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

Meet the Marmalade Bush Hanging in My Garden

 A Rare Sort of Plant

Most festivals and cultural events have been canceled over the past year due to Coronavirus.

Up in Higashi for the Azalea Festival, we were screened fairly thoroughly before entering.

Temperature checks, tell if you've been out of the country, your name address, and phone number.

The blossoms were sorta so so this year but something caught my attention on the way in.

It was in a hanging planter and the tag on the plant read, "マーマレード, Marmalade."

Not knowing much about flowers, I asked if it was edible. The gal said, 'No."

Because of the bright colors, it's called Marmalade.

At home, the plant got hung in a spot without too much sun or shade.

Researching the brilliant blossoms, I learned plenty.

They say fresh seeds for this specimen are rare - hard to find.

Cuttings would be the way to go if, you want to propagate more plants.

Scientific Name: Streptosolen jamesonii

Another Common Name: Fire Bush

Native Territory: South America

More Stuff Was Learned

The Marmalade Bush needs sun but, can tolerate some shade.

It's a tough character - Bug Resistant.

The flowers may bloom most of the year in warm, humid, tropical environments. Yay!

The plant (growing in the ground) could reach 5 feet tall by 8 feet wide!

Its mild fragrance attracts birds and butterflies.

Some gardeners let the streams of bright flowers trail down walls.

The plants are used in Ecuador and Peru as folk medicine.

However, in California USA the plant may constitute a health risk if, too much is consumed!

We'll probably just keep our Marmalade Bush hanging somewhere in the garden.

REFERENCES

Gardening Know-How

Wikipedia

Wordless Wednesday: Fukushuen Spiral

Location: Fukushuen Garden, Naha, Okinawa, Japan

Wordless Wednesday: Call It a Spade

Flower Photos: African Tuliptree (Spathodea campanulata) in Okinawa

Beauty of a Beast

When I first saw these flowers blooming, I thought they were early Deigo Blossoms.

But, the leaves are different so, I did some research and found out what this gem could be.

Plenty of photos were taken, to help with the identification and, I got some facts to share.

1.  The plant's botanical name is Spathodea campanulata and, it's native to Africa.

Drought resistant, it can be grown in containers, indoors.

2. People around the globe, like the pretty red flowers and, started growing them, everywhere.

The plant became an invasive, in many South Pacific locations because, it grows rapidly.

3. Children love to play with the flower buds, before they open, using them as squirt-guns.

4. People in California and Arizona, can grow these trees in their yards.

5. The tree has some medicinal uses but, you should know something before, planting one.

Africans, make poison arrows from part of this tree. I won't tell you how.

If, you see a string of these red flowers at your door, someone thinks you're evil !

Get some of these beauties for your garden by checking the links. Not me !

Wet and Wild GIF of a Waterwheel

Shooting Fish Was Fun

 

 

The koi, swimming around in the pond yesterday was a bit of a challenge, for the camera.

It's kind of difficult, to catch their eyes; they wiggle around so much.

When I downloaded the camera, I must have had 150 images, of them, to throw away.

This scene, has plenty of activity and, water splashing around in it, too.

Only nine shots, were taken, to create this animation and, I saved them all.

 The camera, lens and exposure, for this composition are the same as those, used on the fish.

To me, this motion GIF, is much more relaxing and, it gave me an idea.

I'll kick my feet up on the desk, lean back with my head against the wall and, take a nap !

Visit やまびこ Restaurant in Hentona if, you get a chance.

Animation -- Cat in the Rock Garden

 Photographing Lizards Didn't Happen

 

  The plan today was, to get some shots of lizards and, they're out there somewhere.

The tripod wad set up and, I was patiently waiting for one of my little lizard friends to show up.

Things were looking sort of grim and, I was about to call it a day.

Luckily, this critter came along and entertained me for a few hundred photos.

Seven images were selected to create this GIF and, more will be completed later.

Initially, I had thought of telling you, the similarities between me and that cat.

Like make a list of, ten things but, I decided against doing it, for a few good reasons.

See, we both have almost pure white fur and, the same color eyes.

Hair grows out of our ears and whiskers stick out around our noses.

Actually, that cat and I, hang around the Buddhist temple sometimes.

But, neither of us go there to pray. Then, I ran out of things to say.

It's dark outside now and, time for me to lock up the office.

Do you suppose that cat, drinks beer, too ?

Kamakiri (カマキリ) AKA a Praying Mantis

On an Easter Lily

 

 

It was raining and, I was under a carport when I first spotted the critter.

Don't let the photo fool you.  I rotated it for a better view.

The praying mantis, was using the lily as an umbrella, I think.

The cold rain, soaking me started getting on my nerves so, I came up with an idea.

Without disturbing the predator, I snipped the flower off the plant with some scissors.

And, I brought the Easter Lily into my office. Mrs. Yamashiro will never notice, hope.

While I was running around the office, looking for some white paper, the bug got busy.

It crawled up inside the flower so, I couldn't see its head. That wasn't a good idea.

First, I snipped off the other end of the lily but, still couldn't get a good shot.

The next thing I did, was cut the whole flower wide open and, shook the bug out.

Once, it got on that white paper, I had to do some fast shooting.

The rascal, didn't seem too excited and, just gave me a dirty look.

 Then I decided, it might be a good idea, to tryout a black background.

Only a few quick shots were taken here and, the mantis started running around.

It climbed up the wall, all the way to the ceiling and, I couldn't reach it.

So, I grabbed a stepladder and Mrs. Yamashiro's shredded flower, to catch the thing.

The idea, was to get the thing, back out in nature, untouched by human hands.

When, I bounced off the ladder, with the bug inside the flower, it escaped.

It flew, directly at me and, landed on my shoulder.  Out the door, I went.

Then, I ran back over to the garden, I shook myself like a wet puppy.

The last time I saw the bug, it gave me a dirty look and, ran down my back.

Bugs don't scare me but, praying mantis are, really some wild characters.

Did you know, sometimes a female will bite her mate's head off, while they're having sex ?

Hungry Caterpillars Eat Plenty of Food

Monster Was Eating Veges

 

 

It was one of those days, I didn't feel like walking too far with a 300MM lens.

So, I just went out back and looked around for something interesting to shoot.

Along came this brightly colored caterpillar and, it put on quite a show.

The little furry critter was eating vegetables in Mr's Yamashiro's garden plot.

It's a good thing, she wasn't around, to see all the damage this thing was creating.

The thought occurred to me, I could perform a random act of kindness.

Grab the culprit and, throw him over the fence, into a neighboor's vegetable patch.

Some people like to squish the hairy things, with their feet.  Not me.

And, I wasn't in a caterpillar chucking mood that day, either.

It did get me wondering, "How much food can one of them eat?"

In, "Ten Fascinating Facts About Caterpillars" I learned this:

Some of them eat 27,000 times the weight of their body, during their lifetime.

Don't diet. Eat more. Maybe, you'll turn into something as pretty as a butterfly !

 After, I shot about 5 gigabytes worth of photos, I let the rascal get away.

End of story

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A Real Angry Caterpillar Causes an Extremely Short Photo Essay

A GIF From the Neighboor's Garden I Was Snooping Around In

They Are Getting Used to Me

 

 

The landlord and the next door neighbors, is what I'm talking about.

Maybe, the bugs and other critters, too.

It was one of those days when nobody goes out with cameras; cloudy and windy.

So, I stayed around here and did office stuff, Groan.

That put me in a not so good writing mood. It makes my brain hurt.

For awhile, I was wondering, what the heck is there to write about today.

 Bugs came along and fixed everything for me.

The Garden Isn't Very Big

An 8x12 carpet could cover the whole thing.

The landlord came by to get in his car and a had  puzzled look on his face.

He saw me with a tripod and 50-500mm lens stretched out, sitting on the ground.

He sort of shook his head and, drove away.

Maybe, I'll catch him tomorrow and show him some of the 150 shots, I took.

Big Bertha (Sigma 50-500) was put away when I shot this Leaf Hopper.

For the GIF Motion photo, I was using a 50mm prime lens.

There was another, much larger, one of these insects, I was shooting, too.

When I went in to change lenses, it vanished.

Those photos are waiting processing.

If I have a nice sharp one, I'll print it for the lady next door.

For such a small garden, she sure has lots of stuff, growing in there.

About a dozen different types of vegetables and herbs, I'd say.

The Leaf Hoppers, didn't seem to be eating her Shiso plants.

Maybe, they eat some sort of parasites and help the Shiso along. Who knows ?

The gal was telling me one day, about the Green and Red Shiso plants she has.

I told her, "I know all about them."  Your plants are on my blog !

So, it might be nice, if I gave her a photo of some sort.

Tomorrow may turn out to be a nice sunny day and, we may hop over to another island.

It all depends on whether, I can get one of my infidel friends, to do the driving.

Er, else, I'll be stuck poking around in the garden, again.

Hydrangea Flowers and a Tiger Dog All in One Day

Sueyoshi Garden in Nago Today

 

 

Flower lovers, this is one place you shouldn't miss, if you enjoy the great outdoors.

It was nice and sunny so, we headed for a trip to the hills.

It was around noon, when we arrived.

Not, the best light for photography unless, you wait for some passing clouds.

That gave me an excuse, to take my time, climbing up the hills.

Normally, I'm in a hurry to get the flower photography done.

But, when I get to this garden, other things have to be accomplished, too.

One of them, is getting a wide angle scene with flowers and ocean in it.

It's fun to try and single out different colored flowers for close-ups, too.

Putting a rock in the scene helps sometimes.

It's isn't just for texture.  It helps block the wind, from shaking things.

These pinkish looking things caught my eye as I was heading back downhill.

So, I shot them quickly, because I started getting in a hurry.

Flowers Are OK -- I Like Dogs Better

 

This is Tora, the tiger dog.  He's really a Ryukyu Inu.

For about three years, now, I've visited the tiger dog and, we always make friends.

But, he keeps forgetting who I am and acts like he doesn't trust me.

It was like he was saying, "Nope, I ain't moving out in better light for you."

"And, I ain't giving you my paw, either."

So, I went crawling around on the ground and, moved the camera to get a better shot.

This is one cool dog but, I know I can get better photos.

It just takes awhile for him to get used to me.

He forgets who I am, every year.

Before we left, he gave me his paw and, he must have thought my hand was a dog biscuit.

When, I grabbed the paw, to shake hands, he started munching on me !

Maybe, I should visit the Sueyoshi Garden more often.

Insect Photos: Pellucid Hawk Moth Not A Hummingbird !

These Things Can Fool You

 

 

Without sharp eyesight they might be mistaken for hummingbirds.

They could look like large bees, too.

But, have no stingers.  They are moths and won't bite you.

Instead of a stinger, it has a feather-duster of a tail.

And, that's good for spreading pollen from flower to flower.

So, people shouldn't go around killing these creatures.

They buzz around just like hummingbirds and eat the same nectar.

If they didn't have six legs and antennae, they'd look almost like a hummingbird.

Hummingbird Moths, are closely related to these insects.

 The Pellucid Hawk Moth has clear wings.

In Japan, they are called Oosukashiba (オオスカシバ).

 The Latin name is, Cephonodes hylas, for this species.

Having spent half the day getting a solid ID on this character, I give you some links.

That way, if you spot something like this in your garden, you'll know what it is.

This one, I'm calling a Ryukyu Oosukashiba (オオスカシバ) because I have proof...

from  the Okinawa Yanbaru Wildlife Field Guide ISBN978-4-408-32351-0

Those scientists should put RYUKYU in the name for ryukyuan stuff !

REFERENCES:

TpittawayTripodChina

WhatsThatBug  

Editor's Picks (Photos) for the Month of March 2013

Strange Things Happen Sometimes

 

There weren't a lot of photos entered in contests this month because March keeps me too busy.

These photos were the only ones to receive Editor's Picks.

The strange thing is, they were both taken at the same location in Okinawa, Japan.

 Long Life Stone in Okinawa

 

Green Tree Frog of Okinawa, Japan

The photos were taken on different days at locations only a few hundred meters apart.

And the frog photo made it all the way to the University of California.

That Stone Garden in Motobu must have some good ju-ju, is what I'm thinking.

What I plan on doing is a TripAdvisor Review on that place.

Maybe, if you visit Shizen Sekitei (自然石庭) you'll start having good luck, too !