Friday 11 June 2010

Bugs - Part 76

I thought for a change today I would post pictures of some of the bugs I snapped  recently.  Another post for Joan!

The spotted asparagus beetle causes the most injury in the early season when the adults attack the growing tips and sometimes eat the buds of newly sprouted asparagus. The beetles also feed on foliage, eating out irregular areas. The larvae cause little damage because they feed inside the berries. 
As you can see, it has been chewing away at the tip here.  I am now manually removing them as I find them.  I understand that they do not like tomatoes and that they are a good deterrent.  I have planted my tomatoes alongside  the asparagus, so I am hoping that as the plants are now growing well they will chase beetles off!!

This caterpillar was racing across our verandah; nothing I could do would slow it down, so taking  photos was not easy.  I never knew they could go so fast.... 
The Oak Eggar, Noushka's identification Here Thanks
This very tiny little chap was literally hanging by a thread.  It was so small. that I was unable to get a very clear photograph with my small digital camera.

This beautiful Tiger Moth was on my window sill last year.


This stunning Humming Bird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is back in our garden now that the lavender is just coming out.  The wing speed is so fast, and they move so quickly, that my little camera has no chance of taking a picture. it has a very long proboscis which shoots out to gather nectar and you can actually hear the humming sound from its wings.
There has been a recent threat to this beautiful moth, this being the Mexican Evening Primrose which is now being widely sold in garden nurseries.  The plant is a death trap to the moth due to the nature of the hypanthium, which is very long and narrow in this flower.  The moth finds that its proboscis becomes firmly stuck and is unable to free itself.  The trapped moth remains there flapping until it slowly dies. Please note if you have this plant in the garden it is best removed for the sake of the moth. (see magazine: Living Poitou Charentes Aug/Sept 2009)

Our rhubarb seems to be breeding these fellows, they look a bit like a stink bug of some kind but maybe someone will give me some answers. Any idea Joan?

This very small moth was quite difficult to see on the white door. Nigel spotted it long before I did.
Another well camouflaged moth.
The Muslin Moth thanks Noushka see Here

This unknown beetle was in the house.

31 comments:

  1. I love your bugs!!! I always wonder how different bugs are in other countries... looks like they are not so different at all!!! Oh my!

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  2. Such a nice variety of bugs. I like the diversity of the moths. But that hummingbird moth is the best. Too bad people plant their yards with non native species that can imperil the insects.

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  3. longpastremembered, no I guess bugs are basically not that different. Some countries though have a few I could do without:) Diane

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  4. Hi Gaelyn, the humming bird moth is amazing and we have dozens and dozens of them at the moment. Yes it is sad that people plant non-native plants that can cause damage, especially to such a beautiful moth. There should be more published about these sort of things, and maybe people would become more aware of what they are doing. Diane

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  5. BTW, I didn't make it to the Sterkfontein caves which I certainly hope to explore on my next visit.

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  6. Gaelyn I am sure you will enjoy Sterkfontein Caves, they were not far from where we lived so I went there several times. Diane

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  7. Yuk I hate bugs of any kind and size. Hope you have a good weekend. Becca

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  8. Oh Becca the moths are beautiful. I don't like bugs though that dammage my garden. Hope all is well with you and your family. Diane

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  9. I'm just not a fan of bugs. Want to see me turn into a screaming idiot? Bring bugs into my house. Then I'll start scrubbing everything from the ceiling down, including the kids and dog if they get in the way!

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  10. Marjie, some bugs I am OK with, but others I very definately do not like!! Diane

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  11. Why is it bugs always look so cute in pictures but look scary in real life?

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  12. Speaking aesthetics, I choose the asparagus beetle and the tiger moth. They would both make lovely zoological prints.
    Really sorry that you can not listen to music on your computer. The melody, sung acapella by the mens chorale is lovely and soothing.
    Have a nice weekend.

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  13. Very interesting bugs. We've got the stinkbugs too. They do stink if you crush them.
    The caterpillar looks like a "chenille voyager" and if so are deadly to any pine trees you've got. They make cocoons and they can kill the trees.

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  14. I can't remember if you speak french but you can find a lot about insects, birds... at
    http://lejardindelucie.blogspot.com/ She is on vacation right now but her blog is really interesting and her photos amazing.
    I rarely comment but I check out your blog very often.
    I am sorry, I am trying to sign in but my password is not working. Very weird since I haven't changed it.

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  15. I find them fasinating! I don't think I could get the great shots that you did. They are cool to look at but I don't want to be around them. Yeah I'm over the ones that eat my plants!

    Today I was out boating a took many photos of birds, maybe I'll post them! You are inspiring!

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  16. What a wonderful post Diane!! Thanks so much for taking these for me. :) I LOVE BUGS!! LOL!! Yeah, okay, so I am weird!! :) It is a fascinating world though with an endless variety of species and always something new turning up to catch my eye.

    Try spraying your asparagus with soapy water. It acts as a great deterent for many of our bug species and is not harmful to the plant. It is great for keeping aphids off roses too.

    That is the curest little caterpillar and yes, they sure can move fast at times. :)

    All of these moths are fantastic but the hummingbird and tiger moth the best of all.

    That is an Assassin Bug Diane, of the same family as stink bugs but recognisable by the thick back legs.

    Thanks for sharing this all with me my friend!!

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  17. Your camera work is really outstanding. Might I ask what type of camera you are using? I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  18. Linda, some of these are so small that they are not even scary in real life. Never the less many of the bigger ones I do not like!! Diane

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  19. Hi Mya, yes the tiger moth and asparagus beetle would make nice prints you are right. I get mad some times that I can't play You Tube, but we are quite a long way from our Internet base, and by the time it reaches us, along a 2 or 3 miles of wire, all is going slowly. On the other hand I must not complain because at least I have ADSL. Diane

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  20. Hi Dedene, Thanks for the information. We only have one pine tree, and at a guess looking at the size of the base it is probably well over 100 years old. Hopefully it can withstand problems with the cocoons but I will watch out to see if there are more around. Diane

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  21. Hi Nadege, Thanks for the site, I will certainly follow it even though my French is pretty hopeless. It has masses of info, and may even help my French. Hope you have sorted out your password. Diane

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  22. Hi Lyndsey, I don't know about inspiring but I just like to change the post from time to time to something different. I cannot usually get close enough to birds to get a decent picture. Only when I sit quietly outside camera at the ready, do I ever manage to get something that is worth looking at. They will come down to the little bird bath if I sit still long enough. Diane

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  23. Hi Joan, Glad you enjoyed the blog. I have just looked up the Assassin Bug and maybe it is doing a good job of eating the beetles. We also have the common asparagus beetle which is red with black spots. The latter is impossible to photograph. It runs around the back of the plant when it sees you coming or flies off!!I see now though that there are masses of eggs and larvae as well!! I use soap and water a lot but have not tried it on the asparagus, will do so. It seems the Assassin Bug has a nasty bite so I must keep my fingers away from it:) Diane

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  24. Hi Mary, My camera is a Samsung L201, 10.2 mega pixels. It is very small and slim, and was very cheap. In fact it was cheap enough that we bought 2 so my husband had one as well. Most of the time I simply use it on Auto as I do not understand most of the features!! It takes very good videos with sound, I have mastered that feature:) The cost was well under £100. Have a good weekend.Diane

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  25. Diane, great bugs and photos but, they're a little creepy to me. Actually, it is pretty interesting and the Tiger Moth is a fine speciman!

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  26. Thanks for the speedy reply. Blessings...Mary

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  27. Pam, I love the tiger Moth and the Humming Bird Hawk Moth. I just wish the others would leave my garden alone :( Diane

    Mary, No problem, Diane

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  28. LOVE the bugs!! I think they're really cool!! Leesa

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  29. Leesa I love some of them, the ones that destroy my garden I can do without. Diane

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  30. Your "well camouflaged moth" is:
    the Muslin Moth
    http://1000-pattes.blogspot.com/2011/06/noctuelles-2.html
    The caterpillar 52) is: the Oak Eggar
    http://1000-pattes.blogspot.com/search/label/LASIOCAMPIDAE
    You can see how different it becomes, after each moult!
    Hope i helps!!
    Love!
    XXXXXX

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  31. Noushka, Thanks post updated with names and links. Thanks very grateful for all your help. Diane xx

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