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Author Topic: Wildlife January 2011  (Read 12123 times)

Hoy

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #75 on: January 16, 2011, 05:28:26 PM »
Are you skiing, stephen? Here almost all the snow has melted, +8C last night and rain, rain, rain.
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Trond Hoy, gardening on the rainy west coast of Norway.

ArnoldT

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #76 on: January 16, 2011, 05:39:45 PM »
Any ideas what this is. Feasting on Hymenocallis 
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Arnold Trachtenberg
Leonia, New Jersey

Stephenb

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #77 on: January 16, 2011, 06:04:05 PM »
That could be the answer! The frogs made a mistake choosing a mudless pond...

Yes, it's the best year I can remember for skiing with about 1m snow only 10 minutes drive from the fjord. Went out twice at the weekend and did about 30 km together. However, it was a bit strange skiing in drizzle today (plus two) and difficult waxing conditions..
« Last Edit: January 16, 2011, 08:49:38 PM by Stephenb »
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Stephen
Malvik, Norway
Eating my way through the world's 15,000+ edible species
Age: Lower end of the 20-25,000 day range

ArnoldT

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #78 on: January 16, 2011, 06:06:31 PM »
Any ideas what this little fellow is.
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Arnold Trachtenberg
Leonia, New Jersey

Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #79 on: January 16, 2011, 09:00:24 PM »
These four bellbirds have been having a liquid lunch. We put sugar and water in 3 different upended bottles, small holes in the tops.

261383-0
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Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

annew

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #80 on: January 16, 2011, 09:44:50 PM »
No, the photos were on the 'beach', there is a deep layer of mud in the bottom.
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MINIONS! I need more minions!
Anne Wright, Dryad Nursery, Yorkshire, England

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mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #81 on: January 16, 2011, 10:38:25 PM »
Are they nturally nectar feeders?
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Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #82 on: January 17, 2011, 12:17:23 AM »
Yes they are Mark, specially from native plants like the flaxes (Phormium species) but also from many Australian trees and shrubs. They're also fond of the nectar from Salvias (I've had a dozen bellbirds at a time on the S. confertiflora that knocks against my kitchen window) or anything they can get their feathery tongues into. The song is glorious too, somewhere between a clarinet and a very pure, mid-range bell. Different populations have different songs.
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Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

fermi de Sousa

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #83 on: January 17, 2011, 02:54:06 AM »
Nothing quite as exciting as bellbirds here, Lesley - just a couple of bugs! But 2 I haven't seen before and I wonder if someone can identify them for me.
The first might be some sort of "Assassin Bug" as it has an "Elm-Leaf beetle" impaled on its proboscis!
261391-0

The second is sort of like a beige version of a Harlequin bug but on steroids as it's about 3cm in length! It has a distinctive "X" on its back and appears orange when in flight.
261393-1

cheers
fermi
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Mr Fermi de Sousa, Redesdale,
Victoria, Australia

Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #84 on: January 17, 2011, 03:51:23 AM »
The second one looks a bit mediaeval Fermi, maybe off to take part in a crusade, or perhaps to shine at Agincourt. Sorry, I've been reading Bernard Cornwall. Whatever, a real bug....er?
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Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

Juan Fornes

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #85 on: January 17, 2011, 11:36:40 AM »
Quote from: ArnoldT on January 16, 2011, 05:39:45 PM
Any ideas what this is. Feasting on Hymenocallis 
Arnold: looks like your caterpillar is Xanthopastis timais, called Spanish moth (although it doesn´t live here in my country ::)) We do have a very similar one, Brythis crini: it also feeds on amarylidaceae,  Pancratium maritimum.
- Lesley: your bellbirds are  :o Such a show at home!
- Mark: I love your birds at the zoo! Tawny frogmouth must be almost impossible to see in the wild with its perfect camouflage! Lucky you!
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Juan Fornes in Valencia, E. Spain. Zone 10 (not so bad...)

When a man moves away from nature, his heart becomes hard. (Native american proverb)

ArnoldT

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #86 on: January 17, 2011, 03:06:06 PM »
Paul:

Thanks, I also thought that's what it was.
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Arnold Trachtenberg
Leonia, New Jersey

Paul T

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #87 on: January 17, 2011, 11:43:14 PM »
Arnold,

I think you may have meant Juan, not Paul in your last posting?

There is a discussion of what sounds like exactly your caterpillar, currently taking place on the PBS forum.  Once consensus is reached I'll share any names info here.  Apparently someone has had thousands of local Hymenocallis wiped out by a caterpillar that matches the description of yours.  So far the main thing suggested has been Xanthopastis timais, just as Juan suggested. 8)
« Last Edit: January 17, 2011, 11:44:46 PM by Paul T »
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Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

annew

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #88 on: January 18, 2011, 07:40:22 AM »
What a fabulous bug, Fermi! I like bugs. Never seen one that size though.
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MINIONS! I need more minions!
Anne Wright, Dryad Nursery, Yorkshire, England

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mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife January 2011
« Reply #89 on: January 19, 2011, 07:42:48 PM »
Fermi your second bug is a shield bug. They are sap suckers.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2011, 10:28:01 PM by Maggi Young »
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Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230
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