Wednesday, June 30, 2010

OMG! Bedbugs!

My mom found one of these bastards crawling on her in the kitchen.......she called me and well that's when all hell broke loose.

I thought it was a mosquito at first......but it obviously wasn't.



Remember this? Yeah.....I thought you might. I had posted this a while back. I think that little bastard came from the pool.

I went to the pool earlier today and there were tons of bugs flying around....

1 Cucumber Beetle ( In my house around 4:00AM )
1 Convergent Lady Bug ( Pool )
1 Treehopper ( Pool )
1 dragonfly ( 99% sure it was a "Saddle bags" )

I pray to God that that's the last one we ever see in this house.....

Monday, June 28, 2010

The Miniscule Series - The Fly Makes Fun of The Small Spider



Very important lesson to learn here kids. Remorse.

Cute as hell though right?

Download:

The Fly Makes Fun of The Small Spider

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Red Admiral Count

I'm keeping track of all the red admirals I've seen this year. So far it's 20.

When And Where I've Seen Them:

Morning Side ( 18 all together )
My House (1 right outside the entrance )
One of My Churches ( 1 flying around the bushes to the entrance )

Who knows how many more I've yet to see!!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Miniscule Series - The Beetle and The Mirror



Somehow I think some of this could actually happen......

Download:

The Beetle and The Mirror

Your Welcome!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Butterflies

All of the butterflies and bugs I saw today Morning Side:

4 Red Admirals ( one was by my house and I got to touch them! *Squee* )
LOTS of Carpenter bees
LOTS of Cabbage Whites
1 Silver Spotted Skipper
2 Clouded Sulphers ( Male and female ( white form ) OMG! )
2 Geometrid Caterpillars!!
2 -3 Honey Bees
Various other bees
European Paper wasps or Yellow Jackets

So very happy!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Miniscule Series: Ventilator With Spider Against Fly



There is some truth in this. Spider silk is very strong. Either as strong as steel or stronger.

Can't remember which but I'll go and look it up.

Download:

Ventilator With Spider Against Fly

Untill next time my pretties! Aren't the bugs just the cutest? *.*

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Jamaican Monarch Danaus cleophile


Jamaican Monarch - Danaus cleophile

Sorry about the watermark. I'll see if I can get it removed. Until then.

There isn't anything on this one other then distribution. Disappointing.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Miniscule Series - The Latin Cicada

Imagine if they were this impressionable.



And this also has a very important message in it.

Can you figure out what it is? Bonus points for you if you do!

Download:

The Latin Cicada

Your welcome

Monday, June 21, 2010

Bug of The Month: Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus

I saw one today at my local park and I got all sentimental. XD I guess because never in a million years would I think of seeing one here of all places.

But I should be more expecting I guess. But I love surprises. Who doesn't?

On with the info. Since Wikipedia is keen on giving detailed descriptions of the butterfly instead of info on it's biology and life cycle.....smh I think I'll look elsewhere for anything that I didn't already know on this gorgeous butterfly.

For instance the female has 2 forms. A yellow one ( photo ) and a black one. Presumably to mimic Pipevine Swallowtails ( Battus philenor ). Why? Well because they're toxic. Think Monarch butterfly and you should get it ( Monarchs are toxic ).

But what I don't get is why it's only the females that do so? With the Viceroy ( Limenitis archippus ) mimicking the Monarch it isn't just one sex that does it. Both sexes mimic the Monarch and do so well that when they're flying especially you can't tell the difference.

So for only the females to do so is odd.....but there must be something to gain from this. But what? Well I'll try and look into that some other time.

Info sources listed below. Enjoy!!

Males patrol for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on host leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids overwinter.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a large (12 cm wingspan) swallowtail butterfly. It is found in the Eastern United States, as far north as southern Vermont, and as far West as extreme Eastern Colorado.

It flies from spring through fall, and most of the year in the southern portions of its range, where it may produce two or three broods a year.

Please note that there is more then one species of Tiger Swallowtail.

In the Appalachian region, it is replaced by the closely-related and only recently described larger-sized Papilio appalanchiensis, and in the north, it is replaced by the closely-related Papilio canadensis. These three species can be very difficult to distinguish, and were formerly all considered to be a single species.

There are two morphs of adult females, a yellow and a dark one. The yellow morph is similar to the male, except that the hind wings have an area of blue between the black margin and the main yellow area.

In the dark morph, most of the yellow areas are replaced with a dark gray to a black. A shadow of the "tiger stripes" can still be seen on the dark females. The dark form is more common in the Southern portions of the range, especially in areas also inhabited by the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail, which it seems to mimic.

More on Tiger Swallowtails in general some other time. Enjoy this!

Sources:

Butterflies and Moths of North America ( the site )
Wikipedia

Copyright infringement is not intended.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

First Day of Summer! YAY

Today is the first day of Summer! YAY!

Any bugs? Nope I didn't have time to go to the park. I do I have plans to go tomorrow to celebrate properly. I only wish my fuzzy little friends Halysidota harrisii would make an appearance.

It's been over a year since I've seen them.

I miss them. :(

Update!

Since writing this my house has been invaded with these:

Plant bug ( Miridae )
Leaf hopper
A June beetle
Small beetle don't know what kind

I must say THANK YOU!! It's like they knew......I think somehow they did.

Thank you.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Miniscule Series - Fight For The Lollipop

I LOVE this! Absolutely priceless!



Imagine something like that happening in real life! Smh it's too cute!

Ultra kawaii at the ending!!

Download:

Fight For The Lollipop


Again your welcome!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Long Tailed Spangle - Papilio macilentus

Long Tail Spangle ( Papilio macilentus ) - 긴꼬리제비나비 ( in Korean ) is one of 700 species of Swallowtail butterflies.

Of course the number of species of Papilionidae have most like increased so 700 is just what I'm going by according to my books. There's plenty of more out there waiting to be discovered for sure and I look forward to hopefully finding out about them.

Usually with tropical butterflies there isn't a lick of information on them. But with this one I was pleasantly surprised that there was something on them.

Once again Wikipedia provides. I advise you to do extra research.

Papilio macilentus is a Papilionidae butterfly found in Japan, China and Korea. It is found in the valleys or the margins of the forest. This species has the longest tail in the family Papilionidae.

The spring type is found from April to June, and the summer type from July to August. The larvae feed on citrus. During daytime, females fly low and lay eggs one by one on the leaves of the plants. The species hibernates in the pupal stage.

Males have whitish markings in the overlapping part between the fore wings and the hind wings.

Funnily enough I think that this is the only fully black Swallowtail that I know of atm.

Bonus: A video of a male Papilio macilentus drinking minerals from the soil



Absolutely beautiful. I would die if I saw any tropical lepidoptera.

Until next time!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Bug Inventory At The Park

Ok my pretties!

I saw more bugs today!

Carpenter bees ( Only God knows how many they're were )
4-5 Cabbage Whites
3-4 Plant bugs ( Miridae *sp?* )
2 orb weavers
2-3 Adult ladybugs & tons of their larvae ( Harmonia axyridis )
Tadpoles ( yes I know they're not insects :P )
A mother duck and her ducklings ( swam up to me too *precious* )
Damselflies ( Bluets maybe? )

That's all of them. Had a wonderful day and I look forward to more.

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Miniscule Series

I have no idea where these are originally from only that I love them. So enjoy!



This I had posted a link to before but for all I know it might be broken.

Damn that ladybug is a two timing bastard!



Like mother like daughter. Pass on the tradition to your children......

Teaching it's children to be two timing bastards just like their mommy.

Download:

La Coccinelle

A Good Education

Download credits: Me of course. :P Your welcome!

Monday, June 07, 2010

Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

Idk.......this is a random one today. I totally did not plan this at all. But enjoy anyway. Once again Wikipedia provides. But I urge you to do extra research on these and any other entries past, present, and future cause Wikipedia isn't always reliable.

Especially for some reason when it comes to mantids.....*scratches head* why is that?

Any way just read this excerpt and the rest in the link provided and do extra research to confirm that what Wikipedia says is true.

I don't want to be providing false information. You know how embarrassing that is?

On with the info!

The hawthorn shield bug, Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale, is a common European Shield Bug. Its chief food is haws, the fruit of the hawthorn tree, but adults can overwinter on a diet of leaves, and individuals can be found on many potential food plants, including pedunculate oak, sessile oak and whitebeam.

They may grow up to 17 mm long, and are camouflaged in shades of green and brown. Like many so-called "stink bugs", they may release unpleasant odours when disturbed.

Rest of info here. Remember go do your research!!

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Water Measurers - Hydrometridae


Well when I tried to find out more on these it was difficult because I was aiming for any individual species. Turns out there's hardly anything on them.

Why? I have no clue. But there is a bit on water measurers in general. For now I guess I'll have to stick with that but I'll have a poke around Bugguide and see if there's any interesting info tied to a specific species. There must be because I have questions.

I mean how do they reproduce? Being that they're Hemipterans/Homopterans how and where do they molt? What are the details on their life cycle as a whole?

I mean all these questions and no answers? Same goes with every other insect that makes it's living on the water's surface. If they're known to science surely there must be something on them other them what Wikipedia provides?

Add the fact that Wikipedia isn't always reliable I'd like to hear about them from multiple sources but..... Until then I'll just go with what we know.

But I will keep looking for anything else that pops up.

Linky! Keep in mind this is water measurers in general.

Also this is interesting as it mentions 2 species of water measurer Hydrometra stagnorum and H. gracilenta which is endangered.

And since I just discovered this site I'll have a poke around there.

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Black Leaf-Leg Phylloscelis atra

This isn't a beetle but it would fool anyone into thinking it was. This is a planthopper a beetle. And according to Andy Hamilton they live together with leaf beetles ( Cryptocephalus sp. ).

I have no idea why. What benefit would they get from living together?

I know that certain species of leaf beetles have toxic properties but the ones these are living with are found on wild mint and to my knowledge wild mint doesn't have any toxic properties that I know of. Unless of course I'm missing something?

And if I am what? This is mind boggling because I can't find anything else on them other then what Andy says and the general info from Bugguide.

So this is indeed very interesting....I want to know more naturally.

Copyright infringement is not intended.

Friday, June 04, 2010

Aquatic Insects

A list of all aquatic insects that I plan to do entries on hopefully this month:

Water Striders:

*Species covered:

Velia caprai

Water Measurers
Water Treaders
Water Boatmen
Backswimmers

There are more but I have to go start researching species!!

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Water Cricket Velia caprai


Yeah....this doesn't look like a cricket does it?

Yup that's what I thought too when I went researching these. I remember reading the name somewhere in the library.....I'm not sure if it was in a book or on the computer the point is I came across it thinking it was an actual species of aquatic cricket.

Nope. Turns out it's not a cricket but one of the Water Striders in the family Veliidae. For those of you who don't know what a water strider is the best way I could put it is....

....A really cool bug that skates across the surface of water.

That's for you people who don't have "entomological connections" ( is that even a word? ).

In other words I was nice enough to simplify it for you. :P For those who want a nice long scientific explanation well.......your wish is my command:

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class: Insecta (Insects)
Order: Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder: Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder: Gerromorpha
Family: Veliidae (Broad-shouldered Water Striders)
Genus: Velia
Species: caprai ( Velia caprai )

Understand all that? No? Well that's too bad cause I don't have a clue on how to simplify that for you "simpletons" ( no offense intended ).

I suggest you start Googling these terms. Wikipedia would be happy to help.

I wish I could provide some info on this particular species but there doesn't seem to be much on them other then the fact that they can be found in Europe.

Such a shame since the only species of water striders that I've seen were probably Microvelia sp. Well I guess this is it for now...

....until next time my pretties!!

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Mystery True Bug ( Lopidea sp. )


Saw a whole bunch of these today covering the fence outside my local park. I have no idea what they are. The only thing I do know is the classification and the species: Lopidea sp.

I was originally thinking that these were either Lopidea media or L. davisi but the placing of the yellow stripe on the thorax of L. davisi is thicker and somewhat different then the ones in the photo. Plus the head is also yellow.

While on Lopidea media the stripe is completely absent. Photos here. Surprisingly enough this bug is bugging everyone ( pun intended ). Everyone on Bugguide wants to narrow this bastard down to species. It still remains under "unidentified".

Funnily enough I was hoping that I could change that but I too am coming up dry.

Here's what I do know:

~~ They're in the genius Lopidea
~~ They're are Lopidea sp. that feed on Black locust
~~ There was a black locust right behind that fence they were swarming on

So what I was thinking of is if someone could some how narrow down all the Lopidea sp. that feed on black locust and maybe we'll find it...??

Idk but I'm going to do some poking around. This mystery will be solved eventually.

Until next time my pretties!!