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

Banana Spider Captures Cicada: Animation

Death to the Noisy Al Qaeda Bug

Early this morning (about 5 AM) I headed out with the camera. It would rain later today.

The plan was, to walk the dog, shoot some bird photos, and get home before 9 AM.

It's unbelievably hot these days, in Okinawa; like August arrived early.

A couple of bird photos were captured but, these bug images turned out to be my favorite.

These bugs, I like to call Al Qaeda, start screaming as the weather gets hot and muggy.

Some folks like the critters, I suppose. I wish spiders would eat them all.

If you like, learn more about these Cicada at Japan Today.

Joro Spider (Nephila clavata) or Banana Spiders may be seen throughout Asia.

LOL, today I learned they call this a Whore Spider in Japanese mythology!

Check out my source: Spider Identifications

Wordless Wednesday: They Fly United

ALSO, SEE

Red Dragonfly (赤とんぼ) Akatombo in Japanese

Going Extinct in Japan?

Shooting Dragonflies wasn't planned as I went on my morning walks the past few days.

But, they kept showing up and reminded me of this article I read recently. 

It seems like the poor rascals are headed the way of dinosaurs, in mainland Japan.

Some scientists estimate 99% of the Red Dragonfly population has been wiped out.

The population of dragonflies seems to be doing alright in Okinawa.

They claim, bug spray used by mainland farmers, is what's destroying the insects.

But, the chemical companies manufacturing bug spray would argue. Not our poisons!

Just like in America. Sugar ain't bad for your health. Ask any breakfast cereal company! 

Grandkids Are Always Popping Up Around Here

It's summertime, they live nearby and, Grandpa always has ice cream.

A story about dragonflies mating will have to be modified. Adults can read the link.

Let's see. The one in front is the male dragonfly and, they're flying around together.

He has his "Hu-Ya" stuck in her "Ah-Hum."

Flying around at high speed, they're looking for a safe place to land.

Then, they really get it on and do the copulating thing.

More at How Dragonflies Mate.

Sorry for the shortened version. I gotta run before all the ice cream is gone!

Okinawa Common House Gecko Images

An Insect Eater

 

 

The National Institute for Environmental Studies calls them an Invasive Species.

Their scientific name is Hemidactylus frenatus.

They are called, yamori (やもり) in Japan.

It took a few hours of coaxing, to get this guy to pose for me.

Nobody needs to see the mess in my office so, we'll just see the best photos, for now. 

 Over a hundred shots of this character were taken, from several different angles.

Three tripods, a Swiss Army Knife and a few PET bottles, did the trick.

Oh yeah, Scotch Tape, external flash, a bar stool, step ladder and bruised knees, too.

No wild animals were harmed, in any way, making this production.

Just in case, you think I'm a sissy for drinking Caffe' Latte, I tell you, I'm not.

Some sweet girl bought it for me and, stuck it in my fridge.  I wouldn't waste it.

So, I drank the stuff and saved the cup, to catch lizards or, something.

Anyway, when the photo session ended,  I let the critter go, on the bathroom window sill.

If the dude is still here tomorrow morning maybe, we'll do some more shooting together.

While I go out for a few beers, I hope he catches a belly full of bugs.

The Smithsonian, could use some photos of these critters so, I might send them some.

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

It Looked Like a Ladybug Convention Out There

All Sorts of Shapes and Sizes

 

 

Some of the black and orange insects, you'd need a magnifying glass to see.

Quickly, I grabbed a camera, tripod and some white background material.

Then, I propped it up and started shooting, to create this GIF.

Bugs, popped in and out of the scene and put on quite a show.

After awhile, some of them started acting unladylike so, I packed up and went home.

A Golden Dragonfly Made My Day (GIFs)

Down by the River

 

 

The construction outside my office was a bit noisy.

It's not like, I don't have enough catching-up to do around here.

Taking a few hours hike in the fresh air just seemed to be the best way to spend the day.

There were all sorts of these critters, flying around the Okukubi River banks.

Red, blue, green and black dragonflies were buzzing around the water.

Only one, gold dragonfly, kept showing up.

And, it seemed to be attracted to the same clump of weeds.

So, I spent most of the day goofing off and shooting the critter.

Then, walked back to the office with another thousand images to develop.

Sitting down by the river on a nice autumn day, sure beats working in an office.

Dontcha think ?

The Insect Says "Bug Off " to the Cameraman

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

End of the Golden Beetle Project: A Short Photo Essay

It Started Early in May

 

 

The idea was to find out if the golden bugs had any value.

If they could only have been identified, they might have been worth millions.

Just look at how many people get their bodies pierced.

Little gold cages could be made and, people who want to be different could wear them.

While waiting for an identification to come through, I collected some, as an investment.

You never know when one of these schemes might pay big dividends.

They were housed in a glass jar in my office and well fed.

 Every day, they were let out for fresh air and some exercise.

 Before long, they started mating and crapping all over the place.

So, I decided they weren't all that valuable and, let them all run away.

Somebody will have to invent gold bug diapers before that plan will work.

Bring the diapers and golden cages and, we could become partners.

The golden beetles, hang out right near my office.

Don't you want to be a millionaire, too?

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 ?

In the Wild -- A Pair of Mating Ryukyu Damselflies (Photos)

Warning: Maybe the Younguns Shouldn't Look

 

 

The research was kind of difficult on these insects but, we gotterdun.

First, I'll introduce you to the single male.

That gives you time to send the kids outside or, to play with their game-thingies.

 

Ryukyurimontonbo (リュウキュウルリモントンボ) is what he's called, in Japan.

Coeliccia ryukyuensis ryukyuensis would be the Latin name.

Okinawa Yanbaru Field Guide, helped me do the identification.

ISBN978-4-408-32351-0

That is a good guidebook, with lots of photos but, no English.

So, I use several methods to do my search.

When, you type,

 
Ryukyurimontonbo (リュウキュウルリモントンボ) in an English search engine,  doesn't work.

So, I take the Japanese characters and put them in one of their search boxes.

Sometimes, I even use the Chinese sites.  Whatever it takes.

All kinds of ignorance, left my brain today.

That bug, up there, I thought he was trying to swat the fly. Wrong.

Are Those Children Gone Yet ?

 

 

 

What that rascal is doing, is getting ready for sex.

 

He probably doesn't even know the fly is there. Other things are on his mind.

 Off he went, to grab some female, by the back of her neck.

It's a good thing, I read all the resources about how these insects mate.

My excuse for going home late tonight, won't work, now.

There's no sense, telling the wife, I met a gal with a vagina on the back of her head.

That excuse won't work, anymore but, it might have, if it was true.

An expert on the subject, would tell you, the male, is using that blue tip, to grab the gal.

In the first photo, he was probably, transferring stuff, from one penis to another.

The scientists say, when the female is ready, she gets in the position above.

She has to bring her Doohickey up to meet his, is what, I think they mean.

And, they call this, the wheel formation.

Well, in Okinawa, people consider that to be the shape of a heart not, a wheel.

It may not look like a heart, to you.

 

Not wanting to disturb them at such a tender moment, I waited until I got back here.

 

And, flipped the photo so,  you could view the heart shape.

Can you see it ?

Learn more about these insects:

 

About (dot) Com 

 Things Biological 

 Insects of Okinawa

 

 

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 !

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  

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

10 Bug Photos and Some Stuff About Beyonce's Derriere

These Things Just Happen

 

 

 

 

Normally, you wouldn't find me going online to look at some gal's rear end.

There was a girl wiggling her bunny tail in the bar last night.

I just looked at her because we're friends.



 This morning I decided to get this unidentified bug out of my files and, do some research.

Somehow, a fly with a golden rear end got named after Beyoncé.

This young scientist, from Australia, figured the bug with a golden fanny, was "bootylicious."

So, he named the thing Scaptia plinthina beyonceae.

Checking several sources, for a positive ID, Beyoncé fanny photos kept showing up.



The fly with the golden tail is what I wanted verification on.

We have photos, taken from many different angles, to assist in getting identification.

The media folks like to show photos of Beyoncé from different angles, too.

A fellow couldn't help, but notice.  So that's what I did.



When identifying insects, there's other things worth looking closely at.

 The rear end, is important but, so are a lot of other parts.





Something about the bug's face, colors, marking and, wings told me this was a different one.

What we have here (Trust me, I verified everywhere) is a Hoverfly.

The Latin name:  Phytomia zonata

 

 

More News from Okinawa

 

Everyone came out unharmed by recent typhoons and earthquakes.

We are having beautiful, cool weather.

The Missus and I, may even do some celebrating tonight.

Do you suppose that crazy rabbit will be, at the bar, wagging her tail, again ?