Spiders!

Tutelina elegens my mystery iridescent jumping spider. *^^* Photo from Bugguide.

Mystery Solved!

God it pleases me so to say that. I love it when I get a mystery and then solve it. 2 more excuses for me to ramble, rant, analyze, and learn. So anyway I had observed this spider in one of the plants at the park a while back and due to me not seeing anything like it in person went on a research binge but turned up nothing.......

.......until today where I accidentally came across a photo of it on Bugguide and got the name. It doesn't seem to have an English name (otherwise BG would've listed it) and on Bugguide only list Tutelina similis as a similar species and mentions that it's impossible to ID the 2 species as spiderlings since they're so alike.

No other information is given. This calls for a proper Google search ( A.k.a "Google Rape") later as I have other more pressing mysteries to think on........like:

Cheiracanthium inclusum

These I've seen like crazy this year. Both adults and spiderlings of various stages. I don't know exactly what is going on here but it's fascinating. Where are they all coming from? Along with Cheiracanthium inclusum are a plethora of other tiny unidentified spiders. Quite a few of which are absolutely gorgeous.

The others are your tiny ordinary/mystery/cuties who's life mission is to never be identified. I thank God I have a photographic memory. As some of these "ordinary cuties" are not so ordinary once a better look is taken.

Noooohooooo they're like fucking mosaics. Yes you heard me. Like the clay/glass vases with the intricate designs on them. Shiny. Fat. Tiny. Fucking Pwecious. *.*

The last one was tiny and fat (abdomen wise) and the cephalothorax was a light tan color, the legs I don't remember (I'd imagine the same color more or less) and the abdomen was shiny black with silver designs on it. It was tiny but Idk if it was just a small adult something or an immature something.

I hope to see one again in the future and have a micro camera at the ready. I want to know what these are. I've seen them before along with the larger red ones. But don't know what they are. I have theories but I'll have to debunk some due to obvious differences.........I think.

As for C. inclusum after finding the last one in my bathroom doing it's business with me (beforehand it was on the ceiling in the hallway) I went and did my homework. My research on these shall be mentioned in another blog entry as I've rambled enough.

God I love my little friends. ♥♥♥♥ Happy Halloween!

Buggy Rant

I'm very disgusted beyond all reason now.

Cimex has for some reason been a bitch lately and it's something I don't understand at all. They were coming out like a bloody fucking "massacre"....only they were doing the "killing" so to speak and I don't understand why? What changed?

The only thing that's different is the weather. It's gotten colder....MUCH colder (yet most of the trees still have leaves and they're still green) and yesterday we got the first batch of snow of the year in October no less!

I have been freezing my ass off for a good while and you'd think that the fact it felt like 0 degrees the Evil Ones would retreat to find warmth in their little hidey holes or just drop dead from freezing.....literally.

Nope.......It's the complete opposite.

Instead of retreating they've come out even more to the point it actually made me want to burn my mattress. But since that's obviously not an option I did a whole lot of work today with them. This work led me to do something that I never really did in all my 19 years of loving bugs and the sort.......

They left me so creeped out I wound up shaking. Yeah they left my stomach in knots and "shivering". In other words I had your "typical reaction" to seeing bugs (in general).

Shocking......well I had found 2/12 brand new hidey holes that not even the sad excuse for "exterminators" housing puts out had found and the site was fucking disgusting as Hell. So after dealing with all this bullshit today (or rather yesterday now, Happy Halloween) I'm sitting here ranting to you about it "de-bugging".

In other more pleasant news (for me at least ^^):

I have been seeing alot of spiders this year. Idk why but most of them had been males, females, or various immature stages (spiderlings) of Cheiracanthium inclusum (or another Cheiracanthium or even Clubiona but I'm sticking with C. inclusum). The others are a complete mystery to me but they're beautiful! They remind me of mosaics or vases with the patterns they have.

Of course I'm thinking that at least the red and white ones I've seen might be immature House spiders but I have to do major research on this and get back to you. I don't know much on spiders so I have to learn and buy books.

Any recommendations? Drop me a line. Looking for books that deal species in the Eastern USA. Many thanks!

Now I must go contaminate my poor eyes with the pleasant happy beautiful images of Lepidoptera & do some more blog entries while I'm at it.

*Happy thoughts Happy thoughts Happy thoughts*

NHM Butterfly Exhibit: Buckeyes & Chocolate Pansies

Male and Female Buckeyes (Junonia coenia) No I don't know (as of right now) which is which. ^^;;

Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

Observations:

These are tiny little things. I once again was expecting it to be about the size of a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) but they're smaller then that. Not only that but there were quite a few of them flying about and in the "puparium" freshly emerged were tons of Buckeyes.

Not only that. But I got to see one eclose! That was a yummy epic treat. It happened so quickly I was shocked. I was just standing there watching this beauty expand it's wings like someone blowing up a balloon only a bit slower.

And to see how tiny the chrysalids were (not just J. coenia but all the others too) and to see this tightly "wrapped" even tinier package of epicness come out and open up into such gorgeousness is.....*speechless*



This is interesting as this lists the Chocolate Pansy as Junonia hendonia ida.....WTF? Everywhere else I've seen it it's Junonia iphita with the synonym being Precis iphita. WTH is going on here?

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita)

Observations:

Saw 2 of these. Got pictures. Not much to comment on these other then they're gorgeous. *^^* However I will comment on where this person who made the life stages plate got the name "Hedonia ida" from. AFAIK there's no Chocolate Pansy with that name past or present.

However when I Googled it it came up. Soo Idk....What's the difference between Junonia iphita and J. hedonia ida? Because they look the "same" to me.

Will back to you on this. Research!

NHM Butterfly Exhibit: Saturniid Mania Part 1

Finally! I'm on a lepidopteran junkie high! Apparently finally laying eyes on Actias luna will do that. That was the icing on the cake.

Actias Luna

Observations:

This breathtaking specimen was perched all the way up almost towards the ceiling and would not have noticed it if it weren't for one of the staff (Thank you!) pointing it out to me when I had mentioned I was in love with them. *^^*

It was pale green almost white and left me in such a state I thought I was dreaming. ^^;;;



Something akin to this shade. Almost see through too. ♥♥♥♥ I'm dying for cocoons now. Must start getting ready!

*Happy squee*

Attacus atlas

Observations:

Was hiding in the bushes and didn't come out to play. *pout* But it was an absolute joy to see it regardless. I hope that next time they'll have one at least in a better viewing area since I want pics and wasn't able to get any.

I wonder if Carolina Science would provide these somehow? I got to hold empty cocoons which was amazing. And see preserved eggs (which are TINY!) which was a treat. I cannot believe something so huge starts out so small.......♥

Speaking of size......you all "know" that the Atlas moth is supposedly the largest moth in the world yes? Ok then what's this?



Male Hercules Moth (Coscinocera hercules) This pic implies that this is larger then Attacus........but Idk for sure.



Holy shit. Female Hercules Moth (Coscinocera hercules) I don't see Attacus doing anything of the sort but then again what the hell do I know?

There are other pics that turned up on Google of people holding both Attacus & Coscinocera but not together unfortunately so I can't make comparisons. Only research.

Atlas moths are considered the largest moths in the world in terms of total wing surface area [upwards of c. 400 cm² (62 sq in)]. Their wingspans are also amongst the largest, from 25–30 cm (10–12 in). Females are appreciably larger and heavier.

-Wikipedia

Interesting one site (where I got the second picture from Googling) mention Coscinocera having a wing span of 27cm and living for about 10 days. So I'd say neck and neck I guess depending on the individuals......



Breathtaking! I wonder how big the other species of Attacus are? But that's for later. *^^* But there are other species as I had found some piccies during research a few months back.

Also on slightly different note:



What is this? It has characteristics of A. atlas but the color and patches/patterns are quite obviously off. Perhaps another species of Attacus?

The site listed it as Attacus atlas but it doesn't look a thing like it. Subspecies? Aaagh! If anyone knows anything feel free to let me know. Also the rest of the article on Wikipedia is here.

Cheers! There's lots more to come!

NHM Butterfly Exhibit

Mesosemia sp. According to Ben a cousin (subspecies perhaps?) of M. loruhama.........but which one?! DAMN IT! *^^*

Ladies and Gents..........

Zeh List:

1. ✩ Luna Moth (Actias luna) ✩ FINALLY!
2. ✩ Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) ✩ Yippee~*^^*
3. Buckeye (Junonia coenia) Saw one eclose.......I got pics!
4. Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita)
5. Birdwing (Ornithoptera priamus)
6. Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)
7. Dido Longwing (Philaethria dido)
8. Isabella Tiger/Longwing (Eueides isabella) Held one for like 20 minutes
9. Morpho peleides
9a. Morpho melenaus
10. Brown Siproeta (Siproeta epaphus)
11. Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegus) Sexually dimorphic! Observed males & females
12. Clipper (Parthenos sylvia)
13. Sara Longwing (Heliconius sara) *See notes on the various Heliconiidae
14. Postman (Heliconius melpomene) Various forms
15. Malachites (Siproeta stelenes)? Or were they all Philaethria dido that I saw?
16. Various Charaxes sp.
16a. Pearl Charaxes (Charaxes varanes)
17. Sleepy Orange (Euremma nicippe)
18. Mystery Pieridae member
19. Owl (Caligo sp.)
20. Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
21. Queen (Danause gilippus)
21a. Danaus genutia? Very brief and was still in flight.....never landed.
22. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
23. Julia (Dryas iulia)
24. Tree Nymph (Idea leuconoe)
25. Sweet Oils (Mechanitis polymnia)
26. Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa)
27. Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
28. Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas)
29. Cattle Hearts (Parides sp.) These are TINY!!
30. Silver Studded Leafwing (Hypna clytemnestra) Previously known as Anaea clytemnestra
31. ✩ Mystery Butterfly #1 ✩ (Memphis sp.)? I'm pretty certain it's one of the Memphis species
32. ✩ Mystery Butterfly #2 ✩ (Mechanitis? Heliconius?)
33. Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonius)

In progress........=) The list is done though. *^^*

Observations:

There were so many! Most of them being Heliconiids. Of the Heliconiids I observed I have successfully identified these (although they're all still up for speculation):

Heliconiidae:

1. Heliconius erato (numerous forms too I bet)
1a. H. e. cyrbia
2. Heliconius cydno
2a. H. c. cydno
3. Heliconius hewitsoni
4. H. hecale
5. H. melpomene
6. H. sara (possibly)

The others I'm not too sure of. However upon my research of Heliconiidae I have come to 2 conclusions:

1. I freaking love them.
2. Someone needs to write a book.

I'm simply dying for the last one to happen. Reason being (which should be obvious to any butterfly enthusiast) they belong to the most bad ass mimicry ring in the insect world. It's simply mind bogglingly amazing on how many different forms, variations (according to location) and hybrids there are of these butterflies.

It's lead me to repeatedly ask the question a thousand and one times. WHY HASN'T SOMEONE WRITTEN A BOOK?! My god I mean there's so much on these butterflies it'll make your brains explode. I could dedicate an entire month to them alone with all the pictures and resources I've found on them and Ithomiinae (which is just as incredible and mind boggling).

My second mystery butterfly I'm more then certain (after further research) is a Mechanitis of some sort. The closest I have come to is Mechanitis menapis occasiva but that's still wrong. The patterns are off. *Shoot me* >_<

I really need to get the picture I took of it on here. It's a pretty decent one too. I took lots of pictures and also got a video too. Dying to post them here. Got some camera issues to work out first. Also saw a Buckeye eclose in their "purparium" where they had various chrysalids there.

That was a treat as I've never really seen the whole process up close even when raising Vanessa cardui (at least that I can remember). That was another God Send.......

Speaking of God sends. I finally laid eyes on Actias luna.......He/She was perched waaaaaaaaaaay up almost towards the ceiling just sitting there looking absolutely breathtaking. Managed to take 2 pictures. And down below in the bushes as a bonus was Attacus atlas. Smh......I'm in awe.

Thank you God. Now I'm dying to go back. *^^* Further ramblings shall be continued in other entries. This one is long enough. ^^;;;;