Free To A Good Home: A Glabripennis Thingy (Photo Essay)

Asian Longhorn Beetle Needs a Place to Stay

 

It started last night when I found this creature about to enter the highway.

Coming back from the coffee machine, I spotted the bug on the sidewalk curb.

So, I picked it up and brought it to my office.

 The highway is no place for one of these little critters to be walking.

 This morning I let it out of the cage for some photography.

The Longhorn Beetle is an Anoplophra glabripennis to those who speak Latin.

An old blue envelope and strobe flash were used to take a few photos.

The insect acted a bit upset with me.

Normally, I don't like using flash but, I had no idea how fast this thing might move.

It wasn't going to hang around on that envelope for very long.

Once the rascal jumped down on the floor I had to move real fast, to take photos.

Then, I grabbed the envelope, again, to escort the critter out the door.

 The bug acted like it was all riled-up about something.

 All used-up and being tossed out like an old shoe, it may have been thinking.

 I shook it off at the bottom of the stairs and went back in the office.

A minute later, I looked over at the door and saw the critter trying to come back in.

There isn't enough time in the day nor, days in the week, for me to take care of this thing.

 Ever so gently, I kept pushing the creature back out the door.

There's no telling what you're supposed to feed them and, I'm too busy to find out.

 The little bug kept coming back.

And, insisting it be allowed in the office.

An incredibly stubborn insect, it wouldn't quit trying to come back inside.

So, I made a deal.  You stay in my office, in the cage, until I find you a good home.

If anybody is looking for one of these glabripennis thingies, come and get it.

You can have it free, cage included !

If you want to know more about the Longhorn Beetle

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.

Just Me and a Python

Here's a shot of Yours Truly holding a Python. It was taken back in June of this year after I came out of Gyokusendo Cave.

Down in the caves it was nice and cool but, when I got back above ground it was kind of hot and steamy, even rained a little. So, the tourist traps where you could go indoors and suck up free air conditioning, once you paid the six or eight bucks to see the snake show, sounded like a plan to me.

Back in the old days when you went in the Snake House here, they used to have a real show. They'd turn a snake and a mongoose loose in a cage together. And there would be a fight. One of them would come out of the cage dead.

Times have changed. Now natural enemies are only allowed to do that stuff out in nature. So, the critters get to spend a long time behind bars and get to come out for tourists to poke, pet and take pictures. What's up with that?