Various arthropods, and some exciting finds
Mar 14, 2020 09:24:26 #
So ... how is everyone holding up during the great SARS pandemic of 2020? Thought I would ask!
These pictures were taken a few days apart in late July last summer.
The first picture is a leggy ‘bird’ grasshopper nymph (Schistocerca lineata). These grow to be impressively large grasshoppers that sometimes perform long – long flights over the Magic Field late in the summer. Their flying ability is no surprise since the genus is the same as the migratory locusts of Biblical plague fame, and this one strongly resembles those insects. This species, however, does not gather in swarms.
Bird grasshopper nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The next pictures are of fairly mundane nymphs. The first is a differential grasshopper nymph (Melanoplus differentialis), followed by a leaf-footed bug nymph (Acanthocephala terminalis).
Differential grasshopper nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Leaf-footed bug nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The rest of these pictures come from a particular park that is a longish drive south from me. But owing to its more southerly location the park feels more tropical, with loud choruses of singing insects, and mosses and fungi crawling up the tree trunks. It is much more humid, and the park regularly yields species that I never see in my area.
The first is a small wasp in the Crabronidae family, genus Cerceris. These small wasps provision their burrows with paralyzed insects, and most species prey on beetles.
Crabronid wasp by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Next is a rather sinewy looking robber fly (Diogmites sp.). Most here will know that robber flies are swift predators of other insects. Members of this particular genus are called “hanging thieves” from their habit of dangling from plants by their front legs as they feed on prey.
"Hanging thief" robber fly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
This bee is of uncertain identity, but it could be one of the long-horned bees (Melissodes sp.), so-named by the long antennae seen in males. This is a female, however.
Maybe genus Melissodes by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The park includes an extensive community garden where locals can grow various crops. It is always useful to prowl up and down the narrow lanes between the gardens, although the gardeners do give me some weird looks. Along a row of climbing peas was this large bee that was completely new to me. The extra furry underside of its abdomen identifies it to the family Megachilidae, and familiar examples from this family are leaf-cutter bees. But this was a big ‘un, easily twice the size of those bees. So what is it? This is one of the giant resin bees (Megachile sculpturalis sculpturalis), which is an introduced species from Asia. This will be working on a nest in a wooden retreat, lined and compartmentalized with mud and tree resin.
Giant resin bee by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Giant resin bee by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
The last picture was a complete surprise. While walking along a wooded trail in this park, it is now my habit to inspect as many tree leaves as I can as this regularly turns up unique finds that would otherwise be missed. On one leaf was this glossy bump that looked like a simple leaf gall, only it had a suspicious symmetry. So I touched it, and it immediately unfurled into this weird little spider! The picture is a stack from a small number of hand-held pictures.
While taking pictures of this thing, dim memories began to stir about a very unique kind of spider called a bolas spider. These are orb-weaving spiders that do not build typical webs, but instead sit on the end of tree branches at night to dangle a single silk strand with a glob of sticky glue at one end. When a flying insect comes close, it flings this ‘bolas’ at the insect, snagging it in mid-air and then reeling it in for a meal. The identity of this one is Mastophora yeargani. Many species are specialist hunters, where the spider produces a chemical that resembles the pheromone used by a particular species of female moth, and as a result most of their prey are males of that species who are drawn in close in the hopes of a mate. Notice the assorted loose flakes on the spider? Bonus points for anyone who now identifies what those are!
Here is an amusing but mildly profane video that shows bolas spiders in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qw3lkpa5lY .
Bolas spider! by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
These pictures were taken a few days apart in late July last summer.
The first picture is a leggy ‘bird’ grasshopper nymph (Schistocerca lineata). These grow to be impressively large grasshoppers that sometimes perform long – long flights over the Magic Field late in the summer. Their flying ability is no surprise since the genus is the same as the migratory locusts of Biblical plague fame, and this one strongly resembles those insects. This species, however, does not gather in swarms.
Bird grasshopper nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe next pictures are of fairly mundane nymphs. The first is a differential grasshopper nymph (Melanoplus differentialis), followed by a leaf-footed bug nymph (Acanthocephala terminalis).
Differential grasshopper nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrLeaf-footed bug nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe rest of these pictures come from a particular park that is a longish drive south from me. But owing to its more southerly location the park feels more tropical, with loud choruses of singing insects, and mosses and fungi crawling up the tree trunks. It is much more humid, and the park regularly yields species that I never see in my area.
The first is a small wasp in the Crabronidae family, genus Cerceris. These small wasps provision their burrows with paralyzed insects, and most species prey on beetles.
Crabronid wasp by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrNext is a rather sinewy looking robber fly (Diogmites sp.). Most here will know that robber flies are swift predators of other insects. Members of this particular genus are called “hanging thieves” from their habit of dangling from plants by their front legs as they feed on prey.
"Hanging thief" robber fly by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThis bee is of uncertain identity, but it could be one of the long-horned bees (Melissodes sp.), so-named by the long antennae seen in males. This is a female, however.
Maybe genus Melissodes by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe park includes an extensive community garden where locals can grow various crops. It is always useful to prowl up and down the narrow lanes between the gardens, although the gardeners do give me some weird looks. Along a row of climbing peas was this large bee that was completely new to me. The extra furry underside of its abdomen identifies it to the family Megachilidae, and familiar examples from this family are leaf-cutter bees. But this was a big ‘un, easily twice the size of those bees. So what is it? This is one of the giant resin bees (Megachile sculpturalis sculpturalis), which is an introduced species from Asia. This will be working on a nest in a wooden retreat, lined and compartmentalized with mud and tree resin.
Giant resin bee by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrGiant resin bee by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThe last picture was a complete surprise. While walking along a wooded trail in this park, it is now my habit to inspect as many tree leaves as I can as this regularly turns up unique finds that would otherwise be missed. On one leaf was this glossy bump that looked like a simple leaf gall, only it had a suspicious symmetry. So I touched it, and it immediately unfurled into this weird little spider! The picture is a stack from a small number of hand-held pictures.
While taking pictures of this thing, dim memories began to stir about a very unique kind of spider called a bolas spider. These are orb-weaving spiders that do not build typical webs, but instead sit on the end of tree branches at night to dangle a single silk strand with a glob of sticky glue at one end. When a flying insect comes close, it flings this ‘bolas’ at the insect, snagging it in mid-air and then reeling it in for a meal. The identity of this one is Mastophora yeargani. Many species are specialist hunters, where the spider produces a chemical that resembles the pheromone used by a particular species of female moth, and as a result most of their prey are males of that species who are drawn in close in the hopes of a mate. Notice the assorted loose flakes on the spider? Bonus points for anyone who now identifies what those are!
Here is an amusing but mildly profane video that shows bolas spiders in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qw3lkpa5lY .
Bolas spider! by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrMar 14, 2020 09:29:47 #
Mar 14, 2020 09:42:35 #
Mar 14, 2020 09:54:13 #
Notice the assorted loose flakes on the spider? ......is it from a moth?
excellent pics!!!
excellent pics!!!
Mar 14, 2020 12:05:04 #
tinusbum wrote:
Notice the assorted loose flakes on the spider? ......is it from a moth?
excellent pics!!!
excellent pics!!!
Bingo!
Mar 14, 2020 15:18:59 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
So ... I how is everyone holding up during the g... (show quote)
well shot group, humorous commentary in the video
Mar 15, 2020 07:20:39 #
Wow, you have excelled yourself in this post - a clever spider, beautiful images, interesting written account and an amusing video thrown in, keep 'em coming.
Mar 15, 2020 10:54:59 #
Mar 15, 2020 16:09:09 #
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Mar 16, 2020 10:39:04 #
Mar 16, 2020 21:25:32 #
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