BeheMoth

Summer encountered giant moths in Australia. Really giant moths. We're talking 3.5" long.

They were giant wood moths, who spend most of their lives as caterpillars and metamorphose into moths only days before dying. Their lives as winged creatures is so short lived that their only purpose is to breed and lay eggs.

They were incredibly docile. It seems that if couple a complete void of appetite with an insectoid awareness of brief mortality that you end up with a moth that is indifferent towards predators and humans and being squashed...

... and a moth that doesn't respect the privacy of the bathroom. Summer found about 30 of them in a women's restroom at a rest stop, including one of the roll of toilet paper in her stall.

Thanks for the photo, Summer. This is one bug you wouldn't want to casually swat. Not unless you want a very large mothy mess on your shoulder.

Hazard a Guess

One thing this blog has taught me is that I invite the wrath of experts if I hazard a guess on what I think a creature might be and end up being wrong. So I'm not going to even bother with this one. I won't guess what it is. All I can be reasonably sure of is that it's a frog, it looks to be green, and it might almost sort of appear be comfortable in trees. And it looks smug. Beyond that, I won't dare to step on the toes of any of you herpetologists. You folks have access to very venomous creatures, and I don't want to open up a FedEx parcel and find it filled with angry Australian taipans.

UPDATE: TercerAnon (anon3) has identified this as a Phyllomedusa bicolor, a green leaf frog. That ID looks good to me. And if it is, then I have a new word for you: biopiracy. These frogs produce a waxy secretion that has a variety of powerful medicinal applications, and are therefore the object of piracy of a bio variety. Thanks anon3.

Batling

You're looking at a baby Pipistrellus pipistrellus bat, named after the Italian word for bat, pipistrello. Baby bats are called pups. The wikipedia entry on this bat describes it as having a "weak, fluttery flight reminiscent more of a butterfly than anything else."

Come on, is that a kind way to invite this pup into the world, with those harsh words? Weak and fluttery? Bats are hunters; you can't lump them in with butterflies. Butterflies are prey! This batling needs to know that he will be the terror of the insect world, that bugs will flee his squeak, and that his flitting about and indirect flight will be the stuff of nightmares to countless chitin-covered creepy crawlies.

Thanks for the bat, Denita.

Photo source: Wikipedia.com

Mothra

The second largest class of insects is the order of Lepidoptera: the moths and butterflies. But what's the difference between moths and butterflies? Depends on who you ask, and how belligerent they are.

But, in general, you can outline some general differences, though there are always exceptions:

Moths: nocturnal, feathery or unclubbed antennae, form a silk-spun cocoon, tend toward drab colors, have furry abdomens, tend to fold their wings flat when at rest.

Butterflies: diurnal, slender filamentous antennae, form a chrysalis, tend toward bright colors, have smooth abdomens, tend to fold their wings above their backs.

Now, given the details above, the creature to the left is a moth (flat wings, furry body, feathery antennae). But nowhere in the taxonomical descriptions of Lepidopterans is there any discussion of evil. Any idea what this sinister monster might be?
UPDATE: This is a photo by Igor Siwanowicz, and it's most likely an Eupackardia calleta. Thanks, anon3.

Get Your ZZZs

I never get to post on zebras, so here'z my chance. Thank you, lippy zebra.

You know about their ztripes (white base, black stripez, in case you were wondering). You know how they've never taken to domeztication (they're unpredictable and prone to attacking humanz).

But did you know that there are three speciez of zebra: mountain, Grevy's, and plainz? The first two zpecies are endangered. Did you know that the word 'zebra' comes from the Old Portuguese word 'zevra', meaning 'wild ass?'

In the wild, the three zpecies, even when sharing territory, don't interbreed. In captivity they zometimes do, and they've been crozzed with other equinez, called zebroids. That's how you end up with zeedonks, zonies, and zorses.

Now you know a bit more about zebras. Zee you tomorrow.

Pint-sized Peacock

Image copyright Jurgen Otto, used with permission

Prepare to be charmed, people. And if you're a lady, prepared to be wooed. He may not look like much, especially when perched upon your fingertip, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in style.

Say hello to the peacock spider (Maratus volans), UgO's latest inductee from Down Under. You'll find him festooned with all sorts of colors--colors the ladies can't get enough of. Here he is, courting one such lucky lady.












This is what he looks like in his full courtship posture. Note the third set of legs held high with pride. His abdomen is also looming, complete with twin, colorful flaps fully deployed.




















But you haven't seen the best of it. Not only does he flash his colors peacock-style, but he also does an irresistible dance, capering from side to side and shaking those extended legs. What lady could possibly say no?
























Here's what his wee spider bum looks like from below when the flaps are extended. You looked, didn't you? You cheeky bum-looker.



























I tell you what, if this spider were hamster-sized and good with children, it might be the most perfect pet ever.

Thanks for the peacock spider, Jade. My life just got a bit more colorful.

NOTE: All photos used with permission from Jurgen Otto. He can be contacted by email: jurgenotto at optusnet dot com dot au

Of Cartwheels and Mars

There are three known spiders that elect to roll down sand dunes as opposed to walk down. The palm-sized rolling Sahara spider (Araneus rota) is one of them.

Photo source: VSL: Science


















But this isn't just any roll. They don't tumble down the slope like we used to when we were kids. That's too slow. No, this spider does it by doing handsprings. Check out the spider in action. See? Cartwheels! Why walk across the sand when you can do cartwheels? It does so by getting a running start and then springing into the cartwheel, which allows it to travel at around 5 mph. That's faster than the walking speed of your average human.

WEEEEEE!


















I know what my nightmares are going to be tonight. I'm stumbling across the barren wastes of the Sahara, weak and delirious with thirst, the sun a blistering orb overhead. But off in the distance, awash in a shimmering heat wave, I see a snow cone stand, complete with every flavor known to man. All I can do is stumble towards it. But then I hear a skittering noise behind me. I turn to see spiders cartwheeling towards me, and I can't outpace them. This face will be the last one I see.



















On a more scientific note, these spiders are of great interest to bionics engineers such as Ingo Rechenberg of the Berlin Technical University, who has researched this spider. The spider's means of ambulation might just provide a possible new model for vehicles exploring the surface of mars. Great. Bionic spiders on Mars. That'll be my next nightmare.

Thanks for the article, Karen.

Pupating in Peace

Neil took these photos in Davis, CA. It might not be readily apparent to you, but these are some of your favorite bugs. They've been featured in countless children's movies and books, they're on hallmark cards, and they're one of the many symbols of Spring.

You're looking at ladybug larvae. More specifically, you're looking at Asian ladybird larvae (Harmonia axyridis). These insects were introduced to North America decades ago for pest abatement, and now they're nigh on ubiquitous. But they don't just dine on aphids, though we appreciate that. These insects also dine on other ladybird beetles, including their own species, as seen in these graphic photos, where Harmonia larvae are feasting on Harmonia pupa. Can't a ladybird pupate in peace?

That's right. Ladybugs are cannibals. That's like finding out that Care Bears and Ewoks and unicorns are cannibals. I just sucked some of the sunshine out of your day, didn't I? Sorry about that. I'm sure Neil apologizes, too. Thanks, Neil.