Nature Photography - Other Bugs & Insects: February 2010

Friday, February 5, 2010

Cotton Stainer Bug (Dysdercus Decussatus)

A widespread species which feeds on the seeds of Hibiscus Tiliaceus. Adults are about 12 mm in length and may be found under leaves, gathering in large numbers.

(Singapore Botanical Gardens - 19 Aug 09)

The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. The larger group of these insects is more properly called the praying mantids. Praying Mantis.

Praying Mantis are formidable predators. They have triangular heads poised on a long "neck," or elongated thorax. Mantids can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them.

(Chestnut Ave - 28 Apr 2010)

Typically green or brown and well camouflaged on the plants among which they live, mantis lie in ambush or patiently stalk their quarry. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Their legs are further equipped with spikes for snaring prey and pinning it in place.

(Diary Farm Nature Reserve - 26 Apr 2010)

Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects are usually the unfortunate recipients of unwanted mantid attention. However, the insects will also eat others of their own kind. The most famous example of this is the notorious mating behavior of the adult female, who sometimes eats her mate just after—or even during—mating. Yet this behavior seems not to deter males from reproduction.

(Dairy Farm Nature Reserve - 7 Sep 2009)

Females regularly lay hundreds of eggs in a small case, and nymphs hatch looking much like tiny versions of their parents.

(Venus Drive - 20 Nov 2009)

Common Housefly

(Daily Farm Nature Reserve - 8 Nov 09)

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Shield Bug (Pycanum Rubens)

(Adult - Kranji Nature Trail, 16 May 09)

(Juvenile - Singapore Botanical Gardens, 18 Apr 09)

Leaf Hopper

(Kranji Nature Trail - 16 May 09)

Neriid Fly (Telostylinus Lineolatus)

(Venus Drive - 27 May 09)

Robberfly

I have seen 6 robberfly species in Singapore so far but only managed to capture 3 of them. The most common ones are image 1st 2 images below:

(Venus Drive)

(Wild Wild West - 17 Oct 09)

(Choa Chu Kang Ave 5)

Grasshoppers

These are 3 of the most common grasshoppers that can be easily found in most bushes. I would usually give it a miss unless they are covered with dews, mating or 2-in-1.

(Choa Chu Kang Ave 5 - 19 Sep 09)

(Holland Woods - 14 Apr 10)

(Old Jurong Road Canal - 8 Aug 2010)

Snail Mating

I have never seen snails mating before, so when I saw a pair having an intimate moment, my guess was that "This Is It"!

(Wild Wild West - 10 Nov 09)

My friend didn't think so and told me that, like most animals, the male would climb on top of the female snail to mate. Not convinced, I searched the internet and found these interesting facts:

How to differentiate Male from Female Snail?

There is no male or female snail because they are all both! Snails are hermaphrodites which means that each individual processes both male and female reproductive organs. It can produce sperms and eggs at the same time. In some rare cases, self fertilization are possible but normally mating is between two individuals of the same species. To fertilize the eggs, the snails would exchange sperms with each other. After mating, both become pregnant and go off separate way and lay fertilized eggs in nests dug out of moist soil.

Why do snails have both reproductive organs?

Because of its slowness, the snail needs much time to move in a very small area. So the chances to meet a mating partner are too low to divide them even further by two sexes to choose from! Having both reproductive organs increase their mating chances i.e. they can mate with any snails of the right species.

How do snails mate?

When two snails mate, each snail presses the front part of its foot against the foot of the other snail. The snails shoot a hard dart into each other (see close-up image below) which makes sperms pass between them. However, a single snail can do all this by itself!

Tapered Head Hopper

(Jurong Woods - 16 Jan 2010)

Forest Crab - Geosesarma Perracae

This is one of the two land crabs found in Singapore. Most crabs are living in marine and coastal habitats. Only species of the genus Geosesarma having fully adapted to live with freshwater and normally found in the rain forest not far away (few kilometres) from seas.