The Nature Thread

David

You might like this video also (and photo's)

Watch the video >> 2 Luna Moths doing what they do



They also hide well in the weeds




It can be hard working at the mine with all these distractions 8-)

Wayne Corwin

Today, Tom Henderson arranged a rock hunt near Georgia Pass, Colorado for Jim Hall and myself. While we didn't find the "abundant REE crystals" we expected, we found some nice sphalerites, and spotted this guy on our way back. Spring is just arriving in the Colorado mountains, so these mountain goats are shedding their wool.

A few weird and wonderfull critters my cousin and I encoutered while we were rockhounding in southern Namibia two years ago. I'll try and get the species' names when I have time because I only know their Afrikaans folk names.

A few more photos from Namibia. Those chameleons amaze me, take into account that those areas are semi-desert. The biggest one we found was about 25cm long from head to tail and the welwichia mirabillis plant its in can be as old as 2000years...

And some more... We found the horned adder and the frog (!?) on the southern side of the brandberg mountain. The cape cobra we encountered near the Brandberg West mine. Beautiful snake, but you wouldn't want to step on its tail unknowingly...

Wow--thanks for sharing those photos Jako. That was one hell of a trip!

Yes, thanks, Jako - it's great to see "unusual" (to my eyes) creatures - especially the ears on photo "Namibia 2009 311" !!

I like the cobra. Looks like he wants a hug. >:D<

Here are the names of the species found in Namibia:

136: web footed gecko (palmato gecko)
311: bat eared fox (otocyon megalotis) also known as the "bakoorjakkals" in Afrikaans
384: black, hairy thick tailed scorpion (parabathus villosus)
439: namaqua chameleon (chamaeleo namaquensis)
464: short eared elephant shrew (macroscelides proboscideus) also known as the "klaas neus muis"
600: welwitchia mirabilis plant with chameleon in it
662: horned adder (bitis caudalis)
740: cape cobra (naja nivea) also known as a "geelslang"
858: yet to know what type of frog that was...

Hi all,

Thank you all for shearing these pics.

Here's one I took yesterday just around the corner of my street. It's a Graphosoma Lineatum.



Zenjoy.

Take care and best regards.

Paul.

Hy,

sorry, I don´t know how are these caled in english.




Good luck
Boris

Hi Boris,

It appears you have captured a Horntail which is a Wood Wasp using its ovipositor, which can be mistaken for a stinger, to lay eggs in that dead tree. If you hang around the tree long enough, you may see a female Ichneumon Wasp show up and use her oveipositor to deposit eggs. Her larvae will consume the Horntails.

Paul, Do you know if that is a Shield Bug or a Stink Bug? Very colorful!

Hi David,

Thanks for the reply. I'am happy you enjoy.
I am afraid, it's a stinkbug. They exist in green color also.
I remember when I was young, that I went into the forest to pick up some berries and brambles.
I had a handfull and eat them, without checking there was a stinkbug larvea on them. Yack...........
I can still tast it.
Don't catch me twice with this, always check the berries first.

To be honest, I live since 88 in this area and it's the first time I saw these red and black striped here. There where in total 8 of them on the same plant. I hope they'll have a lot of babies and spread out.

Take care and best regards.

Paul.

Hi all,
see here an Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) - some 1 and a half year ago we were in the field for planning a Geo hiking trail and there it was
Pls enjoy
cheers
Roger

This Argynnis paphia was quite busy with Cirsium sp. and even did not noticed me takig so many photos.

It even allowed me to do some close-ups

Hi Roger,

Enjoyed your shot. We have one that my wife and I are watching right this moment feeding on Joe Pye Weed.

Regard, I think your fabulous photos show some species of Fritillary. At least that what it looks like to me. Their host plant in my neck of the woods are violets.

Night-time hunter. This little one was looking to catch insects attracted to our front porch by our lights...



Regards
Steve

Not a care in the world! One of our three sheep catching some early-morning sun...



Regards
Steve

Any of our insect experts want to take a shot at this one? Seen in Connecticut yesterday, I'm assuming this big guy is some kind of wood boring beetle. He was in quite a rush to get somewhere.


Just found out that this is a Broad Necked Root Borer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2011 10:35PM by David Bernstein.