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Showing posts with label Butterflies-Insects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Butterflies-Insects. Show all posts
Wednesday
Tuesday
Master Blister Beetle (Lytta magister)
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This page last updated on 04/20/2019
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| (Fig. 01) |
Description: Lytta magister (also known as the desert blister beetle or master blister beetle) is a species of blister beetle found in southwestern North America. The Master Blister Beetles are probably the most common species of blister beetle. The Master Blister Beetle has an orange head and thorax. Typically 0.6 to 1.3 inches in length. The Lytta magister has a striking red (orange) head, legs and prothorax, with black elytra. The blister beetle insects can usually be found in the Midwest & Southwest parts of United States. Currently, more than seventy-thousand five-hundred bugs species are found in America. Among the most conspicuous of insects in the Sonoran Desert spring are Blister Beetles in the family Meloidae. The Blister Beetle is found in the desert during the early Summer. Don't attempt to handle them; their bodies contain a toxin called (cantharadin) that can cause blisters to form on the skin.
Tarantula Hawk Wasp (Pepsis species)
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This page last updated on 10/02/2017
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| (Fig. 01) |
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| (Fig. 02) |
Description: A Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis species) is a spider parasitic wasp that hunts tarantulas. One of the largest of wasps, the Tarantula Hawk Wasp can be up to 2 1/2-inches in length. It is metallic blue-black in color with blue-black or yellow-orange wings edged in black. It has black antennae and long, velvety black legs with hooked claws that can be seen in (Fig. 01). In addition to being strong, fast runners, it can fly low along the ground in search of spiders. Only females can sting – and its stinger can be as long as 1/3 inch. Males are harmless. The tarantula hawk rarely stings unless it is handled or disturbed. The sting of the female Taranula Hawk is considered to be one of the most painful insect stings in the world. Tarantula hawks are a species of spider wasp which are solitary wasps. This means that they tend to live alone, rather than in colonies. Many do not build nests at all, but instead, burrow into the soil or use natural cavities or the burrows of other insects or animals. Tarantula hawk species have been observed from as far north as Logan, Utah, in the United States, the deserts of the southwestern United States, and south as far as Argentina in South America. It is a common desert wasp of the Southwest but can be found anywhere the tarantula is found. It is most active during summer days – however, it does not like extreme heat.
Adults feed on flower nectar, pollen, and the juice of berries and other fruits. The she-wasp uses the tarantula spiders to feed its young. As for the tarantulas, well, they almost never escape. The sting paralyzes the spider nearly instantly, allowing the wasp to drag it into a pre-dug burrow or back to the tarantula’s own den. Here it drops the victim and lays a single egg on it, then leaves and seals the chamber behind it. The egg hatches into a larva, which starts eating the still-paralyzed spider, focusing on non-essential tissues to keep it alive for as long as possible—perhaps weeks. Still, the she-wasp has to be careful, because while she’s pretty darn big, the tarantula can be several times bigger than her. And although tarantulas may be harmless to humans, they have massive fangs that could do a number on the wasp. The wasp go in and actually get in underneath the tarantula and then flip it over, and then sting it. She’s usually looking for a chink in the tarantula’s armor, and that’s often at the joints in the legs.
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| (Fig. 03) |
Monday
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
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This page last updated on 05/28/2017
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| (Fig. 01) |
Description: The blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is very common and widely distributed through North America. The males are easy to recognize with their vibrant blue color, yellow-striped thorax, and metallic green eyes. Females are somewhat less colorful than the male, an example of sexual dimorphism. While they have a matching yellow-striped thorax, their abdomen has a distinct brown and yellow striping that sets them apart from the male, along with contrasting red eyes. Both sexes develop a frosted color with age. Blue dashers live near still, calm bodies of water, such as ponds, marshes, slow-moving waterways, and ditches, in warm areas typically at low elevations. The adults roost in trees at night.
These dragonflies, like others of their infraorder, are carnivorous, and are capable of eating hundreds of insects every day, including mosquito and mayfly larvae. The adult dragonfly will eat nearly any flying insect, such as a moth or fly. Nymphs have a diet that includes other aquatic larvae, small fish, and tadpoles. These dragonflies are known to be voracious predators, consuming up to 10% of their body weight each day in food. The blue dasher hunts by keeping still and waiting for suitable prey to come within range. When it does, they dart from their position to catch it.
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| (Fig. 02) |
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| (Fig. 03) |
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Sunday
Flame Skimmer Dragonfly (Libellula saturata)
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| (Fig. 01) |
| Picture Notes: I captured the pictures in (Figs. 01 & 02) on 05/11/2016 while hiking the trails at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. The dragonfly perched waiting for its next meal in (Fig. 03) was taken while on a visit to Corn Creek Station inside the Desert National Wildlife Refuge at Corn Creek, Nevada on 09/01/2011. |
| Description: The Libellula saturata, commonly called Flame Skimmer or Firecracker Skimmer, is a common dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. They are heavy-bodied and usually larger than damselflies; their huge eyes are very close together and they are strong fliers. At rest, they hold their wings out flat to the sides, or slightly forward and downward. They are between 2 and 2-1/2 inches in length. The male is all red-orange including the inside halves of its wings. The thorax and abdomen are unstrapped, the eyes, face, legs, stigma and appendages are all red-orange; the wings are reddish out to slightly beyond nodus (slight bend in wing) with a red streak along the leading edge. The female is not as colorful are usually a medium or darker brown with some thin, yellow markings, sometimes having an orange streak along the leading edge of wings only. Living mostly in warm ponds, lakes, slow streams and pools of rivers, they are found mainly in the southwestern part of the United States. When perched they hold their wings out flat when at rest. Its diet consists of mosquito larvae, aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, small fish, and tadpoles. The nymphs, which live in the mud at the bottom of warm streams or ponds, catch their prey by waiting patiently for it to pass by. Adult skimmers usually feed on moths, flies, ants, or any other soft-bodied insect while waiting perched on a small rock or twig or while flying through the air. |
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| (Fig. 02) |
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| (Fig. 03) |
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| (Fig. 04) |
Click here to return to ... [Las Vegas Springs Preserve - 05/11/2016 Trip Notes]
or to return to the Corn Creek page ... [Corn Creek, NV ]
Tuesday
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)
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| (Fig. 01) |
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| (Fig. 02) |
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| (Fig. 03) |
It has been noted that agriculture an forestry agencies in Nevada are concerned about the potential infestation of the small white moth that can destroy entire groves of aspen, cottonwood and willow trees, especially in mountainous areas. Over the past few years there has been a 100-fold increase in their numbers. It's not clear whether such things as drought, wildfires, climate change or any other number of factors have contributed to the infestation. The gypsy moth is a notorious hitchhiker. The female lays her eggs during the late summer months on just about anything - trees, outdoor furniture, automobiles, trailers, campers, etc. and can be transplanted just about anywhere.
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| (Fig. 04) |
Return to the previous referencing page ...Contact Mine & Pauline Mine.
Saturday
Bee Mania
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Picture Notes: Here are a few pictures that I found while pursuing through some of my tree and flower folders. I always feel good when I am lucky enough to capture a picture of a bee that is buried in a blossom gathering nectar. Though I originally put this post together in 2013, I updated it with a picture (Fig. 01) that was taken on 02/22 of this year on a visit to Corn Creek Station, headquarters for the Desert National Wildlife Range. Though I'm not positive, I think this is some type of Crabapple tree. As you can see, the bumble bee in the picture is buried deep into a blossom, thus the title "Headfirst". The remaining pictures were taken between 2011 and 2013. If my memory serves me, (Figs. 02 and 05) were taken around the pool area while we were living at the Players Club Apartments in Henderson. The pictures in (Figs. 03 and 06) were captured while hiking along Wheeler Pass Road on the west side of the Spring Mountains, a few miles east of Pahrump, Nevada. The bee in (Fig. 04) was taken at Cave Rock State Park just north of South Lake Tahoe.
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Friday
Common Black Ground Beetle (Pterostichus melanarius)
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| Picture Notes: On 08/09/2014 I was hiking near the Willow Springs Picnic Area inside Redrock Canyon when I looked down and found this large black, shiny beetle (Figs. 01 & 02). He was at least an inch long. I had the opportunity to observe him for scurrying around for several minutes. Whenever I confronted him with a twig to keep him contained, he would stop and point his head into the ground and raise his body into the air as if doing a headstand (Fig. 03). | ||
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| Description: This beetle is just one of many species which get the name "Common Black Ground Beetle." Although their body shapes and coloring vary somewhat, most are shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra). The elytra are fused in some species, particularly large Carabinae, rendering the beetles unable to fly. This ground beetle can grow up to three-quarters of an inch long. It is nearly all black with some dark reddish-brown coloring on antennae and legs. Many grooves run lengthwise down the beetle's wings. They are usually searching for prey, which includes caterpillars, grubs, other species of beetles, fly maggots and pupae, aphids, weevils, earthworms, slugs, snails and other soft-bodied creatures. Predators of ground beetles are the same as those of other beetles, including toads, small snakes, shrews, and birds. Common Black Ground Beetles breed in late Summer. The female lays eggs just below the soil surface. Larvae hatch and spend the Winter in the soil. In early Spring the larvae begin feeding and then turn into pupae (resting stage). They come out as adult beetles in the Summer. | ||
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Tuesday
Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata)
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| Picture Notes: Connie spotted this huge moth (Fig. 01) in a corner of our deck, near the ceiling. Its wingspan was at least 6 inches. Though it initially appeared to be more brown, the flash on my camera seemed to bring out more of its colors. According to the description below, it appears to be a male. When I went back a few hours later to capture some more pictures, it was gone. | ||
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| Description: The Black Witch (Ascalapha odorata), a.k.a. “the bat moth” resembles a bat in size and shape and with a a seven-inch wingspan is the largest moth in North America. It bears other common names such as Mariposa de la Muerte (Butterfly of Death) in Mexico, Duppy Bat (Lost Soul) in Jamaica, or Sorciére Noire (or Dark Sorcerer) in French-speaking Caribbean islands. It has been vested with a foreboding aura of darkness and mystery. According to folklore, if the black witch flies into your field of view, it conveys a curse from an enemy. If it flies over your head, it will cause your hair to fall out. If it flies into your home when you are sick, you will not get well. You will die. On a happier note, if the black witch appears before you after someone has died, it represents the soul of the person returning to bid you farewell. Should one alight on you, you will become rich. Should one land above the door of your home, you will win the lottery. With a wingspan of up to 6 inches, it bears the superficial resemblance to a small bat. Its wings are broad along insect’s head and body; pointed at the ends; often tattered by rigors of migratory flight. Its wings are brown with undulating dark brown or black lines; single black-outlined ‘9’-shaped mark near leading edge of each of its forewings (Fig. 02); single black-outlined umbrella-shaped mark near trailing edge of each of its hind-wings; marks distinguished by iridescent violent tinges. Males exhibit the plain, grey, brown mottled pattern commonly associated with moths, but with small dark eyespots on each forewing. The female, slightly larger than the male, is distinguished by wavy white line traversing its wings. Its migration range extends from northern South America across Caribbean islands, Central America and Mexico and throughout the United States. The Black Witch moth generally flies only at night. During the day you may see one under eaves, a carport or porch awning. They are attracted to soft overripe fruit. The beginning of the rainy season in Mexico triggers a northern migration where they are often seen in the American southwest. In some locations, the moths breed throughout the year, in overlapping generations. Some populations migrate seasonally, with those of the tropical regions heading north during rainy seasons. Mexican populations, for instance, head north into the Southwest during the summer. The northward migration of the Black Witch appears to be triggered by the rainy season in Mexico; typically June through October. Like other migratory moths, the Black Witch flies only at night, well above ground level. It may travel considerable distances, even across open water. The Black Witch favors stands of woody legumes, for instance, the acacias and mesquites of the Southwest. The Black Witch is perfectly harmless; it does not bite, sting, or carry diseases. It has only a straw-like proboscis or tongue to drink flower nectar through. |
Dragonflies
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For some reason, I have always been fascinated by dragonflies and never realized that they have been buzzing the planet for more than 200 million years until I was doing some Internet research for this post. They emerged sometime during or just after the mass extinctions separating the Triassic and Jurassic periods. “They are, truly, prehistoric and when seen sitting on the equally prehistoric horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) – a reed that dates back nearly 350 million years, you're on the verge of a time warp”. Often quite colorful, their exquisite beauty and fairy-like appearance can easily capture the eye. Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the insect order Odonata. As in other insects, their body is divided into three regions: head, thorax and abdomen. The hemispherical or dumbbell-shaped head...has large compound eyes which cover the entire sides, and the antennae are small and setaceous. The Dragonfly dines on small gnats, mosquitoes, black flies, as well as deer and horse flies. In fact, in has been said, horses and other warm blooded mammels that live in the local forest socialize with dragonflies on a first name basis - they are that beneficial. Unfortunately, I don’t have a macro lens and have just been making handheld captures while “hiking by” without using a tripod or making any special camera settings. In addition, most of the time they are so far away, that after capture with my telephoto lens, the final picture quality is quite poor after cropping. Until recently, I was only able to identify one of these creatures (Figs. 02 & 03), the [Flame Skimmer Dragonfly - (Libellula saturata)]. Then I came across biologist Bruce Lund. After emailing him he supplied info on each of these specimen's. The first dragonfly picture (Fig. 01) is a Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum). The last picture (Fig. 04) is a Meadowhawk (Sympetrum sp). | |||
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Monday
Unidentified Butterflies
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| Picture Notes: I captured these two photos (Figs. 01 & 02) on 10/03/2012 while hiking a wash along Walking Box Ranch Road off of Nipton Road, southwest of Searchlight, Neveda. If anyone can help me identify the name and species, please email me at kccandcj@yahoo.com. | ||
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Saturday
White Lined Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (larva)
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Picture Notes: I have observed these caterpillar on various hikes over the past several years. Most recently we spotted some of them on a hike to the Ireteba Mountains on 04/16/2019. During a hike on 09/27/2012 hiking across Cottonwood Valley near the Wilson Cliffs and the Late Night Trail, we encountered literally dozens of caterpillars (Figs. 01 and 04 & 05). These critters, with orange and black markings and a horn on its tail. I have also spotted them in large numbers in places south along Lake Mead and into the Eldorado Valley. Some of these specimen's were as long as 3 inches. Their colors were quite impressive. Over the next couple of weeks these caterpillars will bury themselves in the ground to begin their transformation into white-lined sphinx moths. A couple of the members in our group actually saw one of these digging his way into the ground. | ||||
| Description: White-lined Sphinx Moths are among the largest flying insects of the deserts, with adult wingspans sometimes exceeding 5 inches. Larvae can be just as long, with most having a prominent horn at the rear of their fleshy body. When alarmed, these larvae rear up their heads in a threatening sphinx-like posture and may emit a thick, green substance from their mouths. Once these caterpillar's complete their transformation, the moths emerge at dusk from their hiding places and begin feeding on the nectar of flowers. They are throughout all the North American desert regions. They can be seen in most habitats and on many desert plants, especially after rains. Most people only see the larvae, commonly know as the white sphinx caterpillar or the hornworm. The caterpillars feed on desert wildflowers in the spring. They are eating machines and can wipe out whole fields of wildflowers. The body of the white-lined sphinx moth ranges in length from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches. It has a prominent brown head, a brown thorax with 6 white stripes and a brown abdomen with paired dark spots on each segment. The forewings are brown with a buff-colored band from base to tip and veins outlined in white. The hind wings are pink, turning to dark brown near the margins. Sphinx moths emerge at dusk from their hiding places and begin feeding on the nectar of flowers. Their size, combined with their rapid wing beats, allows them to hover and feed in the manner of hummingbirds, for which they are sometimes mistaken.This manner of flight requires a great deal of energy and creates a good deal of heat in the moth's body. For these reasons, moths feed exclusively on nectar and seek flowers which produce large amounts of this water source, and also contain high amounts of sugar. Such is the case with the evening primrose (Onagraceae) family, and particularly the dune evening primrose, which the white-lined sphinx moth is responsible for pollinating. | ||||
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Thursday
Morning Starbucks Stop
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| Picture Notes: I took these pictures on 03/29/2012 on a hike to the Weiser Ridge area of Nevada, just west of the Valley of Fire. Desert Marigolds (Fig. 01) seemed to be the predominant plant in the very large open desert area leading up to the ridge-lines. As I walked by one grouping along the side of the road I captured a few quick hand-held shots showing a variety of bees and flies (Figs. 02 & 03) enjoying a morning drink of nectar, the sugar-rich liquid commonly produced by plants. I found the some-what iridescent metalic green bug in the bottom right picture to be quite interesting. As best I can determine, it is a Shiny Green Fly (Condylostylus patibulatus). | ||
| Description: Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) are annual flowers with relatively large, showy, yellow flowers that can turn the landscape yellow during a good year. The flower is a typical daisy (composite) flower. (Read more at … Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata). |
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Saturday
More Monarch Butterflies
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| Picture Notes: On one of our trips to Laughlin, I spent a couple of hours taking a walk about town. As I went by an RV park across from the Riverside Casino I noticed a landscaped area with some very nice trees, shrubs and plants that seemed to be a natural attraction for birds and butterflies. Though I was unable to get as close as I would have liked, and the focus isn't great, I did manage to capture a couple of butterfly pictures with my zoom lens. |
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Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
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| Picture Notes: On 09/22/2011, while on a hike to Wheeler Pass with the rock-hounds from the Henderson Heritage Park Senior Center, I was lucky enough to capture this picture of a Monarch Butterfly. Though they are quite common, and I have seen quite a few during my hikes, this is the first time one landed long enough for me to get a good picture. As a couple of us were walking back along the access road, he flew across the road and landed on this beautiful patch of what I think is Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus or yellow Rabbitbrush, that was about thirty feet or so off the side of the road. Luckily she stayed long enough for me to switch out lenses and put on my 200mm telephoto lens, enabling me to capture this photo. |
| Description: The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. Its wings feature an easily recognizable orange and black pattern/ The female Monarchs have darker veins on their wings, and the males have a spot called the “androconium'” in the center of each hind wing from which pheromones are released. When secreted they triggers a social response in in females. Males are also slightly larger. |  |
| The Monarch’s wingspan ranges from 3½–4 inches. The upper side of the wings are a tawny-orange, the veins and margins are black, and in the margins are two series of small white spots. The fore wings also have a few orange spots near the tip. The underside is similar but the tip of the fore wing and hind wing are yellow-brown instead of tawny-orange and the white spots are larger. Like most insects the Monarch has six legs, however it only uses four of its legs, carrying its two front legs against its body. The Monarch is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer from Canada to Mexico and Baja California which spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly. The monarch is the only butterfly that migrates both north and south like birds. as the birds do on a regular basis. By the end of October, the population west of the Rocky Mountains overwinters in various sites in central coastal and southern California, most notably in Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz. |
Tuesday
More Butterflies
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| I’m really not sure where I took all of these. Some were taken inside the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park, some were taken at various exhibits at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas, and some were captured out in the wild on various daytrips. If you happen to know the name of any of these, feel free to email me at kccandcj@yahoo.com Hope you enjoy. | ||
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