Found this poor guy trapped amongst some debris at a gas station. Surrounded by a concrete jungle, he most likely wouldn’t have survived. Took him home and fed him and will release in the bush. He was a little feisty, but calmed after we got him home.
Some of you may have noticed that I had a bit of a hiatus from blogging. And although it was hard to find the time to post about the things I was seeing, I never stopped taking pictures. Life can get busy but when you stop seeing the beauty that’s all around you, it’s time to slow down. So, my apologies for the absence but here are a few pictures to get you caught up. And remember, although this is an entomology blog, beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Shield Bug
Male and female Rhinoceros beetles
Bee on Mock orange bush
Spangled Drongo
Male and female Galahs
First ever close up of a crow
Female Rhino beetle giving my nose a hug
Red-eye bug nymphs
My brave girl holding a Cotton Harlequin bug
Seriously big dragonfly
So what were your answers?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8,
The answers are as follows:
1. F, 2. H, 3. B, 4. G, 5. A, 6. E, 7. C, 8. D
1. Bird-dropping (Death’s head) spider
5. Pollen and nectar feeding katydid
6. Whip spider
Okay, so maybe you were only able to get #8…I did put it in there for a freebie. (And in case you think I’m completely crazy, you should know that the huntsman was dead…so I’m only half crazy.)
And don’t feel bad, I did not know 1-7 myself before researching them. But that’s the fun, isn’t it?
We had a couple of people guess all of them correctly, so a special WE shout out to Marc at entomacrographic and to Drhoz.
**Be sure to click on the above links (1-8) to find out more about the featured creatures.**
(All photos property of Lisa Vankula-Donovan unless otherwise stated.)
Every once in a while, I’ve come across something that just baffles me. (I mean besides why they don’t put more jam in jam doughnuts.) But, without having a background in anything related to entomology, it’s sometimes a challenge to figure out what it is. See, those experienced in the field can look at a number of things to at least narrow it down to an order. I’m getting better at it but, as you’ll see, some are just plain confusing. (But, if you’re a follower of the blog, these might not be that hard 😉 )
Can you guess what is what?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Now, match these letters up to the picture you think belongs with it.
A. Pollen and nectar feeding katydid
B. Rhinoceros beetle larvae
C. Early instar of an owl fly
D. Giant huntsman on my face
E. Whip spider
F. Bird-dropping (Death’s head) spider
G. Mountain Katydid
H. Lady bug (beetle) larvae
Post your answers in the comments below or on Facebook. Answers will be revealed in tomorrow’s post. I will announce the person(s) that got the most correct.
*All photos property of Lisa Vankula-Donovan unless otherwise stated.**
So, my friend Ted MacRae over at the Beetles in the Bush blog, did a fascinating (and by fascinating I mean, very in-depth, “keep your scientific dictionary right beside you”) post on a species of click beetle. And although I sometimes feel like an imposter while reading his blog, around the scientific words he successfully weaves in excitement about whatever his subject might be (see Beetles) that keeps you coming back for more.
To make a long story short, I have some click beetles of my own at my house. You probably do too. We’ve all seen them; those long, black beetles that ‘pop’ whenever you pick them up, in order to escape capture. But I have also noticed that a click beetle that seemed fine when I picked it up, suddenly has its legs pulled in in the familiar death pose.
Photo credit: http://www.brisbaneinsects.com
And so, this brings me to today’s word, Thanatosis.
Photo credit: http://www.whatsthatbug.com
Thanatosis is when an insect plays dead in order to avoid predators. Many animals do it too — opossums, some species of brown snake, some fish. Even teenagers sometimes do it when faced with angry parents. But in the insect world, there are quite a few species that do this. Some species of beetle, ant, spider (arachnids), grasshopper, damselfy and bee all do it. I’ve even noticed it in many species of moth.
So, today’s challenge is for you to use ‘thanatosis’ correctly in a conversation. Let me know how you go in the comments below!
Also, for a great read on click beetles, how they click and thanatosis, visit Ted’s blog HERE.
Wannabe Entomologist 