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I missed an arthropod last Sunday, and my friends didn't let it go. So -
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE OTHER DAY 🚨
Hamadryas chloe, the Chloe cracker, is a species of cracker butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Brazil.
They acquired their common name due to the unusual way that males produce a "cracking" sound as part of their territorial displays. Male cracker butterflies are known for their ability to make a cracking noise with their wings, which is believed to either be for mating or to ward off rival males. They use trees as courting territories, as shown by experiments. They prefer to perch on trees with bark that matches their wing coloration, while the presence of food, position of trees along flight routes, tree size, bark texture, and lichen cover are not associated with the frequency of perching on the trees.
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Cicadas are particularly loud this summer. The difference between 2024 and the previous year is that the hatch rate of the 13 and 17 cicadas will coincide. This means that in only one season, there might be billions of cicadas. This is the first time this has happened since 1803, and it won’t happen again until 2245; therefore, this is historic. These two broods are adjacent (but not significantly overlapping) in north-central Illinois.
The 13-year periodical cicada - Brood XIX (also known as The Great Southern Brood) is the largest periodical cicada brood in North America, covering at least a dozen states in the Southeast. The 17-year periodical cicada - Brood XIII (also known as the Northern Illinois Brood) has a reputation for being the "largest emergence of cicadas anywhere,". The periodical insects, more closely related to aphids than locusts, have black bodies, red eyes and translucent, orange-tinted wings.
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White Shark isopods has a truly unique coloring to them, consisting of a pretty consistent patterning of caramel, white and black. They’re really tiny - coming in around 0.5cm on average. They are nick-named "dwarf-duckies".
These are a rare Cubaris species coming from Thailand. They're cute, but the most information I could find on them came from websites selling them for terrariums.
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The hairy-footed flower bee can be seen in gardens and parks in spring and summer, visiting tubular flowers like red dead-nettle and comfrey. As its name suggests, it has long, orange hairs on its middle legs.
The hairy-footed flower bee emerges from hibernation in early spring, from late February to March. The males emerge first and the females appear a couple of weeks later. This species is an important pollinator for early spring flowers. This solitary bee feeds on many spring flowers, including primrose, lungworts, borage, deadnettles, broad bean, and rosemary.
It feeds on the nectar using its long tongue. hairy-footed flower bees will nest in soft mortar in walls, or occasionally in soil. They are commonly seen in gardens in Southern England, as well as along roadside verges.
The female hairy-footed flower bee is black and furry, and resembles a small bumble bee. The males are rusty-brown and have long, orange hairs on their middle legs and feet.
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River jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) is a large, 1¼″ to 2⅛″ long, showy, broad-winged damselfly. It is common in northern United States and southern Canada. Males and females are the same size.
The head, thorax, and upper (dorsal) and side (lateral) surfaces of the abdomen of the male are iridescent. The apparent color is determined by the quantity and angle of available light. In good light they appear brilliant metallic green or bright metallic teal blue depending on the angle of the light. In deep shade they appear black. The 8th and 9th abdominal segments have a narrow, white, lateral patch. The lower (ventral) surface of the abdomen is black.
The wings are 1″ to 17 ⁄16″ long and are broad, 3½ to 4 times as long as wide. On mature individuals they are pale smoky brown, almost clear, at the base with a dark brown band at the tip.
After mating the female oviposits eggs inside soft, submerged stems of aquatic plants up to a foot below the surface of the water. Naiads remain in the water for two or three years, molting 12 or 13 times before emerging as an adult. Adults emerge mostly in June. They reach sexual maturity in about 11 days and live on average for 16 to 20 days.
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Pseudosquilla ciliata, the common mantis shrimp, is a species of mantis shrimp, known by common names including rainbow mantis shrimp and false mantis shrimp. It is widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific region and in both the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean.
P. ciliata can be distinguished from other closely related mantis shrimps by several characteristics; the eye is cylindrical with a hemispherical cornea; the rostral plate lacks a small spine at the front; the carapace does not bear large black spots; the telson has three keel-like ridges on either side of a central ridge; and the base of each uropod terminates in two slender flattened spines, the innermost of which is the shorter.
The colour of P. ciliata varies greatly depending on an individual's environment; for example, P. ciliata living in a sea grass flat will often turn green, while one living in coralline algae will often turn red. P. ciliata may reach a total length of 95 millimetres (3.7 in). The colour can range from yellowish to near black and may be plain, marbled or striped.
P. ciliata usually remains in its burrow during the day and emerges at night to forage. It is a predator and feeds on small fish, worms and small crustaceans, particularly shrimps.
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Cecropia moths are beautiful silk moths with reddish bodies and black to brown wings surrounded by bands of white, red, and tan. With a wingspan of five to seven inches (13 to 18 centimeters), the cecropia moth is the largest moth found in North America.
These moths are found in hardwood forests east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. They are attracted to street and porch lights, which is where most people encounter them.
In order to find a mate, male cecropia moths must have extraordinary senses. A female moth produces natural chemicals called pheromones, which the male can detect from over a mile away. Females lay over a hundred eggs, although many of the caterpillars won’t live to see adulthood. When the caterpillars hatch, they are black in color. As they go through successive molts, they increase in size and change color from black to yellow to green.
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The Milkweed Tussock belonging to the Erebidae family was described in 1773 by British collector Dru Drury. It has a wide range, occupying different parts of North America. These moths acquire the name milkweed from their host plants. The larvae and even the adult moths are equipped with chemical defenses, obtained from the milkweed plants, which have toxic substances. This makes them poisonous for their potential predators, yet they stand beneficial enough for the ecosystem.
Their wings, whether opened or closed, mostly have a dull gray coloration without prominent markings. However, some specimens have a faint, dark line on the forewing.
Besides this, they also have a yellow hairy abdomen, with black dots arranged in rows on the dorsal region.
The larva grows to about 3.5 cm with the early instars being gray and a little hairy. Then, they appear like yellow tubes with black heads. As the caterpillar matures and reaches the late instar stage, its body is marked with orange, black, and white stripes.
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The asian jumping mantises (Statilia maculata) are smaller mantises that also have a home in the eastern US. They are being closely monitored given their recent introduction in 2019. They have also been observed participating in nymphal cannibalism, where they eat their own kids. Also, they have participated in sexual cannibalism, where they eat their mate.
It is native to Asia that can be found in China and Japan and Korea.
Upon emerging, nymphs resemble miniatures of adults but lack fully developed wings. In this stage, asian jumping mantis undergoes progressive molts, increasing in size, slowly developing wing buds, and changing color with each instar, enhancing survival by improving camouflage and hunting ability.
Emerging from the final molt, the adult asian jumping mantis's development is marked by the presence of fully formed wings and functional reproductive organs. Body pattern and color reach their peak for mating signals and camouflage, while the adult is preoccupied with reproduction and feeding.
Asian jumping mantis can turn its head nearly 180 degrees to scan its surroundings due to a flexible joint between the head and prothorax.
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@vayda
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The Moringa horned treehopper is generally distributed and occurs on many trees and plants, but not in sufficient numbers to be considered a serious pest. The family Membracidae commonly known as “Treehoppers”, comprises of a distinct group of small insects occurring in all the major geographic regions, Although endowed with powers of flight, they prefer to hop about when disturbed and this habit has earned them the popular name "Treehoppers"
These bugs feed by sucking the sap of trees, shrubs and cultivated crops and most species are host specific. They secrete a sugary substance called ‘honey dew’ which serves as food for ants, bees and wasps. In turn, they benefit from the interaction with ants that provide house cleaning services and protect them from predators.
Most of the local species of membracids show host specificity to it remarkable extent. The monophagous membracids exhibit absolute host specificity. In a few instances, the association between the membracid and the host is so specific that a knowledge of the one is sufficient for the recognition of the other. Thus, Leptocentrus moringae not only confines itself to Moringa but is the only species ever found on this host.
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The red pumpkin beetle is a tiny leaf-eating beetle with a bright orange-red body measuring 0.2” to 0.3” (5 – 8 mm) long. The beetle is described as having shiny reddish-brown oval elytra, head and thorax, black abdomen, and spindly orange antennae. The destructive red bug feeds on plants in the gourd family.
As their name suggests, red pumpkin beetles primarily feed on pumpkin leaves. However, the pesky orangey-red bugs cause plant damage at all stages of their lives. The white grubs live in the soil and feed on roots. The red adult beetles devour plant leaves and can defoliate plants.
Red pumpkin beetles are a member of the insect family Chrysomelidae. These are a type of leaf beetle that cause crop destruction.
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One type of edible freshwater crab is the Southern European crab (Potamon fluviatile). This is a type of green crab that is generally found in rivers and streams in Italy, Greece and the Balkans.
Compared to varieties of seawater crabs, the Southern European crab is tiny in comparison. An adult green crab may only average about 2” (5 cm) and they have been a popular food source for hundreds of years.
European green crabs have now become an invasive species in North America. You can boil them in a similar way to Blue crab and they have a rich sweet taste.
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The Orange Oakleaf butterfly, a marvel of the insect world, is renowned for its vibrant colors and astonishing camouflage capabilities. Indigenous to Tropical Asia, this species thrives from the Indian subcontinent all the way to Japan. Its unique ability to mimic dry, dead leaves not only fascinates observers but also serves as a vital survival strategy in its natural habitat.
Belonging to the Nymphalid family, the Orange Oakleaf is a testament to nature’s artistry and adaptability. This butterfly’s lifecycle, from the visually striking caterpillar to the deceptive adult form, showcases nature’s intricate designs aimed at survival and reproduction.
The Orange Oakleaf’s caterpillar stage presents a velvety, black body adorned with long, yellowish hair, interspersed with red spines.
The adult butterfly’s wings reveal deep blue bases, topped with black and highlighted by an orange stripe, creating a stunning visual contrast. Two white oculi enhance this palette, with one perched atop the black band and the other near the blue-orange demarcation. The hind wings display a serene blue, bordered with brown patches. Closed, the butterfly transforms into a dead leaf, a masterpiece of mimicry.
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Parabuthus transvaalicus is one of the biggest scorpions in the family Buthidae, growing up to 140 mm in length. It is dark brown to black in colour and has a thick tail and thin pincers. Thick-tailed or fat-tailed scorpions generally have potent venom and P. transvaalicus is considered to be one of the most poisonous scorpions in southern Africa.
They have powerful, thick tails, a potent sting, and two tiny pinchers. This scorpion species produces two categories of venom; firstly, to supply a warning sting or immobilize small prey; secondly, more toxic venom for more prominent creatures. This scorpion can spit its venom as much as 1 meter (3ft), resulting in temporary blindness in the eyes of the intended victim. Its venom is neurotoxic and can be fatal to humans if left untreated.
Parabuthus transvaalicus is ground dwelling and burrows in sand, shrubs, under rocks and logs. It is known to occur in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique and Botswana.
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There is only one C. obscurior male per colony. He’s the ergatoid, the dominant male ant, and he must defend his territory. If a new male wonders in for some mating, the reigning ergatoid will dab chemicals from his anus onto the intruder. This butt secretion will cause all of the workers to band together and kill the newcomer. C. obscurior males have a “kill” scent.
That’s not all that they’ll do. In an effort to further reduce any possible rivalry, the ergatoid combs the nurseries looking for newborn males to slaughter. The soft one-day-olds are easy pickings. However, if they find a two-day-old male whose armor has hardened, it becomes a pitched battle with a 14 percent chance that the young ant wins and a 43 percent chance that they will both die. This is mostly because they’re both rubbing their kill scents on each other, encouraging the workers to kill, kill, kill. Many times, the workers end up slaying them both, but it’s okay if they both die. New male are always being born, and the dead ones are fed to the larvae.
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The blue land crab is also sometimes referred to as the giant land crab and is the largest species of semi-terrestrial crabs in Florida. Although they are called the “giant” land crab, their carapace will only reach about 6 inches (0.15 meters) in diameter.
These crabs change color as they age, beginning life as a dark brown, purple, or orange coloration. As they age, their color will change to a blue-grey color. Like many crabs, one of their pincers is larger than the other.
Blue land crabs prefer warmer waters and can be found throughout the Bermuda region, the Caribbean sea, up to Texas, and southern Florida. Although these crabs live on land, they are semi-terrestrial and are not often found more than five miles off the coast. Instead, they prefer to live in low-lying areas of coastal regions.
Living most of their life on land, blue land crabs need water to drink and to breed. Besides these instances, these land crabs remain on land, creating burrows several feet deep to live in.
Unlike many crabs, these land crabs are mostly vegetarian. Rather than feeding on animal matter like most crabs, they prefer to feast on leaves, berries, flowers, fruit, and vegetables.
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I honestly can't take any more arthropod posts, I'm afraid I'll have to unfollow
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Field Crickets are a common sight throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. Warm summer nights bring them out en masse as the males loudly chirp up to 30 times a minute in an effort to attract a female. The noise is a pleasant reminder of the season and will immediately stop if the crickets are approached too closely.
Field Crickets make homes in the ground, in tall grass, or even piles of organic lawn debris. They jump away from perceived danger, but sometimes that means right onto your legs if you're walking through their habitat. They are completely harmless and bounce off as soon as they land. The sensation of being touched tends to startle people though.
Field Crickets eat a diet of animal remains and plant matter. They provide beneficial services to the ecosystem by eating the eggs and pupae of insect that are considered pests. On the other hand, in large numbers, they can be somewhat of a nuisance in gardens, chewing on plants grown for food or aesthetics.
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The Southern Purple Mint Moth (Pyrausta laticlavia) is a species of moth of the Crambidae family. It is found from New Jersey south to Florida, west to Texas, Oklahoma and California.
Rosemary is one of the hosts for the Southern purple mint moth, Pyrausta laticlavia which will lay eggs on several plants in the mint family.
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The Ornate spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus is also known as the Tropical rock lobster and the Ornate tropical rock lobster . They are among the largest of the Panuliris lobsters and are greatly favored as a delicacy. Being brightly coloured they are probably the best looking spiny lobsters.
Ornate spiny lobster grow to a maximum length of 50 centimeters (not including the long feelers) but most are smaller around the 30 to 40 cm range. The body is covered in a hard carapace with numerous forward pointing orange spines with two prominent forward facing spines between the eyes. The tail is covered in a segmented carapace allowing it to flex and provide powerful rearwards propulsion. The tail has a fan on the end with assists with propulsion when flared out.
As with all crustaceans they change carapaces and when the new one is ready they pull out of the old carapace. The new carapace takes a day or two to harden and they are extremely vulnerable to predators at this time. At night they come out to feed and can often be seen on the reef top. They usually stick close to cover and when threatened will use their powerful tail to jet them backwards to safety.
They are found in the sub tropical and tropical areas of the Indo west Pacific area from the South African coast up the east coast of Africa including Madagascar, across to Malaysia, Japan and the northern coast of Australia.
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The banded sugar ant (Camponotus consobrinus), also known as the sugar ant, is a species of ant native to Australia. Its common name refers to the ant's liking for sugar and sweet food, as well as the distinctive orange-brown band that wraps around its gaster.
The banded sugar ant is considered a household pest and is occasionally seen in houses at night. It is capable of damaging furniture and fittings by chewing the wood. Carbon disulphide can be used to treat and remove a banded sugar ant nest.
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Bothiocera cognita is a tiny, black and white spotted cixiid planthopper. It is about 3-5mm long, and appears to range through the southeastern US.
Cixiids are medium to small planthoppers, most of which are somewhat flattened, with clear or patterned wings. Cixiidae may have a median ocellus (located on the face, just above the clypeus, when present). As nymphs, cixiids are subterranean root-feeders (perhaps fungus) and are rarely observed. As adults, many species (particularly smaller forms) are associated with grasses or herbaceous monocots in rich, mesic or wet situations and may be found by sweeping (although Cixius is largely associated with pines) in mid to late summer or early fall.
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Neotrypaea californiensis (ghost shrimp) can be found at intertidal locations within the regions of the North American West Coast. Ghost shrimp habitat is distinguished by numerous holes that are the entrances and exits of their burrows. Ghost shrimp are constantly excavating complex tunnels under the sand.
Body coloration ranges between shades of orange, pink, and red. Some individuals may also exhibit a very pale coloration, almost white. Their almost transparent bodies help them blend in, earning them the nickname "ghost."
The vigorous burrowing activities of ghost shrimp have such dramatic effects on their habitats of soft sediment that these animals are often considered ecosystem engineers.
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These small purse crabs, Persephone punctata, are usually found in slightly deeper water. They are called purse crabs, either because the shape of their shell is purse-like, or because the females have a pouch in their abdomen which protects her eggs as she buries herself backward in the sand.
The mottled purse crab is one of just a few species of crab that reproduce through internal fertilization. While most crab species fertilize eggs externally by releasing eggs and sperm simultaneously, the female mottled purse crabs carry developing embryos until the larvae hatch.
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The scorpion species Centruroides gracilis is known in Cuba as "alacran azul," or "blue scorpion" in English. Elsewhere, the blue scorpion is also known as the slender brown scorpion, the Florida bark scorpion or the brown bark scorpion.
In the U.S., many blue scorpions were introduced as pets. In natural habitats, blue scorpions dwell under bark and stones in forests set with plenty of refuge, like dead or fallen timber. They can also survive in temperate to hot locations that have an average temperature of about 30 degrees Celsius -- so long as the area isn't too humid.
The gestation period for this species varies from several months to over a year. Females give birth to 25-35 young. After birth, the young climb and attach to the mothers back where they remain until the first molt (about one week). After the first molt, they become independent of the mother, and molt 5-7 additional times before reaching maturity.
Pet owners often enjoy the fact that blue scorpions don't show signs of cannibalistic behavior. These scorpions can be kept together with other species of scorpions, so long as food and shelter are well provided.
This scorpion can inflict very a painful sting, but it is not considered as potent as some of its relatives. Some information indicates that individuals from North America are less venomous than their relatives from Central and South America.
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Some black butterflies with pink spots are known for their small pink spots on the hindwings.
While Pink-spotted Windmills (Byasa impediens) are this type of butterfly, they have large pink spots on their tail-shaped hindwings.
This is a species with very large, usually bright pink, spots on its wings.
Its forewings show mostly black nuances with visible black veins.
Pink-spotted Widnmils additionally exhibit a mostly pink body with a few visible black spots.
Native to Taiwan, this is one of the large pink butterflies of the world. It grows to a wingspan of 3-4 inches.
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The Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros), also known as the giant Sonoran centipede or Texas redheaded centipede is a North American species found in the southwestern United States. They are the largest centipede in North America.
They can grow to 200mm in the wild and longer when in captivity. It is aposematically colored, to warn off potential predators, and a number of color variants are known in the species. They can have up to twenty-three pairs of legs. In Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas they have red heads with a green to black body and tail.
They are common from New Mexico and Arizona to Missouri, Louisiana, and Arkansas. They are found in rocky woodland areas, remaining underground in warmer weather and coming out on cooler days.
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The American Carrion Beetle earns its name by eating decaying flesh in both its larval and adult form. Sometimes adults may be seen eating fungi or rotten fruit. In addition to to dead flesh and stinky fruit, they also eat maggots and other insect larvae feeding on decaying animals. Dried skin and muscle tissue is eaten as well. This unsavory role aids in returning nutrients from dead animals back into the ecological food web.
This little beetle has the appearance of a fat Firefly at first glance. In flight, it may look more like a small, flattened Bumblebee. It can smell carrion from a distance and instinctively flies to it and tucks in for a tasty meal. Its elytra (wing covering) and head are black. The elytra has a bumpy texture and a clear mid-line where it splits open so its wings, safely stored underneath, can take flight. It has a yellowish pronotum ('shoulder' area) with a distinct black mark in the center that is shaped somewhat like a shield or badge.
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Porcellio werneri is a large sized, flat bodied isopod native to Greece. It is an unusual looking isopod species with an oval shape, a very broad and flat body and it is also a large species, measuring up to 2 cm long. Its color is dark gray, almost black with a white skirt. Once the colony is established it proves to be a non demanding species to keep and breed, and it’s also moderately prolific.
Common name: Werner’s Woodlouse, Greek Shield Isopod, Pancake isopod.
In their native Greece, Porcellio werneri are specialists that are restricted to dry habitats, like calcareous rocky substrate.
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American oil beetles belong to the beetle family Meloidae and belong to the genus Meloe. These are a large beetle species that have an iridescent shiny black body that is massive in relation to its head and thorax.
These big black beetles get their common name from an oily substance they emit when disturbed. This poisonous chemical can cause skin blistering which is why they are also called ‘blister beetles.’ They have 2 antennae that point up like an upside-down L shape. They are also identified by their long spindly legs attached to their thorax that carry their oversized body.
Although oil beetles have wings, they are generally flightless insects and prefer to slowly move around looking for plant material to feed on.
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Ormenoides venusta is a species of flatid planthopper in the family Flatidae, found in North America. This species is univoltine, with first instars emerging in May. It feeds on paw paw leaves.
Flatid planthoppers make use of spines on their hind legs to provide purchase necessary for takeoff. The spines on the tibiae are one characteristic of the Flatidae; coupled with stubby but powerful flying wings, they give this little creature a violent and efficient escape mechanism.
Planthoppers expend considerable energy in the leaps. Even a medium sized nymph (<5mm) can jump a distance of 30 centimeters or more. The waxy coating also protects the insects from being caught in spider webs or puddles; they don’t stick to spider webs and they float quite well and can swim to safety.
Nymphs of many Flatids secrete a filamentous wax from the time they hatch. The filaments are extruded from glandular tissue at the tip of the abdomen, and may provide protection from predators and prevent desiccation.
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Nomad bees look more like black and yellow wasps than a typical bee. The small striped bee measures 0.31” to 0.39” (8 – 10 mm) and has a distinctive yellow and black abdomen, orange antennae, and yellowish legs. An easy way to tell the nomad bees apart from other bees is their hairless bodies.
The females use olfactory and visual cues for detecting suitable host nests. Upon locating a suitable host nest, she lands nearby, and rests facing the nest entrance. At some point, she enters the host nest where she lays an egg in the wall of a single cell, then leaves.
The host bee will continue to provision the nest cell with food and then seal up the cell. The larvae that hatch from the egg of Nomada have large mandibles (jaws), which they use to destroy the grub of the host bee, and eat the food supplied by its parent.
As a cleptoparastie (a brood parasite), Nomada species have no pollen baskets or scopa on the hind legs for collecting pollen, nor can they create their own nest cells. They are therefore completely reliant on a host.
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Migratory grasshoppers are a fascinating and sometimes troublesome species found in various parts of the world, including the United States. They are known for their ability to travel long distances in search of new breeding regions.
They are considered short-horned grasshoppers from a scientific standpoint. Their migrations are massive and can have significant impacts. In fact, these different types of grasshoppers cross continents during spring and fall, numbering in the billions.
The scale of their migration can even influence weather patterns, leading to rainfall and potentially causing tornadoes in certain areas. Interestingly, migratory grasshoppers are the first species to arrive each spring.
They are widely distributed and can be found in various parts of the world. Their migrations span thousands of miles a year, sometimes aided by wind patterns.
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The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring beetle from Asia, is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in North America. EAB lays its eggs in the bark crevices of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into the tree where they feed. This feeding is what damages the trees.
EAB adults are metallic green with a coppery-red abdomen and about one-half inch long. These beetles live for about three weeks. They are most active during the day, particularly when the weather is warm and sunny.
Up to 99% of ash trees are killed by EAB within 8-10 years of its establishment. EAB has greatly reduced the number of black ash trees in particular, and could spread throughout most of the tree’s range within the next two generations. Based on the threat from EAB, black ash was declared endangered and added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List in 2022. There are ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of EAB and protect existing populations of ash.
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Barsine orientalis is a multi-colored, pretty moth with orange, tan, dark brown, and black markings. Like many types of beautiful moths, this orange moth is native to tropical climates. The patterns on the wings are geometric shapes of squares and rectangles as well as some circles.
When resting, the Barsine orientalis has its large, rounded flat wings, covering its back. You’ll also see that the cool moth has whitish-gray legs with black markings. Finally, the orange moth has narrow white antennae.
The identifying feature of the Barsine orientalis moth is its pale tan wings with orange squares or rectangles and brown patterns.
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A base green color is specific to The Narrow-winged Mantis (Tenodera angustipennis). This species is native to Asia where it can be found in India, Japan, and other countries. It has also made its way to The East Coast of The US as well as to Hawaii.
These bugs measure around 3 inches with only the largest females measuring up to 3.3 inches.
Large females are responsible for laying eggs and they use a gray to brown ootheca to lay clusters of eggs. These eggs can hatch within 10 days and then molt multiple times to the final color, which is often mostly green with brown dorsal areas.
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The Mediterranean recluse spider (Loxosceles rufescens) is a species of spider that originated in the Mediterranean region as its name implies, but can now be found in many parts of the world and is listed as one of the most invasive spiders worldwide. Usually dwelling in caves, the spiders will also inhabit basements and tunnels. Their webs shelter their egg sacs, which hatch into young that molt as they grow. The spider hunts at night and eats species including silverfish and cockroaches, and they usually target smaller insects.
Similar to other species in their genus, bites from L. rufescens can cause necrosis and, for some individuals, systemic damage due to the enzyme sphingomyelinase D. Pest control may be undertaken with similar strategies as used for the brown recluse spider.
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The Gray Hairstreak butterfly, a small yet fascinating member of the hairstreak group, is widespread across North America and extends its range into Central and northern South America. Renowned for their close associations with ants and a diverse range of host plants, these butterflies exhibit unique survival strategies that make them a subject of interest for both enthusiasts and researchers alike.
The Gray Hairstreak caterpillar is characterized by a vibrant green body with a distinct line running from head to tail. In its early stages, it feeds primarily on flowers and fruits, favoring a variety of plants from the pea (Fabaceae) and mallow (Malvaceae) families, including beans, clover, and cotton.
Gray hairstreaks have a fascinating relationship with ants. Ants are attracted to the caterpillars because they secrete a sweet substance. In return, the ants provide protection to the caterpillars from predators.
In its adult form, the Gray Hairstreak showcases a brilliant blue-gray hue on the dorsal side of its wings, accentuated by a large red spot near the ends. The ventral side varies seasonally, from dark gray in spring and fall to a lighter shade in summer.
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The eastern parson spider is a special kind of spider from the USA and Canada. It’s part of the Gnaphosidae family. Instead of making webs to catch food, this spider likes to chase down its meals! It’s a sneaky spider, hiding in soft spots during the day and hunting at night.
They are brown to black body with the front mostly being chestnut in shade, gray abdomen, and a distinctive mark in pink or white. The body of the Eastern Parson Spider is covered in a velvety texture, adding to its unique appearance.
Eastern Parson spiders have venom. They use it to catch the bugs they eat. But for people, it’s not very strong. They can bite if they’re disturbed. It might feel like a tiny pinch, but it’s usually not a big deal.
The Eastern Parson Spider plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems it inhabits. By preying on various insects, it helps control their populations, ensuring that no single species dominates. This nocturnal hunter relies on its agility and speed to chase down and capture its prey.
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Geotrupidae (from Greek γῆ (gē), earth, and τρῡπητής (trȳpētēs), borer) is a family of beetles in the order Coleoptera. They are commonly called earth-boring dung beetles or dor beetles. Most excavate burrows in which to lay their eggs. They are typically detritivores, provisioning their nests with leaf litter (often moldy), but are occasionally coprophagous, similar to dung beetles. The eggs are laid in or upon the provision mass and buried, and the developing larvae feed upon the provisions. The burrows of some species can exceed 2 metres in depth.
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The genus Cryptops is readily recognisable due to the presence of 21 leg pairs (all other British and Irish centipedes have 15 pairs or at least 35 pairs).
This species is found in all of Europe except for: the Baltic states, Andorra, Belarus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Russia, Vatican City and various European islands. It has also been introduced to Tasmania, Australia.[4] It is found in gardens and woodland, and under stones and logs.
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The world’s largest grasshopper is the hedge grasshopper (Valanga irregularis), measuring around 3” (75 mm) long. However, some reports say the giant grasshopper can grow to 3.5” (90 mm). This gigantic grasshopper is native to Australia and has a brownish or tan-colored body. However, there are variations in appearance.
The species favours a moist climate. In spring and autumn they are often found in grassland or forest. If the atmospheric conditions are ideal they sometimes leave for suburban gardens.
Adult individuals are good jumpers and can defend against predators like mantises (Mantodea) or lynx spiders with the spines on the hindlegs. Moreover, Valanga irregularis is well camouflaged as the body colour resembles the plant stem and leaf they are hiding behind.
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Grammostola pulchra, is a head turning and stunning species of tarantula, more commonly known as the Brazilian black tarantula. As yet, there is much to be written and research about this species in its natural habitat. What little is known is that it is a ground dweller for sure. It is resourceful and will attempt to make a home out of what is around it. This might be inside a pre-made burrow from another animal, or under a nice quiet dark log.
The Grammostola pulchra female can live up to a whopping 30 years in captivity if it is well cared for. The male sadly less, living a maximum of six years. These sturdy tarantulas can reach up to around 7 inches. They are gentle and slow, do not have a tendency to attack or bite.
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The Brown crab (Cancer pagurus) is an edible crab with a reddish-brown shell, legs, and claws. Similar to the Florida Stone crab, the claws of this seawater crab have black tips. The Brown crab is one of the most popular varieties of crab in the United Kingdom.
This is a medium-sized crab variety with the carapace being between 6” and 9” (15 – 22 cm) wide. An adult brown crab can weigh up to 6.6 lbs (3 kg) with about one-third of its weight being meat.
Brown crabs have an oval body with edging that looks like a pie crust. The brown shell turns a lighter shade of brown when cooked. The taste and look of the sweet crab meat depend on the sex of the crustacean. The meat of the female crabs is a brown type of crab meat that has a rich flavor. The meat from male brown crabs is whiter and has a sweeter flavor.
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The habitat of the Pacific Spiketail is clear, shady foothill and mountains streams with either sand or mud substrate and steady current. Away from water this species tends to forage along forest openings and clearings or brushy ravines. Pacific Spiketails often perch on trees and small branches of shrubs for lengthy periods of time.
This is a large vividly-marked, black and yellow dragonfly with long abdomen, the eyes are smallish and barely touching. They are strong flyers and when perched often hang at a 45° angle. The female has a spikelike ovipositor. This species inhabits lotic systems in western Montana (small woodland streams and rivers). There is only 1 genus and 1 species of this family of dragonflies in NorthWestern North America.
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The larva of the Wavy-lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerate), also called the camouflaged looper, is a fairly common caterpillar you might not see because it uses a unique method for hiding. This caterpillar will attach bits of the plant material on which it is feeding to its back with bits of silk in order to blend into its host plant and avoid detection. If it is feeding on Rudbeckia petals, it will “wear” those. If it is feeding on the Rudbeckia flower head, it will attach pieces of that part of the flower. If it moves to a Liatris, it will choose parts of that flower to cover itself and transforms into a purple caterpillar. It also presumably detaches and replaces the parts as they wilt, since it always seems to be covered in fresh colorful adornments that match the meal perfectly. So while it is essentially using camouflage, this insect is an active participant in the process.
The adult moth is green with wavy white transverse lines. It is a small but beautiful moth, with a wingspan of about an inch, and is a nocturnal flier that is attracted to light.
This moth, a member of the family Geometridae, overwinters in the larval stage and emerges in the spring to feed on flowers. It has a large range covering most of North America, from southern Canada south to Texas. It feeds on different types of plants, mostly composite flowers, in addition to many flowering shrubs and trees.
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This beautiful creature is a female stick insect of a species known as the green bean stick insect and by its scientific name of DIAPHERODES GIGANTEA. In the wild it is found on several Caribbean islands including Grenada, where they spend much of their time hiding in (and eating) the leaves of Eucalyptus trees and other native tree species.
The females of this species are exceptionally beautiful and a beautiful bright green colour. The males on the other hand, as in so many phasmid (stick & leaf insect) species, are not nearly as colourful and are also much smaller than the females and able to fly.
I got to hold one today!
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Interestingly, individuals belonging to orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) occupy different habitats depending on gender: the males inhabit the edges of forests, whereas the females prefer meadows. When laying eggs, females release pheromones to deter other females from laying eggs on the same flowerhead. They are picky about choosing their host plants, and females will avoid plants not fully exposed to sunlight.
The upper sides of the wings are white. Males have orange-tipped forewings and females have small black tips. Both have a black spot. The wing underside has a mottled green pattern.
Caterpillars are pale orange at first, becoming blue-green with a white line down each side.
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The King crab, belonging to the genus Lithodes, stands as an emblematic entity within the marine ecosystem, renowned for both its remarkable physiology and substantial economic relevance. This marine decapod, prominently distributed across the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere.
King crabs boast a distinctive morphology, characterized by a pronounced calcified exoskeleton, a pair of robust chelae (claws), and a distinctive abdomen, neatly tucked under the thorax. Their body is shielded by a spiny, heart-shaped carapace, the function of which transcends mere protection, also facilitating muscle attachment crucial for locomotion.
The reproductive cycle commences with a mating ritual, often initiated by males through an intricate series of tactile and visual signals. Upon external fertilization, females brood thousands to millions of eggs beneath their abdomen for approximately one year, safeguarding them from potential predators and the ambient aquatic environment.
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Carabus insulicola is a species of black-colored beetle from the family Carabidae native to Japan. They are also known as ground beetles, and are oval shaped and elongated. They are black with a green metallic hue and vertical stripes running down their backs.
They can be seen throughout Japan, living in forest grounds eating worms, larva, dead small animals, and so on. Since they live on the ground most of the time, they don't have appendages to fly.
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Tiger crane flies are fascinating insects that often get mistaken for giant mosquitoes. They have slender bodies and long, delicate legs, making them easy to recognize in your garden or near your home.
These crane flies exhibit red, yellow, and black stripes, giving them the “tiger” aspect in their name.
Tiger Crane Flies share similarities with other crane flies – they are harmless to humans and do not bite. Their larval stage plays a crucial role in breaking down organic matter in their habitats, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.
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The tree bumblebee is a relatively new arrival to the UK. It was first recorded here in 2001 and is slowly spreading north throughout the country. It can now be found in much of England and Wales and has reached Southern Scotland. It is associated with open woodland, so is commonly found in gardens that have a similar type of habitat. It nests in cavities, such as old birds' nests, bird boxes, or roof spaces.
It visits a wide range of flowers, particularly those of soft fruits, such as raspberries and blackberries. It emerges from hibernation early in the spring, around February or early March. Males are seen in late May and June, and adults can still be seen in late autumn if nests have a second generation.
The tree bumblebee has fuzzy, browny-orange hairs on its thorax, a black abdomen, and a white tail.
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The Golden Wheel Spider (Carparachne aureoflava) is native to the Namib Desert of Namibia, southern Africa.
Belonging to the group of huntsman spiders, this small arachnid measures up to 20mm in size and has developed some extraordinary adaptations to survive in its challenging habitat. One of the most striking features of the Golden Wheel Spider is its ability to escape predators in a rather unconventional manner.
Upon sensing danger, the spider flips onto its side, transforming its body into a wheel-like shape and performs a cartwheeling escape down the sand dunes at remarkable speeds of up to 44 turns per second.
Aside from its incredible escape tactics, C. aureoflava is known for constructing intricate trapdoors using silk and sand, and for being able to shift up to 80,000 times its own body weight while creating silk-lined burrows beneath the desert surface.
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The Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is native to the United States and Mexico, but it can now find it in freshwater habitats all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. Because of its burrowing behavior in the mud, which leaves a large hole in the center, this crayfish is also known as the Louisiana Crawfish or mudbug.
It has a red color with bright red spots on its shells and claws. The Red Swamp Crayfish can reach a length of 5 inches and a weight of 50 g. It feeds on plants and small animals, such as worms and insects.
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A stout, medium-sized moth, the Drab Prominent is a soft shade of green when it first enters the world as an adult. The color fades to a simple gray as it matures. Two vague scalloped lines curve across the wings, which might have visible white dots accentuating each point. The head and thorax are furry and may have a patch of bronze on them.
Unlike drab adults, the caterpillars of this species (Misogada unicolor) are highly colorful. They can also be entirely purple. Growth stages or instars come with different color changes in the Drab Prominent Caterpillar. This is a species that goes from full purple to mostly green as it grows.
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The Eastern bark centipede is a species of centipede that’s native to the eastern region of the United States and can grow to be up to 4 centimeters in length. The body is typically a shade of reddish brown, and the legs are yellow.
However, there are some species that have a bluish-gray or even greenish coloration. These creatures can be discovered in forests and other wooded areas, specifically in the crevices of logs and loose bark.
They eat mostly insects and other small arthropods, and these critters are usually active at night. Unlike most centipedes, the venom of Eastern barks is sexually dimorphic, which means that males and females have different kinds of venom composition.
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Psalmopoeus victori: Hailing originally from Mexico, this species is known under two different common names; the Darth Maul tarantula or the Mexican Half-and-Half. Both these names do a good job of describing the appearance of this species.
The Darth Maul name springs from the fact that this is a red and black tarantula that matches the color scheme of the Star Wars villain.
With its remarkable speed and agility, the P. victori is a spectacle of natural beauty and behavior. Its contrasting black and orange pattern not only serves as a warning to predators but also captivates the enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. This species' distinctiveness lies not just in its appearance but in its spirited personality
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Micro crabs, or Thai micro crabs (Limnopilos naiyanetri), are a species of tiny freshwater crabs native to Thailand.
hey typically measure around 0.4 inches wide, making them slightly larger than pea crabs. Micro crabs are known for their translucent milky-white shells, making them easily camouflaged in their natural habitat.
These crabs exhibit a preference for calm, slow-moving bodies of water, such as marshes and swamps. They are scavengers, feeding on small invertebrates, detritus, and plant matter found in their environment.
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German cockroaches are a worldwide issue, and they are the most common type of cockroach found around homes, apartments, grocery stores, restaurants, and commercial buildings.
Adults are light caramel colored with two dark, vertical stripes behind the head. They are about the size of a penny when fully grown. German cockroaches are fast runners.
They do best when the temperature is around 70°F, but they can reproduce year-round inside. They lay more eggs and mature faster than other cockroaches, requiring only 36 days to mature in ideal conditions.
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The Beech Blight Aphid appears in dramatic fashion. This aphid will raise the posterior end of its body and sway when it is disturbed. This action produces a dance-like effect that occurs throughout the colony. This phenomenon has led some to refer to this species as the "Boogie-Woogie Aphid." ✡️ It is a unique experience to see hundreds, if not thousands, of these perform this defensive, yet highly entertaining, behavior.
It has been speculated that heavy populations may kill smaller limbs of beech trees. Others suggest that smaller and/or distorted foliage may result from the feeding pressure imposed by this insect. Ultimately, there is no indication that this aphid causes any real serious harm beyond that of the vast amounts of aesthetically displeasing sooty mold :peeposmoke:
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omg
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The Indian Tiger Centipede (Scolopendra hardwickei) has a sleek, shiny body whose segments alternate between red orange and black. They can grow up to a length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in).
Indian tiger centipede usually live in hidden places in forests or cities, and generally do not actively attack people. However, when it is disturbed, it is likely to bite, and severe pain and swelling will occur after being bitten by it.
Despite their fearsome reputation, indian tiger centipede can regenerate lost body segments, showcasing an incredible example of their resilience and adaptability.
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Boxer crabs feed sea anemones in exchange for defense from danger — serving as a prominent example of symbiosis in the animal kingdom.
Lybia tessellata is a tiny crustacean native to the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. These crabs are usually patterned with pink, brown, or yellow and reach about an inch in width. They bear slim claws and a front pair of walking legs that are longer than the other three pairs.
These crustaceans spend most of their time attached to reefs in shallow waters. They are known as ‘pom-pom’ or boxers crabs due to their unique presentation of sea anemones, which live attached to the crab’s claws and are often wielded similarly to ‘pom poms’ or boxing gloves.
Boxer crabs and sea anemones form one of the most unusual and astounding symbiotic relationships in the entire animal kingdom. These crabs wield sea anemones attached to their claws in horizontal motions as they move. This colorful display serves as a natural deterrent to predators, and when directly threatened, the crab will utilize the sea anemone in a forward, ‘punching’ movement towards the aggressor. The sea anemone’s stinging tentacles serve as the ultimate defense mechanism for the crab.
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Lixus iridis is a species of weevil found in Europe. The adults grow up to 12–17 mm long. The body is oblong and features a yellow-grey coloration. There are three faint longitudinal grey grooves on the prothorax and the abdomen. Elbowed (characteristic of true weevils) and thin antennae are placed on the upper third of the straight and cylindrical rostrum which is as long as the prothorax. Finally, they have thin legs with little thickened femurs.
The name iridis, which literally means "from Iris", refers to the Iris plant.
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Although commonly referred to as the cow killer ant or red velvet ant, this insect is actually a wasp. They get the "velvet" part of their name from the fuzziness of the females, which are wingless and often brightly colored, appearing like a red and black ant.
The powerful red velvet ant sting is what has led them to be nicknamed “cow killers”.
Female cow killer ants dig into the nesting chambers of ground-nesting bees and wasps and lay their eggs on the larvae inside. When the immature velvet ant is born, it eats its host and then spins its cocoon within the pupal case of its host.
Female cow killer ants are also typically seen running somewhat erratically on the ground, especially on bare or sandy areas in the warm summer months. These pests will occasionally enter structures for insect prey. Male velvet ants are often found on flowers, although some species are nocturnal.
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Growing to a size of 1mm, booklice are among the typical gray bugs that are barely visible when settling indoors.
These bugs can be gray, white, or translucent.
High-humidity rooms or homes are known to be the root cause of their presence indoors.
These types of bugs feast on mold and are milder caused by high humidity. They can only be removed by reducing indoor humidity.
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Ceraeochrysa smithi is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America.
Ceraeochrysa smithi lays its eggs in a distinctive spiral, with droplets of an ant-repellant fluid along the stalks.
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The Japanese Tiger Shrimp thrives in the Western Pacific Ocean's depths. With distinctive dark stripes on its body, this 23-centimeter-long shrimp is well-suited for survival. Preferring sandy or muddy ocean floors, they stay hidden during the day and venture out to feed on small fish and plankton at night.
In aquaculture, these shrimps are famous in Japan, China, and Vietnam for their fast growth and resilience. They undergo "molting," shedding their exoskeletons throughout their lives. However, they face threats from diseases like white spot syndrome and yellow head virus.
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The orange Eastern Amberwing is a fiery dragonfly that adds a flash of raging color as it flies just above the water.
This dragonfly stays low, close to the water's surface as it flies, feeding on small insects. Males stake a claim on a shoreline territory, preferring areas where vegetation and wood bits stick out of the water. A female will enter a male's territory to mate and then lays her eggs in the water by tapping the tip of her abdomen just into the water's surface. The eggs spread out and eventually naiads (larvae) hatch, and they spend their lives underwater feeding on other small aquatic insects. Once they are ready for adulthood, they will crawl out of the water onto logs, branches or other sturdy wood and molt one last time into a winged adult.
Eastern Amberwings are found near bodies of water like streams, creeks, marshes, ponds and lagoons. They have bright orange wings covered in veins and large red eyes. Brown and yellow lines on the abdominal segments mimic banding seen in wasps. They are small and flick their tails, a behavior that also simulates wasps. Unlike wasps, dragonflies do not have antennae. They are most active on sunny days.
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The horsehair crab is often found in Japanese cuisine. It has a brown-orange color, a bumpy texture across its shell, and spiky hairs found all over its body. You can find the horsehair crab in the northern waters of Alaska and Japan.
This edible crab houses a lot of meat in relation to its relatively small body. Many people describe the taste of a horsehair crab as delicate and sweet, while some even say they are the tastiest crabs on Earth.
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Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) is one of the most resistant tarantula species. This is because they are capable of surviving in the harsh conditions of the very hot deserts and semi-arid areas of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. Its body has a pinkish tone that provides its name.
These tarantulas are known for their ability to go long periods without eating. This allows them to survive in their native habitats where food may be scarce, such as desert and scrub areas.
They have a very calm demeanor, making them a target for the pet trade, being commonly exported to other countries. They feed on insects such as crickets and cockroaches, but can also catch small mammals and reptiles. They are most active at night and use their size and strength to catch larger prey.
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Giant hooded katydids, known as Siliquofera grandis, are one of the largest katydid (bush cricket) species on the planet. In the wild they are most commonly found in Papua New Guinea along with some of the smaller Indonesian islands, where they live in the canopy of the rainforest.
These amazing insects have the most remarkable ability to camouflage themselves amongst the leaves of the rainforest canopy.
They do have very impressive mouthparts capable of inflicting an uncomfortable bite if they feel threatened or provoked. They can also jump and even fly short distances with their wings.
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Catonephele numilia, the blue-frosted banner, blue-frosted Catone, Grecian shoemaker or stoplight Catone, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae found in Central and South America.
For the blue frosted banners, males are black with six orange dots on the dorsal surface of the wings, while females are black with a vertical light yellow stripe on both wings.
Their estimated lifespan is about a month. Adults feed on rotten fruits, while caterpillars feed on Alchornea species. They can usually be seen flying close to the ground and close to the ripe fruits and flowers.
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@bot this one is cute with the pom poms tho
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Dinoponera quadriceps (dinosaur ants) are a little primitive, as their name suggests. They’re bigger than normal ants, over 2.5 centimeters (1 in) long, and everyone in the colony has the ability to reproduce. Instead of a queen, they have an alpha female. She’s surrounded by up to five beta females, who do nothing but sit around all day long. These betas are next in line if something should happen to the alpha.
Sometimes a beta gets tired of waiting and decides to start laying eggs of her own. If the alpha female detects that her position is being challenged, she wipes chemicals from her stinger onto the would-be usurper. At that point, the workers will run out to punish the offending ant. They will pin the overreaching beta to the ground, sometimes for up to four days. After justice has been meted out, the beta also loses her rank and is just a lowly worker from then on, or she’s dead from not eating for four days. Dinosaur ants put traitors to the rack.
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Ixa cylindrus is a peaceful, slow moving crab suitable for any refugium or lagoon type reef. Not much is known about their behavior, but from what we observe in the tanks as well as pictures from the wild, is that these crabs prefer very soft sandy substrate to partially bury or scuttle around in. They, like most crabs, readily take aquarium fare or food scraps that lie around the tank. Their dainty straw like claws and legs are more suited for scavenging rather than actively hunting food stuff.
Besides the unusual cracked shell appearance, the crab also sports two long cylindrical knobs that flank both sides of the animal. They can be found in the coastal waters of the eastern Arabian Sea.
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Thesprotia graminis, the American grass mantis or grass-like mantis, is a species of mantis native to the Southern United States. It is found in Florida and Georgia. This species can reproduce parthenogenetically or through sexual reproduction.
This is a long, slender mantis often confused with a walkingstick, especially when it moves with forelimbs outstretched. Males have long wings and are good fliers, females are wingless and resemble a pine needle.
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The Desert Spider Beetle is an intriguing creature found in arid environments. This fascinating arthropod is part of the spider beetle family, which has several species known for infesting stored products.
These beetles have an array of characteristics that make them well-adapted for survival in their harsh habitats. For instance, their small size – ranging from two to five millimeters in length – enables them to navigate complex environments with ease. Additionally, they generally feed on organic debris and decaying matter, making it easier for them to find nourishment in their surroundings.
Two species in this genus include Cysteodemus armatus (dorsum black, often with a slight metallic tint and white to yellow-brown incrustation.) and Cysteodemus wislizeni (dorsum shining, deep metallic blue/green/violet, lacking incrustation.)
They are located in the Colorado, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts.
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The Desertas Islands (Madeira, Portugal) are the sole home of one of the largest and rarest wolf spider species worldwide, Hogna ingens. The Desertas Wolf Spider has a legspan of up to 13 centimeters and a body of around 4 centimeters. It is Europe’s largest spider. Hogna Ingens is easily recognizable thanks to the white poke-dots on the legs.
In the absence of native terrestrial mammals, this spider is a top predator in its small habitat, and although its major prey consists of other invertebrates, such as the staphylinid beetle Ocypus olens or the invasive millipede Ommatoiulus moreleti, adults have even been seen predating on juveniles of the lizard, Lacerta dugesii mauli.
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A frequent guest in deciduous and evergreen forests, the Lesser Maple Spanworm has one-of-a-kind markings to help identify it. Lighter and half the size of the Large Maple Spanworm Moth, the Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth's design makes up for what it lacks in wingspan. The bright, white moth has four brown marks on the outer edge of each forewing. Though the first and second marks almost cross, it is the third set of marks that span the wings with a thin brown trail, linking both sides. This line may also stretch across the hindwings.
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The curly hair tarantula has a round body covered with long bristles that have a slight curl—hence the spider's common name. Most of the bristles are a dark brown to black color, but some are golden. This gives the spider an overall bronze sheen.
Curly hair tarantulas are ground-dwelling, burrowing spiders native to Central America—more specifically, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In the wild, they can be found in tropical rainforests, and they’re threatened by habitat loss.
If they feel threatened, curly hair tarantulas also might use their defense mechanisms. They can kick hairs off their abdomens that irritate a person's skin and cause damage if they get in your eyes.
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The giant predatory cricket (Cosmoderus femoralis) is omnivorous with well developed predatory behaviour – it is actively attacking and devouring smaller insects. Also they can eat fruits and vegetables like apples or cucumbers, fish flakes are accepted readily too. They are native to Cameroon.
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The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It has spread invasively to Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Its preferred host is the 'tree of heaven' (Ailanthus altissima), but it also feeds on other trees, and on crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malus spp. In its native habitat, L. delicatula populations are regulated by parasitic wasps.
Early life stages (instars) of the spotted lanternfly are characterized by spotted black and white nymphs that develop a red pigmentation and wings as they mature. Early life instars have a large host range that narrows with maturation. Adult spotted lanternflies have a black head, grey wings, and red hind wings.
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The spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris) is a species of stink bug common in North America. They are predators of gypsy moth caterpillars and the larvae of beetles such as the Colorado potato beetle and the Mexican bean beetle. Since the Mexican bean beetle is widely regarded as a notorious agricultural pest in North America, soldier bugs are generally considered to be beneficial garden insects.
They have prominent spines on each "shoulder" as well as on their legs. The life cycle of these predator stink bugs starts when they are eggs. Females lay between 17 and 70 eggs at a time. The eggs hatch in a week or less into “instars,” the term used for this bug’s five immature stages. At this first stage, the instars are red and eat nothing at all. The color pattern changes as they mature. They do eat other insects in the other four instar stages. It takes about a month for a newly hatched instar to develop into a mature adult. Adults overwinter in leaf litter to emerge again in early spring. Females lay some 500 eggs, beginning a week after they emerge.
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The spotted cucumber beetle, a member of the leaf beetle family, is a major agricultural pest in North America. The distinct 12 spots on its forewings that is their prominent distinguishable feature, have also resulted in their name.
Its body is yellowish-green, with twelve characteristic black spots on each of their elytra. The antennae, head, and legs are black. Their antenna appears long and slender, measuring 1.6 mm long.
Damage caused by these beetles can be identified from holes in the leaves they chewed through and the scars caused by feeding on the host plant, primarily the stems, crowns, and fruits.
Larvae can cause more significant damage to young plants by attacking their roots, preventing their development.
They can be found in North America, ranging from southern Canada, the continental USA, and parts of the central highlands of Mexico.
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Sycamore Tussock Moths can be found on sycamore trees and London plane trees. They are pale brown with alternating bands of tan and brown across the forewings. The hairy thorax has lines of white, blue, and yellow hairs running down the center.
The larvae is an unusual looking white furry and fluffy caterpillar due to 2 hair pencils protruding from each end. A pair of white and a pair of orange long spikes stick out from furry yellowish-white spines. The sides of the larvae have fine white trailing setae (bristly hairs).
As with many types of fuzzy caterpillars, the bristles of Sycamore Tussock are irritating and may cause hives. These are not a stinging caterpillar species and are certainly not a deadly caterpillar variety.
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It’s not only bears that hibernate in winter. Cluster flies (Pollenia spp.) do too, seeking warm, dark places, like inside the walls of your home, to sleep away the cold months before reemerging in spring. Also called “attic flies,” they are known disease carriers and are capable of crawling inside the smallest of spaces.
Cluster flies, or Pollenia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, are a commonly observed genus of true flies (Diptera: Polleniidae), readily distinguished by their dull-coloured bodies with golden setae on the thorax. They are often disregarded beyond their role as house pests, and a quick search of their common name would produce endless results instructing how to rid your home of them.
Several hundred flies may gather in any one cluster, and in early spring, hundreds of flies may die in homes before they are able to find their way back outside.
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Sand fleas are commonly known as beach fleas, sand hoppers, or beach hoppers. Despite their common name, sand fleas are not actually fleas. In fact, they aren’t even insects. Sand fleas are very small crustaceans, in the Amphipod order. Sand fleas jump like fleas and are difficult to capture which may be how they got their common name, not because they actually bite people.
Sand fleas are very small, and are usually anywhere from a quarter of an inch up to an inch in length. They live on sandy beaches near the high-tide mark. They are most active at night, when they’ll emerge to forage for food. During the day, they’ll stay buried in the sand.
Most of the time, sand fleas bite your toes and feet because they come in contact with humans walking around the beach. Male sand fleas feed on a host, mate with female fleas, then die.
Female sand fleas are much more dangerous. After mating, they burrow into your skin and latch onto a blood supply to continue feeding. When burrowing, they leave the caudal tip of their abdomen exposed outside of your skin so they can defecate and drop eggs. You may be able to spot them on your feet if you see this small brown tip sticking out, so be sure to examine your skin after a trip to the beach.
While sitting just under the skin, female sand fleas begin filling with hundreds of eggs. It’s usually during this time that people notice pain, discomfort, and itching as the flea grows in size.
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The malachite butterfly is one of the most stunning green butterflies found in Central and Northern South America. It has a 3-4 inch wingspan and lives in subtropical forests with mango, citrus, and avocado trees. Adult butterflies eat rotting fruits, bird droppings, and even dead animals found in the forest.
The wings of malachite butterflies are dark brown to black with whitish green patches. They also come in two forms, distinguished by the color of their undersides. The dry season form is larger than the wet season form and has black marks instead of silver on its underside.
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@vayda damned sri lankans get all the cool bugs wtf man
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@vayda well damn dude that's a cool one does color vary smoothly or does it have two morphs?
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Like other warm water lobsters (and contrary to their cold water equivalents), the Caribbean spiny lobster lacks claws.
Caribbean spiny lobsters get their name from forward-pointing spines that cover their bodies to help protect them from predators.
They have a reddish brown shell, marked with occasional dark spots and two large, cream-colored spots on the top of the second segment of the tail.
They have long, horn-like antennae over their eyes that they wave to scare off predators, and smaller antennae-like “antennules” that sense movement and detect chemicals in the water.
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The Wandering Violin Mantis is one of the most amazing looking mantis species. It is a large mantis with amazing camouflage. It’s body has a lot of appendages that look like dried leaves and its body is long and thin to resemble a wooden stick. The Latin name of the Wandering Violin mantis is Gongylus gongylodes.
Gongylus gongylodes natural habitat is in India and Sri Lanka.
The Wandering Violin Mantis got its name because the adults look a bit like a violin. Their body would resemble the soundboard of a violin, the head would be the top of the violin and the long and thin midsection of the mantis would be the neck of the violin.
Gongylus gongylodes comes in different color variants ranging from light brown to dark brown. Its body has all kinds of appendages that resemble dried leaves.
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The Golden Ladybug, also known as the gold lady beetle, is a fascinating and beneficial insect commonly found in gardens and natural surroundings. These brightly colored beetles are not only visually striking, but they also play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by feeding on various pests, such as aphids.
The color of golden lady beetles varies between species, but they typically exhibit a gold or metallic hue that may include shades of red, yellow, and orange. Their elytra, or wing covers, display black spots which further differentiate them from other lady beetles. The following characteristics can be observed:
- Metallic gold hue, sometimes with red, yellow or orange shades
- Black spots on their elytra
- Shiny and iridescent appearance
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fig wasp, (family Agaonidae), any of about 900 species of tiny, solitary wasps responsible for pollinating the world’s 900 species of figs (see Ficus). Each species of fig wasp pollinates only one species of fig, and each fig species has its own wasp species to pollinate it. This extraordinary diversity of coevolution between figs and wasps has become so profound that neither organism can exist without the other.
Wasps mature from eggs deposited inside the flowering structure of the fig, called the syconium, which looks very much like a fruit. Inside the completely enclosed syconium are the tiny, individual flowers themselves. When a wasp egg is deposited in one of the female flowers, that flower develops a gall-like structure instead of a seed. The blind, wingless male wasps emerge from the galls and search out one or more galls containing a female, and upon finding one, he chews a hole in the gall and mates with her before she has even hatched.
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The Australian steel-blue sawfly Perga affinis are often known as 'spitfires'. Sawfly larvae can grow to 7cm long and forage nocturnally in Australian Eucalyptus trees, forming large groups that can strip all of the leaves from a tree in a few days.
Sawfly societies operate democratically, with leaders and followers co-operating to decide on group movements. Sawflies live in social groups that can have hundreds of individuals and they stay together for their seven-month larval stage.
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The Tubuca longidigitum is a species of fiddler crab also known as the Long-fingerd Fiddler Crab and the Grey-clawed Fiddler Crab.
They are very small, with an average specimen having a carapace reaching only about 1.65cm.
These crabs are found off the coast of Australia (Queensland).
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Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp - This species of Sphecid wasps (Sceliphron caementarium) are larger than other common North American species. It grows to a full size between 24 and 28mm.
A mostly black body with yellow species is specific to the appearance of the species. Yellow legs with a few small black sections are distinguished on the wasp.
These wasps are known for building mud nests for their offspring.
They capture spiders which are laid in individual mud nests for the emerging larvae to feed on.
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The Calcarifera ordinata is a moth of the family Limacodidae. It is widespread in northern Australia, south to Geraldton, Alice Springs and Brisbane.
The wingspan is about 30 mm. Adults are creamy brown with lines of dots on the forewings. The hind wings are pale brown.
Its larvae is known as the Wattle Cup Caterpillar. The caterpillar is bright yellow with blue green and orange colours. There are a number of tubercles around its body. They have reduced legs and move using a slug-like movement of the underside of the body. It has an extremely potent sting, described as being "worse than three wasp stings".
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Tan, light brown, and dark brown coloring is specific to The Slim Mexican Mantis (Bistanta mexicana).
Native to Mexico, this species is also present in Southern areas of Texas.
Its largest recorded size of 5 inches is atypical as these Praying Mantids measure an average of 2-3 inches.
A brown base color and a thread-like body make this bug resemble sticks.
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The species Arkys lancearius, is commonly known as the Triangular Spider or Common Triangular Spider, named from the distinctive triangular or heart-shaped abdomen. A brightly colored and patterned spider they are found along the east coast of Australia, from Queensland, down through New South Wales, Victoria, parts of South Australia, south-eastern parts of Western Australia and Tasmania.
The body length of the males is about 5.5 mm, with the females being larger at around 8 mm. The front two pairs of legs are large, perfect for grabbing small insects, whilst the rear pairs of legs are smaller. The body color can vary from yellow, orange, red and with pale jewel-like markings on the triangular shaped abdomen.
The Triangular Spider is an ambush hunter, often found resting on leaves and ferns or just hanging from a few threads of silk.
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The Giant Huntsman Spider, holding the record for the largest leg span of any spider, is a source of fear for many. Its leg span can reach up to 30 cm, akin to a dinner plate.
Found primarily in caves in Laos, this spider’s size is not the only intimidating factor; its speed and agility make it a proficient hunter.
Despite its frightening appearance and hunting prowess, the Giant Huntsman Spider is generally harmless to humans, with its bite causing little more than mild discomfort.
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The teddy bear crab is also referred to as the hairy crab thanks to its coating of long, silky hairs (“setae“) all over its carapace and legs. These hairs protect against predators, camouflaging the crab against the rocky reef background and breaking up the outline of its body. The setae also act as a net, trapping dirt, mud particles, and other bits of detritus, which further enhances its disguise.
The crabs predominantly appear along low intertidal reefs, rocky and pebble shorelines, and Sargassum-covered areas. They can be found across the Red Sea, Indo-Pacific, Australia, and Japan.
Teddy bear crabs feed mostly on larger pieces of algae during the low tide. They are highly fecund. Female teddy bear crabs carry 300–800 eggs at a time and breed continuously between March and December to ensure juvenile recruitment in their home range.
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Meranoplus bicolor, is a species of ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is found in many Asian countries, where its habitats range from open grasslands to open-canopy forests. They nest in soil, usually at the base of plants. The nest opening is a simple hole, but it can sometimes have multiple openings. Workers forage on the ground as well as on plants, where they exploit extrafloral nectaries and tend to aphids.
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The White Dragontail, or Lamproptera curius, is a tiny and unique swallowtail butterfly that you can find in South Asia and Southeast Asia. This little critter belongs to the Dragontails group within the Swallowtail family, and it holds the title of being the tiniest member in that whole family. Its wings are a beautiful mix of black, white, and transparent patches, making it quite eye-catching. What really stands out is its long tail on each hindwing.
The Male White Dragontail butterfly frequents open riverbanks within forests. Unlike other butterfly species that group together, these prefer to puddle separately typically on nearby sand. Females are generally larger and have broader wings than the males.
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As its name suggests, the Northern Scorpion (Paruroctonus boreus) is a species found in the Northern territories. It can be found in Northern states such as Montana. The Northern scorpion is the only scorpion found in Canada.
Members of this species are known for having either a brown or a dark brown color. They are found in many desert parks in the North.
Northern scorpions burrow in the ground. Most Northern scorpion stings are reported by backcountry adventurers.
These scorpions are known for making into the tent of hikers or fishermen.
While they do bite, Northern scorpions don’t have lethal venom.
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The Rhetus periander, common name: Periander Metakmark, has hindwings with curved, broad tails. Wings dorsally black with large blue inner parts and red spots on the hindwings, ventrally brown with longitudinal white stripes and red lines at the inner margin of the forewings and red spots at the base of the hindwing tails.
This species of butterfly has a very fast flight and can be observed when resting under sun, on the ground or on low vegetation. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, and Costa Rica.
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Phidippus audax, the bold jumper or bold jumping spider, is a common species of spider belonging to the genus Phidippus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified by their large eyes and their iridescent chelicerae. Like all jumping spiders, they have excellent stereoscopic vision that aids them in stalking prey and facilitates visual communication with potential mates during courting. Bold jumping spiders are native to North America and have been introduced to Hawaii, Nicobar Islands, Azores, and the Netherlands. They are typically black with a distinct white triangle on their abdomen.
On June 11 2021, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed the HB 318 bill designating Phidippus audax as the state spider. The designation came after a campaign by a class in Hollis, New Hampshire. Bold jumpers are currently very abundant and one of the most common spiders in the United States. As a major predator of crop pests, they have been studied to determine their impact on pest insect populations. In addition to eating pests, they also eat beneficial insects such as pollinators.
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