For interesting information on flowers, trees and plants please click on this link: http://natureswow2.blogspot.com/

For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa: please click on the following links:
Insects and related species: Antlions - Ants - Bees - Beetles - Bugs - Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars - Centipedes and Millipedes - Cockroaches - Crickets - Dragonflies and Damselflies - Grasshoppers and Katydids - Mantis - Stick Insects - Ticks and Mites - Wasps - Woodlice
Plants, Trees, Flowers: (Note: Unless plants fall into a specific species such as Cacti, they have been classified by their flower colour to make them easier to find) Bonsai - Cacti, Succulents, Aloes, Euplorbia - Ferns and Cycads - Flowers - Fungi, Lichen and Moss - Grass - Trees
Animals, Birds, Reptiles etc.: Animals, Birds, Fish and Crabs - Frogs - Lizards - Scorpions - Snails and Slugs - Snakes - Spiders - Tortoise, Turtles and Terrapins - Whipscorpions
Other photography: Aeroplanes - Cars and Bikes - Travel - Sunrise - Water drops/falls - Sudwala and Sterkfontein Caves etc.
Videos: YouTube

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Warmbaths - Part 6

Just 15 more days then the sun starts to come south again. What a WONDERFUL thought!!

Before I get to my normal post today I wanted to show you this funny picture someone sent me of a "horsefly". LOL!! Someone out there has a GREAT sense of humor. LOL!!
In the camping grounds where I was, there were some light on throughout the night and they would attract a lot of moths and the predators which ate them so I decided to get up at midnight and see what was going on out there. There were a few which appeared in my book so I have names for them like this Speckled Ermine Moth (Yponomeuta fumigata).

Streaked Ermine

The one in the next three pictures looks very uninteresting at first but its body has wonderful colors so I picked it up to get some photographs.

It also had the nicest eyes.
In the morning when I woke up a few of them had already died as some of them have a very short lifespan.

26 comments:

Food, Fun and Life in the Charente said...

Perhap that horsefly has not got such a nasty bite:)

Great photos and it is amazing how these 'dull' creatures are so colourful when you look at them properly.

Warmbaths brings back many happy memories. Diane

Philip said...

I didn't know horse flies have that kind of head LoL!! so you even get up at midnight to catch your Prey Joan very interesting colours on that moth

Krista said...

That horsefly is hilarious! LOL!

The moths... ok they are creepier than butterflies. I can still appreciate how beautiful they are but EW! LOL! It's pretty rare that I say that about your bugs, they are mostly just fascinating to me. Maybe it's just their furry bodies? Guess I'm just strange. hehe

Gaelyn said...

It's almost funny how some of these moths hide their most beautiful colors. Yet I suppose that would make them stand out more to predators.

troutbirder said...

I wonder if they bite like the ones around here?

birdy said...

The horsefly is really funny. Do you have any idea about the name of moth that have red underwings?

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Maybe a worse one Diane with teeth like that. LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

See Philip, you just never looked close enough. LOL!!

Once again I prove how weird I am!! You should know by now I am always getting up to the strangest things. LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I think you must have been frightened by a butterfly or moth in your childhood Krista and that is why you dont like them now. Of all the bugs I post they have to be the prettiest.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

They would Gaelyn, like that red one found.

Loved your post on the waterfall.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I hope not TB as they have HUGE teeth!! :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It made me smile too Birdy and the picture is so well done.

The moth is a Tr-coloured Tiger (Rhodogastria amasis). A very pretty one don't you think? Thank for asking.

Firefly said...

Come on Joan, stop horsing around. One really just need to leave an outside light on in summer and you can get so many different typed of insects and moths around it.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You are right Jonker but it is so much more fun sitting in the middle of the bush with a lamp on. :)

Mary said...

Such interesting and colorful moths! I like that one you are holding. I'd be afraid to do that for fear of hurting their wings. I had to pick up a dragonfly to get it out of our car and was so afraid I'd mess up its wing! They look so fragile.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Mary. I am always so afraid that I will hurt them too and am so carful about it. I wait till the wing is already in the position I want it to be before grabbing them. :)

Anna said...

Lol Joan the horse fly is funny, never envision them like that, lol. Nice photos of the moths, especially the one you mention about the beautiful eyes. Excellent photography Joan as always. Anna :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Anna. I think if horseflies really looked like that they would not be able to fly around with that big head. LOL!!

JM said...

LOL at the top pic! I was confused for a fraction of a second! :-) All the others are super!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

A good one isn't it Jose? Some people are so good at graphics. :)

Craver Vii said...

I loved your pics (I always do). But I also wanted to say thank you for letting us know about those amusing photoshopped pics at worth1000.com. I browsed through there and found it very entertaining.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thank you Craver. I am glad you found the link of interest. :)I have not been to look at the site myself as someone just sent me the picture via e-mail. :)

Becky and Gary said...

Kudos for you getting up at night. Great time to catch some of the Moths. I'm always looking for a Luna Moth around here, but so far no luck.

I'd watch out for that Horsefly if I were you. Thay have some nasty teeth. LOL
B.

ramblingwoods.com said...

The deer flies have been awful here, but no horse flies yet..LOL..love the eyes and the color. I am always afraid to pick something up as I don't want to harm it...Michelle

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Becky. We have Luna moths here too and this is the kind of species I want to make an effort to get this summer.

LOL!! I do not want to be bitten by that horsefly. I wonder if you feed it apples too? :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

That pic is very cleverly done Michelle and must have taken someone ages to do. :)

I know what you mean and I am so careful not to hurt them either.