Adults congregate to feed on fresh dung, especially of small mammals as well as that of tortoise, toads and birds.

These are small beetles with very long legs. This dung ball is about the size of a pea.

Yellow Pansy male (Junonia hierta cebrene)

Nymphalidae Family

The male is recognised by the black do on each of his lower wings.

For information about them go to: http://saphotographs.blogspot.com/2012/03/yellow-pansy-junonia-hierta.html