Puzzles 2012

[daveyp1970]

Oleander hawk moth Daphnis nerii

[Maggi Young]

I bet you've nailed that, Davey.... I've been searching.....

marvelous what the internet can tell me.... it appears that the caterpillar is displaying the colouration typically shown just before pupating..... well I never!

Some just stunning photos of this extremely beautiful moth, online, I must say- spectacular markings.

We had a lot of oleanders in our gardens in Libya - don't think I ever recall seeing one of these beauties though.  Mind you , there were some things that I then thought were some sort of dragonfly that had strange colours and fat bodies, but dragonfly wings are so different.

[ronm]

Unlucky guys, but you were very much in the right area. ( Apart from the forumist who messaged me saying it was a fish  ).
It the Levant Hawk Moth, Theretra alecto.  We used to breed these by the hundred when living in Asia, along with many other species.
Interestingly this year is the only year we haven't bred the Oleander Hawk, Daphnis nerii moth here. Its absolutely one of our favourites, but the effect on our Nerium oleander plants in the polytunnel was getting a bit much! So we've taken a year off to let them recover. They will take Periwinkle sp. but the volumes needed are huge. You're correct though Maggi, in that the larvae do change to a brown colour in this species immediately before they wander off the foodplant to pupate in the earth. A truly magnificent insect. Some of ours are shown here below the T.alecto larva.
Thanks for having a go at the puzzle. I'll not be posting more insects as your getting too good at this, 

[Maggi Young]

Been searching now for images of the Levant Hawk Moth - a very nice looking thing - though not quite so smartly dressed, as a moth, as the Oleander version.

See how easily impressed I am by a smart turn-out?!

[ronm]

  I totally agree Maggi. The T.alecto imagine is strictly one for the connoisseur. But I think it would be hard to say that the imagine of D.nerii is not a thing of beauty. They can be found in Britain from now to October, but usually on the south coast and very rarely in any sort of numbers.

[daveyp1970]

I totally agree Maggi. The T.alecto imagine is strictly one for the connoisseur. But I think it would be hard to say that the imagine of D.nerii is not a thing of beauty. They can be found in Britain from now to October, but usually on the south coast and very rarely in any sort of numbers.

Incredible pics Ron,i have never heard of the levant hawk its like a brown elephant hawk.One day i think i may try the Oleander hawk when i have had the easier ones for a couple of seasons.

[Anthony Darby]

Latest ELG (Entomological Livestock group) list has these listed.

[ronm]

Thanks Anthony. The price requested is not too bad either, for eggs or for larvae.

[ronm]

What on Earth is this?

[ronm]

Ron,
I'm guessing the obvious answer of 63.125 is not correct?
If it is, you must be seriously affected by the wet weather. 

Sorry Peter, I forgot to post the answer,  , which was, of course, 72. 

[Brian Ellis]

Well I suppose someone has to ask how you come to that answer?

[Maggi Young]

Well I suppose someone has to ask how you come to that answer?

Darn it, Brian, I was going to let Ron stew for a bit before I asked him that since he's taken so long to tell us 

For a very wet day,

A small nursery holder decides to recycle old plastic plant pots. Eight used pots are needed to make each new pot. From 505 used pots, how many new pots can possibly be made in total? 

 72 ?

[ronm]

You're a good sport Brian. Thanks for prompting

Yes, 72 can be made from the 505, 

In the meantime    nobody is having a go at the latest. So here's another one of the same thing, shrinking gently back into its 'home'. The clue is -  you certainly cannot make a 'Yum Pla Muk' without one.!!

[Maggi Young]

I've got it......

505 used pots : 8 old to make one new .....63 new pots come from 504 old pots  take the 63 new pots and the left over old pot (64) and make 8 new pots then make one last new pot from that 8..... that makes 72.
 Phew!

[ronm]

Well puzzled Maggi
  , Made my brain hurt at Christmas when my two 12 year old nieces teased me with it.
Its on the Mensa test in various forms,