insectuous

Odonata, Libellulidae, Plathemis. Common Whitetail, Plathemis lydia. This is a male. It’s very easily found across North America. I caught this one live, it took me over a half hour standing in a mud bank with an absurdly tiny net. 

The last photo shows the ‘sock’ vein structure that is characteristic of Libellulids. This specimen is from last summer. I’m sure his competition was happy to see him carted off and impaled (watching the aerial dogfights between the males is always fun). 

Found my camera charger. The photos shall commence. 

It’s just my amateur insect collection, for my new watchers. Not anything particularly stunning or well maintained, but I’m sure it will still make for some interesting photos. I did my best to identify everything but if something’s wrong, please let me know. 

Original content will be tagged ‘insectuous collection’, although not all of the insects were killed and added to the collection because sometimes they’re just too cool and I’d feel bad. 

sinobug:

Lygodium Spider Moth (Siamusotima aranea, Musotiminae, Crambidae)

This recently described moth (originally from Thailand in 2005) is called the Lygodium Spider Moth because it feeds on Lygodium species, an invasive Old World climbing fern, and has markings that look like a spider (possibly mimicry to protect it from predators).

This moth has risen to significance because of it’s appetite for the Lygodium ferns, which have developed as an invasive weed that threatens Florida’s wetlands, and hence it’s potential as a biological control agent.

While there are many stem-boring moths, S. aranea is the first to be identified among fern-feeders in Asia. The moth is unique in a number of ways. For one, its caterpillar form looks more like some beetle larvae. The moth has armored segments on its rear similar to those on beetles but unlike anything seen before in a moth. And the adult moth may mimic spiders, a characteristic that has led to its scientific name, “aranea,” as well as its unofficial moniker.

This discovery expands possibilities for biological control of the Old World climbing fern in the United States. The plant is not a pest in its native Australia, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa, perhaps because its enemies keep it in check there.

by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr.
Pu’er, Yunnan, China

See more Chinese moths on my Flickr site HERE…..

rhamphotheca:

our-lips-locked:

Frog Beetle (Sagra buqueti) male, family Chrysomelidae, Surat Thani, Thailand

- males reach a length of 5 cm, native to SE Asia

(photo by PhilanderShand on Flickr)

4gifs:

The Atlas moth does not have a mouth and only lives a couple of weeks

(via aiago)

theoppositeofstupid:

Great shots of Cepahalotes clypeatus, the golden turtle ant, taken by Alex Wild.  Turtle ants have a special subgroup of workers with broad flat heads which can be used to plug nest entrances.  Some species of Cephalotes are also called glider ants and can use their flattened bodies to glide through the air and return to the trees they dwell in should they take a tumble.

(via crispycross)

pochamarama:

I made a gif! its dedicated to you (shh its a secret), I couldn’t stop thinking about your entomology interests when I took the video! Its almost certainly a Hyles Lineata. Hope you enjoy!

I don’t think the GIF is working…

I hope its working now…

Ah yes that’s definitely our good old White-lined sphinx! What a beautiful GIF, how lucky that you were able to capture and film it! What part of the US are you from?

(via fyeahcutemoths)

h4ilstorm:

Red-banded Fairy Longhorn Moth (Nemophora rubrofascia, Adelidae) (by itchydogimages)

(via fyeahcutemoths)

Guess who just finally found her camera?!