Comments for Bugfolks http://www.bugfolks.com People observing and raising insects Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:50:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Hemiptera, “true bugs” of summer 2008 by margot http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=350&cpage=1#comment-26 margot Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:50:27 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=350#comment-26 Information for each photo in the order they appear: 1. Reduviidae, Phymata sp. I most often see this very common Ambush bug sitting motionless on flowers like goldenrod and tansy. The well developed musculature of the raptorial forelegs creates enlarged femora with which it is able to quickly seize its prey. It is capable of catching insects larger than itself, and favorites are bumble and honey bees, solitary bees, wasps and flies. 2. Cercopidae: Spittlebug on pine. There are many species of Spittlebugs, which produce the frothy substance from abdominal and anal secretions. One or more nymphs are concealed beneath the spittle while they feed on plant juices. It protects them from predators while they mature, and after the last nymphal molt, adults emerge from the spittle and actively crawl & fly about. 3. Spittlebug nymph on pine exposed 4. Cercopidae adult, froghopper 5. Spittlebug mass on leaves 6. Spittlebug nymph partially exposed 7. Spittlebug nymph exposed Margot Monson Information for each photo in the order they appear:

1. Reduviidae, Phymata sp. I most often see this very common Ambush bug sitting motionless on flowers like goldenrod and tansy. The well developed musculature of the raptorial forelegs creates enlarged femora with which it is able to quickly seize its prey. It is capable of catching insects larger than itself, and favorites are bumble and honey bees, solitary bees, wasps and flies.
2. Cercopidae: Spittlebug on pine. There are many species of Spittlebugs, which produce the frothy substance from abdominal and anal secretions. One or more nymphs are concealed beneath the spittle while they feed on plant juices. It protects them from predators while they mature, and after the last nymphal molt, adults emerge from the spittle and actively crawl & fly about.
3. Spittlebug nymph on pine exposed
4. Cercopidae adult, froghopper
5. Spittlebug mass on leaves
6. Spittlebug nymph partially exposed
7. Spittlebug nymph exposed

Margot Monson

]]> Comment on Silk Moth Mating Shots by marcie http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=290&cpage=1#comment-22 marcie Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:17:42 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=290#comment-22 A fishing basket is a good idea. I used to stay up to mate all my moths, but when I got to dozens of females, I realized that I had to make mating cages. I built them out of 1/2 inch plastic covered hardware cloth, with plastic plant saucers for the top and bottom. They work well too. I'll post photos of them sometime. Marcie A fishing basket is a good idea.

I used to stay up to mate all my moths, but when I got to dozens of females, I realized that I had to make mating cages. I built them out of 1/2 inch plastic covered hardware cloth, with plastic plant saucers for the top and bottom. They work well too.

I'll post photos of them sometime.

Marcie

]]> Comment on 2009 Cocooning Update! by marcie http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=285&cpage=1#comment-21 marcie Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:14:14 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=285#comment-21 I'm so impressed! I still have found no promethea cocoons, only a few cecropias - all parasitized, and two polyphemus - both alive. I keep looking, but can't seem to find very many. You have a really good eye for seeing them! Marcie I'm so impressed! I still have found no promethea cocoons, only a few cecropias - all parasitized, and two polyphemus - both alive. I keep looking, but can't seem to find very many. You have a really good eye for seeing them!

Marcie

]]> Comment on Caterpillar Rearing in Georgia Part 2 by carmen http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=243&cpage=1#comment-20 carmen Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:58:01 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=243#comment-20 I too am fascinated by slug caterpillars, but I rarely encounter them despite spending countless hours searching between the months of August and October. The exception is Saddleback caterpillars, which are relatively common around here; I find a dozen or more every fall. Besides those, I have only ever seen two Smaller parasas (including the one above) and a Skiff moth caterpillar. I do sometimes find Flannel moth caterpillars, which are not technically slug caterpillars but are similar in many ways. This year I plan to search at night with a flashlight... Maybe I'll have better luck that way. I too am fascinated by slug caterpillars, but I rarely encounter them despite spending countless hours searching between the months of August and October. The exception is Saddleback caterpillars, which are relatively common around here; I find a dozen or more every fall. Besides those, I have only ever seen two Smaller parasas (including the one above) and a Skiff moth caterpillar. I do sometimes find Flannel moth caterpillars, which are not technically slug caterpillars but are similar in many ways. This year I plan to search at night with a flashlight... Maybe I'll have better luck that way.

]]> Comment on Caterpillar Rearing in Georgia Part 2 by marcie http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=243&cpage=1#comment-19 marcie Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:53:32 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=243#comment-19 Wonderful photos! I love seeing more slug caterpillars - I'm hoping to find more at our place this year. I had the same experience with Giant Swallowtails - they took a long time to form a chrysalis. Marcie Wonderful photos! I love seeing more slug caterpillars - I'm hoping to find more at our place this year.

I had the same experience with Giant Swallowtails - they took a long time to form a chrysalis.

Marcie

]]> Comment on Caterpillar Rearing in Georgia by carmen http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=217&cpage=1#comment-18 carmen Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:35:03 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=217#comment-18 That reminds me... I left out a fairly important detail: the location of the setup. I don't have much in the way of a yard at my current residence, so I opted to place the rearing containers indoors. A distance of six feet or so from the window kept the caterpillars out of direct sunlight but still allowed them to have natural day lengths; I kept the lights off at night, just in case it confused them. When the cold weather began to set in, I started leaving the window open to allow for a slow temperature adjustment. By then, all of the caterpillars had pupated, and I was able to move them into their winter setup, which I will detail on here shortly. (My computer got a nasty virus the other week, but I was able to rescue all of my files. The next post is coming, I promise!) That reminds me... I left out a fairly important detail: the location of the setup. I don't have much in the way of a yard at my current residence, so I opted to place the rearing containers indoors. A distance of six feet or so from the window kept the caterpillars out of direct sunlight but still allowed them to have natural day lengths; I kept the lights off at night, just in case it confused them. When the cold weather began to set in, I started leaving the window open to allow for a slow temperature adjustment. By then, all of the caterpillars had pupated, and I was able to move them into their winter setup, which I will detail on here shortly. (My computer got a nasty virus the other week, but I was able to rescue all of my files. The next post is coming, I promise!)

]]> Comment on Caterpillar Rearing in Georgia by marcie http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=217&cpage=1#comment-16 marcie Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:53:56 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=217#comment-16 Fabulous photos! What wonderful creatures. It's fun to see other people's set-ups. I used to haunt Goodwill and buy up all the old fish bowls and storage jars that I found there. My set-ups looked a lot like yours, but I never thought of buying small jars from a craft store. The jars I used were always a little too tall for the cage. Now that I do most of my rearing on our screened porch, I use mostly screen cages that I make. That way, if the sun hits them, they don't cook the caterpillars. Marcie Fabulous photos! What wonderful creatures.

It's fun to see other people's set-ups. I used to haunt Goodwill and buy up all the old fish bowls and storage jars that I found there. My set-ups looked a lot like yours, but I never thought of buying small jars from a craft store. The jars I used were always a little too tall for the cage.

Now that I do most of my rearing on our screened porch, I use mostly screen cages that I make. That way, if the sun hits them, they don't cook the caterpillars.

Marcie

]]> Comment on 2008 Cocooning Update! by marcie http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=211&cpage=1#comment-14 marcie Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:43:07 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=211#comment-14 I'm going to add a little to Ian's post from a note he sent to me a few days ago - about finding cocoons. I think it's an interesting idea. He said "It seems to me that if you find one cocoon that more are in the area. I have almost been able to trace the flight of the moth that they came from in some instances." Marcie I'm going to add a little to Ian's post from a note he sent to me a few days ago - about finding cocoons. I think it's an interesting idea.

He said "It seems to me that if you find one cocoon that more are in the area. I have almost been able to trace the flight of the moth that they came from in some instances."

Marcie

]]> Comment on This Week’s Insects – Some Cool New Creatures by margot http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=97&cpage=1#comment-13 margot Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:34:21 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=97#comment-13 I have a hard time with some of the tussock moths. It helps to have many views, especially of the spiracles, like you did with the giant leopard moth larva. Food plants are so numerous and varied that knowing that doesn't help either. In Dasychira spp., the setal coloration characters also vary. I found it interesting to learn that they groom themselves by wiping their setae across their defensive glands. I have a hard time with some of the tussock moths. It helps to have many views, especially of the spiracles, like you did with the giant leopard moth larva. Food plants are so numerous and varied that knowing that doesn't help either. In Dasychira spp., the setal coloration characters also vary. I found it interesting to learn that they groom themselves by wiping their setae across their defensive glands.

]]> Comment on 2008 North American Prairie Conference by marcie http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=5&cpage=1#comment-12 marcie Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:38:18 +0000 http://www.bugfolks.com/?p=5#comment-12 I'd love to go along and help collect aquatic insects! Then I could try doing it here at the farm. You're right about using the word "juvenile" - I wasn't thinking - I'll change it in the post. Marcie I'd love to go along and help collect aquatic insects! Then I could try doing it here at the farm.

You're right about using the word "juvenile" - I wasn't thinking - I'll change it in the post.

Marcie

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