Praying Mantis - It Won't Eat People

 Praying Mantis: Kamakiri (カマキリ) in Japan

We've seen these characters before. This one was found in my garden.

The photo was sent off to iNaturalist, to get a positive identification.

Over there I learned the Scientific Name: Hierodula patellifera.

The Common Name would be Giant Asian Mantis.

The experts let me know, that my subject was a female of the species.

There's Good News for Gardeners

These Praying Mantis females can lay hundreds of eggs, increasing the population.

A Mantis will devour all kinds of bugs, visiting your plants.

They eat pests like mosquitoes, flies, stinkbugs, maybe even lizards, snakes, and mice.

Along With the Good, I Must Share the Bad News, Too

Before you start running around, shopping for Praying Mantis to place in the garden, wait.

These characters will eat beneficial bugs. And, they've been known to eat little birds.

Sometimes, while they're mating, they eat their mate, too. 

More Information You Might Want to Know

A Praying Mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees and look at you over its shoulder.

After taking about 75 photos with my iPhone, I asked my wife if, she would hold it for me.

She said, "Ew, no" and almost crawled away from the kitchen, on the ceiling.

Then, I Googled it some more and learned that Mantis bugs won't bite people.

Resources for More Information

10 Praying Mantis Facts

National Geographic

University of Maryland Extension

Wordless Wednesday: They Fly United

ALSO, SEE

Today was Marine Day a Japanese Holiday

Sunrise Began Looking Unimpressive

Taking a circuitous route to the beach, at first, I was disappointed.

Umi no Hi (Ocean Day) only comes once a year. It's the third Monday in July.

Before 5 AM the long hike to a remote beach began. I wanted to catch the sunrise.

Clouds blocked the sun along the horizon. I shrugged and headed west along the beach.

Ten minutes later, the sun started to burn through the cloudy horizon.

By 6 AM I had positioned the camera where this reflection would appear.

"Happy Umi no Hi," I posted on Facebook, a similar iPhone image.

One Camera One Lens

Traveling light, there was just a camera (no tripod) and I went without a backpack.

Pentax K1 and a Pentax 18-250MM were slung from my shoulder.

When I'm out hunting wild things, 300-700MM of lenses may accompany me.

Today, I was limited to 250MM of glass, at the maximum.

Bird shots were difficult but, some dragonflies cooperated with the photography.

This Red Dragonfly happened to land on some vegetation with a white background.

Scientists claim the red ones are scarce in mainland Japan due to pesticides.

They're nowhere near extinct in Okinawa, Japan. I see them daily.

  

Bird of the Day: Streaked Fantail Warbler

Far from the ocean and headed home, this bird appeared and was a challenge for the camera.

Zitting Cisticola is another name for them but, I call them Scissors Birds.

That's because of the sounds they make when flitting around in fields.

They could be mistaken for a barber shop's squeaky scissors. Snip, snip, snip, snip, snip.

Heading Home

Normally, my view of the Kin Power Plant is from another direction.

This composition was made using local vegetation as the foreground.

Ocean Day, in Japan, was established to express gratitude for the sea and its bounty.

For me, today was another day I'm happy about everything nature has provided.

That's blue skies, sunshine, bugs, birds and, an occasional cloud overhead.

Sashiba (サシバ) Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle - A Mirgatory Visitor

These Birds Leave Our Island Soon

 

 

Normally, our feathered friends visit from November through March.

Then, they head back up to northern climates in China, Japan and Russia.

Luckily, we spotted this guy perched in a tree, while it was raining.

The farthest, I could reach, with the lens being used, was 250MM.

The bird probably, didn't feel like flying and, getting its wings all wet.

So, I snapped a few good shots before he got riled and flew away.

Any bird that eats mice, snakes and rats, as well as bugs, has to be a favorite of mine.

It's too bad, they migrate away from here during the warmer months. 

Another thing, I hear these birds eat, is frogs and, that upsets some folks.

Well, people eat frogs, too.  Don't they ?  They shouldn't complain about birds, doing it then.

Try this sometime, when you go to a French restaurant.

Ask the waiter if, he has frog legs.  Then if, he says,  "Yes, of course," have some fun with him.

Say something like, "Great.  Hop in to the kitchen and get me a plate of French Fries."

More About the Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle (Butastur indicus) in previous posts.

Green Ladybug? No! It's a Harlequin Bug

This bright green insect with red and black markings crossed my path.

For sure, I thought it was some sort of ladybug.

So, I chased it down the highway, crawling on my hands and knees with the camera.

Luckily, we were on a road that doesn't see much traffic.

The  bug was moving fast and, I needed better light; this was my best chance to catch it.

When it hit that yellow seed or, fruit, I fired away.

Ladybugs Don't Come in Green Colors

 

 

 

 

 

The first 10 minutes of online research, led me to that conclusion. Groan.

Some sort of Entomologist would have to help me identify this insect.

What is an Entomologist?

They are what I call, Bug Experts and, the world could sure use more of them.

Luckily, I found one on Facebook and messaged him, privately.

Along with my message, I attached 3 photos of this bug. He replied:

"This is not a Ladybug. Larva of the harlequin bug."

 Harlequin Bug got me the scientific name Murgantia histronica.

Other common names are, Cabbage Bug, Calico Bug, Fire Bug and Terrapin Back.

It sucks the juice out of plants and kills them !

Some people call them Stink Bugs.

They are pretty little things but, you probably wouldn't want to collect them.

Not alive, anyway.

REFERENCES:

Bug Guide

Discover Life

Texas A&M

University of Florida

Visit Environmental Science Org for More Educational Resources

The Insect Says "Bug Off " to the Cameraman

This character didn't seem to appreciate having a portrait made.

Photos of Cicida (Tanna japonensis) Semi (セミ ) in Japan

Heard Mostly on Hot and Humid Days

 

 

When the thermometer is almost busting and it's near 98% humidity you'll hear them.

This morning, I woke up late. The sun was already shining.

The wife was in the kitchen and I asked her if it was raining outside.

My hearing isn't all that great. It sounded like it was raining.

The noise, was coming from the cicida bugs, she said.

Out behind the office, I spotted this one on a trellis.

Usually, they are hiding in trees and hard to photograph so, I grabbed a camera.

Lots of people hate these bugs because they are so noisy.

Kids, in Japan love them probably,  because the sounds remind them of Summer Vacation.

If you catch one, while it's making all the noise, it's sort of cool.

They buzz and wiggle, tickling the palm of your hand. Kids enjoy stuff like that.

It's fun to stuff one down the back of someone's shirt, too.

This one wasn't making any noise.

It flew from the trellis over to a plant in the shade.

So, I was able to get a dozen quick photos and have this motion GIF made.

Searching for some decent YouTube sounds of the bug didn't pan-out, too well.

It would have been nice, to give you some of the sounds they make.

But, I found something, even better.

An easy way to remember the Japanese name for the bug is here in this video.

Just leave off the "Say You" part and say, "Say Me."

Lionel Richie got his audience to do it !




MORE ABOUT CICIDA BUGS:

National Goegraphic

10 Horrifying Insects

Kuwayamaea sapporensis and a New Bug Channel

True Insect Fanatics Will Love This !

 

Last Friday morning, the bags were packed and, I was waiting for my ride.

When I stepped outside for some fresh nicotine, I spotted this character.

It was in my neighbor's garden.

So, I crushed my cigarette and ran back inside to grab a camera.

Knowing, I'd seen these before, I was in no rush to do the research.

See, I knew the scientific name was on my website, somewhere.

It's some sort of Leaf-hopper.

Kuwayamaea sapporensis, led me to a website where, I learned the Japanese name.

It would be called an Ezo-Tsuyumushi, in this country.

At Insect Sound World, they have more than you could ever dream of, about bugs.

There are photos of the male and females, in each species.

And, you can even, push a button to hear the sounds they make, if you're interested.

Listen to this Ezo-Tsuyumushi HERE

Poke around on that website and, you can find photos and sounds of all kinds of insects.

And, if you want the Japanese version, you can be accomodated, too:

虫の音WORLD 

What more, could a bug lover, ask for ?

Help Wanted: Identify This Golden Beetle

Thousands of Thumbnails Were Checked

 

 

This bug just defies identification.

In case you have never spent a day, squinting at bugs on a computer monitor, I'll tell you.

It's a royal pain in the butt !

Some clues: This character is located in Okinawa, Japan.

There are a few of them, eating, what look like sweet potato leaves.

When the light hits them a certain way, there's a greenish tint to the gold color.

For awhile, I thought it couldn't get any more exciting than this.

The insect, started making some cool hand motions.

Then, it flapped its gold wings so, we could get a peek inside.

That might give a scientist some clue as to what the proper ID would be.

If somebody gets me the scientific name for this bug, here's what I'll do.

Give me your email address and, you can have any or, all of the photos above.

Or, mail me a specimen bottle.

Maybe, I can capture one of them and, send it to you !

Some Cosmos to Look at on Rainy Days and a Dang Cocoon

Will the April Showers Ever End ?

 

Somebody needs to tell the rainmaker, we've had enough.

This photo was taken back in March.

We really don't need any more April showers to bring on the May flowers.

Flowers, bloom year round in Okinawa, Japan.

Sunshine, is what's needed.

Being Cooped Up on Rainy Days Can Make You Go Buggy

 

As a matter of fact, I'm babysitting a bug, right now.

It's some sort of cocoon, I found crawling around so, I captured it.

Instead of me getting all bloody, crawling after it, I put it in a clear cup.

That way, if it ever decides to come out, I can shoot it with my camera.

Experience Has Taught Me

 

Chasing little insects with a DSLR can ruin your day.

In the past, I have shredded my jeans, bloodied my elbows and knees and destroyed my office.

It happened because, I wanted to know what that thing, in a cocoon was.

We bought a special bug cage for it.

And, it died before I could ever figure out what it was.

Now, I wish I wouldn't have threw that stupid bug cage away.

Bug Experts Advised Me

 

Keep the thing alive until it matures.  Then, you'll be able to identify it.

So, that's the plan, this time around.

The little rascal gets around.  It escaped once.  And, I found it crawling on my ladder.

Now, it's in a pudding cup with another pudding cup taped above it.

As long as it isn't allergic to Scotch Tape, we'll be in business.

But, if the sun comes out this week, I'm outta here.

The cocoon and pudding cups, I'd give away for free.

This rainy weather make me crazy !

Related Posts:

Free to a Good Home

Ladybug in My Office

Lessons Learned From a Lizard

5 Photos Made with the Pentax DA50mm F1.8 in Kin Town

Today, a little experimenting was done with this 50mm lens.

What should have been about a 45 minute walk to Nature Mirai, took me 5 hours.

This shisa, on a tile roof was the first subject to catch my eye.

It was about 4:30 on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.

Twenty minutes later, this stick bug came across my path.

Just to give you and idea of the size, I carefully laid a flip-flop next to him.

It would have been nice to catch the moon coming over the horizon.

But, by the time I got to the beach, it was already high in the sky.

A couple of hundred images of bugs, butterflies, birds and the beach were taken.

It was, way past dark, by the time I got back under the Kin Bridge.

This old boy was hoping meet a taxi, somewhere along the way, because I was tired.

But, they must all be off tonight and drinking in the bars.

So, what I plan on doing next, is go downtown and see for myself !



This Bug is a Real Killer ! Meet the Assassin Fly

They Don't Eat People, Just Other Bugs

 

When I spotted this insect, it was sunning on a country road in northern Okinawa, Japan.

That's a pretty mean-looking bug.  So, I had to sneak up on it and take some photos.

Look at those big eyes and nasty barbed legs !

It took awhile to research this critter and get a positive idendification.

It is a Robber Fly (Asilidae) also known as an Assassin Fly.

Not to worry.  They won't bite humans.

These guys only go after other bugs.  And, they are ferocious.  They nab their prey out of the air.

This guy, lying on the road, is just charging-up his batteries.

Maybe, the sun warms him up so, he can fly faster.

Those bulging eyes aren't watching the camera.  He's looking for something, flying to eat.

When he spots a meal flying over, that's when he springs into action.

The critter he goes after can even be bigger than him.  It doesn't matter.

He will grab his victim out of the air and inject some poison.

The muscular legs insure there will be no escape.

And, he will hang from a place, up off the ground, by one leg, while munching away.

Wouldn't you like to have one of these in your yard ?

It would be more fun than watching TV, I bet !

 

Learn more about Assassin Flies at:

ARKive ORG

Texas A&M

University of Florida

Discovered Another Castle and Got a Surprise (Images)

For Now Just Call It Wee Castle

 

Today preliminary investigation was begun on this castle I found a few weeks ago.

The place has been around for centuries, I'm sure but, it's a new one, to me.

Call it Wee, Oui, or whatever you prefer.

The sign at the entrance says, ウイ グシク.

It was the wrong time of day for outdoor photography so, I'll just give you a peek.

 

From this old rickety platform you can look out to sea.  That's the East China Sea.

There will be more on this castle at a later date.

The surprise ?

You will have to examine the next two photos carefully to see what else I discovered.

Going up the hill to the castle there were lots of butterflies, mosquitoes and weeds.

Next time, I will remember the insect repellent.

See that mosquito, about an inch behind the butterfly ?

Well, the dang thing went after it.

Now, I've seen mosquitoes bite people, dogs, cows, horses and even me.

Who would have thought they bite butterflies, too ?

What I'm really hoping, is they weren't mating or, anything like that.

I didn't hang around the castle long enough to find out.

That would be an awful thing if they developed a hybrid mosquito with big butterfly wings.

It would be a lot easier to swat them when you saw them coming, though.

For now, let's just hope the little pest just bit the butterfly.

You'll sleep better !

Bug Photo: The Common Water Slider

This bug fools a lot of people because it looks like a mosquito.

The Common Water Slider (Gerris remigis) doesn't have wings.  It can't fly.

But, they walk on water and eat mosquitos so, you should make friends with them.

A website, Study of Northern Virginia Ecology, can teach you more about them than I ever could.

While researching this insect I found all kinds of bugs at the University of California.

If you ever get stuck with a bug, you can't identify, checkout their photo collection.

Wikipedia people might give you some information overload if you look at these bugs over there.

When I read what they had to say about Gerris remigis:

......"The most consistent characteristic used to separate these two families are internal genitalia differences. Since internal genitalia require specific training and tools to identify, it is almost impossible to tell a member of the Gerridae apart from a member of the Veliidae by external visual cues.".....

.....it suddenly dawned on me, I don't want to become a bug scientist.

The folks at the University of California and Northern Virginia are good enough for me ! 

Crazy Things Happen in Wildlife Photography

Before finishing the first can of iced coffee, even before 8AM, there I was.

The cell-phone tells me I missed a call and have an answer memo.

Even if I could hear, I wouldn't answer the dang thing.

When some strange wild critter shows up, right at the front office door, I gotta gettum.

People driving down the highway and, walking by wonder what's going on.

Three cameras, clicking away,  clothes strung out over the sidewalk and, I'm talking to a bug.

For over three hours, I was watching this thing, being born.

Close to 1,000 photos were downloaded from the cameras and I'm still developing them.

After another three hours of research online, I gave up.

Five photos of the critter were sent off to the Bug ID experts and I got one reply.

Someone told me ( I ain't making this up ) "The best option to identify is rear it".

The thing is in a cage, right now.  But, I have no idea what to feed it.

Hopefully, it eats dirt. That's what I threw in there with it.

Once a positive ID is made, I'll show everybody some pictures of the critter.

Anybody who wants to be a wildlife photographer should know something.

Crazy things happen to you.  Be prepared.

Wildlife Photo: A Dragonfly Named Blue Dasher and a Rant

A few nights ago, I was too burned-out to continue my research.

So, I went and posted this dragonfly as either a Orthetrum Triangulare or Glaucum.

The next morning, I came in and checked my Facebook Page.

BINGO !

A gal, all the way over in Texas, posted the correct ID on the critter.

My hat goes off to Vicky Vivona, a Facebook Fan who found me through MAP IT OKINAWA.

Researching these bugs can really drive a person crazy. 

And, I don't like misidentifying anything I post online. Scientists will jump all over you.

So, I'm glad somebody came along and corrected me, on this one.

The Blue Dasher got a doozy of a scientific name:

Pachydiplax longipennis

What could those scientists have been thinking of when they named this critter ?

I try to keep this blog family friendly.

Are you scientists ashamed of what's under your lab coats, or just some kind of nuts ?

You could have said longiwingus, er something like that. 

Dang !

END OF RANT

Get Your Exoskeletons Out of Your Closet !

Have you got any bugs, butterflies, worms or any other kind of exoskeleton photos ?

Did you know something like 97% of the critters on earth are exoskeletons ?

Well, they're having a photo contest to help educate the world about these insects.

Visit the ARKive Blog and they will give you all the information on how to enter.

Even if you don't have a contest winning photo, it could still appear on ARKive.

Just load your critter photos to Flickr and add them to the ARKive Group.

One of my Coconut Crabs got in there that way.

No Flickr Account?  No problem.  Get a Free one here:

     

That way you can get exoskeletons and all your wildlife photos the exposure they deserve.

Wildlife Photos: Japanese Tiger Beetle (Cicidela japonica)

This Japanese Tiger Beetle was spotted along the bank of a stream in Okinawa, Japan.

This bug has been sitting in my "things to do" pile since last November.

We're getting caught-up around here, today.

There are two links I want to show you, concerning this beetle.

First, THE FLYING KIWI because Richard Seamen just takes some super macro photos and

gives excellent descriptions of the bugs he finds.

Then, have a look at some more awesome photos and get all the information you could ever

 imagine about, any bug over at GOODHEART'S EXTREME SCIENCE. 


There's no bug, in the world, that can outrun a tiger beetle and they have proof !




Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Wildlife Photo: Praying Mantis and What They Eat

This photo was taken today in Yomitan Okinawa, Japan.

I always knew praying mantis were good for the garden because they eat bugs.

Like they catch and munch on flies, moths, grasshoppers, crickets and maybe, mosquitos.

But, what I didn't know was this:

Females might even eat the males during, or after reproduction.  Ouch !

Learn more about them at National Geographic

And if that whets your appetite for more go on over to:

THE TELEGRAPH ARTICLE PRAYING MANTIS EATS HUMMINGBIRD !

Walking Stick Insect

EVERY PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS BUT I'LL JUST GIVE A FEW TODAY AND LET SOMEONE ELSE TELL YOU THE REST OF THE STORY.

THIS HUMONGOUS BUG CAUGHT MY EYE ONE MORNING AS I WAS WALKING MY DOGS.

WE WERE HEADING TO THE BEACH ALONG THE EAST COAST OF OKINAWA.

MY CAMERA WAS AT HOME.  SOMETIMES, THAT'S WHAT I DO, I GIVE THE CAMERAS A DAY OFF.  AND THAT'S WHEN STUFF LIKE THIS HAPPENS.  SOMETHING LIKE THE BIGGEST BUG I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE SHOWS-UP !

SO, I TIED THE DOGS TO A GUARDRAIL, PUT THE CRITTER ON MY FLIP-FLOP AND SNAPPED THIS SHOT WITH THE CELLPHONE CAMERA, JUST TO GIVE IT A SENSE OF SCALE. I WEAR SIZE 11 CLODHOPPERS. I THINK THAT'D BE AROUND A SIZE 29 IN THE METRIC SHOE DEPARTMENT.  NOT SURE EXACTLY, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD FINDING ANYTHING THAT FITS MY FEET IN MOST JAPANESE STORES.

A FEW YEARS AGO, I WOULDN'T BE CAUGHT DEAD WEARING PINK, ANYTHING. MY GRANDDAUGHTER PICKED THESE GEMS OUT FOR ME. WHAT'S A GUY GONNA DO ?

MY GRANDDAUGHTER COULD BUY ME A PINK-PLAID TUXEDO AND I'D WEAR THE DAMN THING JUST BECAUSE I LOVE HER.  THAT'S WHAT GRAMPAS DO.

ANYWAY, BACK TO THE BUG. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THESE CRITTERS, CLICK ON THE TITLE TO THIS POST.  A GUY NAMED JOHN LOCKE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA IN CANADA HAS THE WHOLE STORY. I'M PASTING A TEASER FROM HIM (HOPE HE DOESN'T MIND) IN HERE:

"Advantages of Walking Stick Pets:


They don't smell, which means that you can keep them anywhere in the house without worrying about "stinking-up-the-place" (eg. a child's bedroom).

They eat lettuce, which means that you don't have to grow exotic plants just to feed the insects.

They can't "infest" your house so you don't have to worry about any "escapees".

They teach children to care for life so they can be an ideal first pet for youngsters.

They have a life span of about one school year, which makes them ideal for a year-long school class project.

They have no wings so they can't fly and escape.

They walk relatively slowly and carefully, so they dont't scurry like roaches which tend to give "insecta-phobes" the "willies".

They can be handled easily by children without fear of being bitten or squishing them.

They don't need daily care. They can be left for several days (up to a week) without care (they don't need a baby-sitter for a weekend trip).

They can be used to teach children (and adults) the value of life.
 
Dis-advantages of Walking Stick Pets:


They breed well if cared for properly.

Special Exotic Pet Permits are usually needed in most locations. In North America and probably most countries, these are usually only given for research or special purposes and not for general pet use."

THERE IS A WARNING ABOUT THESE CRITTERS BECOMING PESTS IF RELEASED INTO THE WILD AND RESTRICTIONS ON HAVING THEM IN THE USA AND CANADA.

TODAY I HAVE A WEE BIT OF A HEADACHE FROM CELEBRATING WINNING ROUND TWO OF THE IMMIGRATION BATTLE. I WANT TO THANK MY STUMBLE FRIENDS FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS AND INSPIRATION. WHAT A GREAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE !

TODAY IN MY SU MAIL I HAD STUFF LIKE THIS:

"I LIKE PRAYING MANTIS"  THAT'S WHAT GOT ME GOING ON THE STICK BUG.

" YOU'RE NOT A NATIVE?"  A RESULT OF ME GROANING ABOUT IMMIGRATIONS.

AND DOZENS OF MESSAGES CONGRATULATING ME HAVING GOTTEN THE VISA RENEWED.  PLUS, A FEW HORROR STORIES ABOUT THE HASSLES OTHER TRAVELERS HAVE HAD DOING THE IMMIGRATION GIG IN OTHER FOREIGN LANDS.

REALLY, I SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN. THE PROCESS OF RENEWING A VISA IS NO WORSE THAN RENEWING AN AUTOMOBILE LICENSE OR REGISTERING ANYTHING IN THE BEAUROCRACY ANYWHERE. A VEHICLE REGISTRATION, REGISTERING A CHILD IN A SCHOOL OR REGISTERING TO VOTE SOMEWHERE, IT'S ALL THE SAME.

KINDA WHY I LOVE MY GRANDKIDS, DOGS, WILDLIFE AND EVEN MY PINK FLIP-FLOPS. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A GOVERNMENT IS AND NEVER ASK ME TO FILL OUT A PILE OF FORMS, SUBMIT PHOTOS OR ASK ME WHY I WANT TO LIVE HERE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR DROPPING-IN TO VISIT AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND !

CHEERS,
MIKE