Bug - Blog Posts

Moth Of The Day #106

Urania Swallowtail Moth / Green Page Moth

Urania fulgens

From the uraniidae family. They have a wingspan of 70-85 mm. They tend to inhabit tropical environments. It is found in Central and South America.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hemaris thysbe, family Sphingidae, East Fork State Park, southern Ohio, USA

photographs by Gayle Pille

enjoying the variation in these handsome Graphocephala versuta, including the last poor hopper who has a mite sucking on its head

Moth Of The Day #107

Chinese Character

Cilix glaucata

From the drepanidae family. They have a wingspan of 18-26 mm. They tend to inhabit hedgerows, scrub and open woodland as well as gardens. They can be found in Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.

Prancing Peacock Spiders

Maratus volans is perhaps the most widely known member of the genus Maratus, also known as peacock spiders– part of the jumping spider family– which contains 108 recognised species. Maratus volans is common across Australia and the island of Tasmania, and occur in a variety of habitats. They are most commonly found among leaf litter and dry vegetation, especially in dunes, grasslands, and sparse deciduous forests.

Peacock spiders like M. volans are extraordinarily small; both sexes only reach about 5 mm (0.19 in) in length. Members of the Maratus genus are famous for the male’s coloration, and M. volans is no exception; the abdomen is covered in brightly colored microscopic scales or modified hair which they can unfold for mating displays. Some males can also change the color of their scales, and the hairs can reflect both visible and ultraviolet light. Female M. volans lack this distinctive coloration, and are a drab grayish brown.

Reproduction for M. volans occurs in the spring, from August to December. During this period, males will approach females and raise their patterned abdomens and third pair of legs for display. He then approaches, vibrating the fan-like tail, and dances from side to side. If a female is receptive, he then mounts her; if not, she may attempt to attack and feed on him. This may also occur post-copulation. In December, the female creates a nest in a warm hollow in the ground where she lays her eggs. Each cluch contains between 6 and 15 eggs, though females typically lay several clutches. Male M. volans hatch the following August, while females typically hatch in September. Both sexes mature quickly and typically only live about a year.

Like other jumping spiders, peacock spiders like M. volans do not weave webs. Instead, they hunt during the day time using their highly developed eyesight. These spiders are also able to jump over 40 times their body length, which allows them to pounce on unsuspecting prey like flies, moths, ants, crickets, and other, much larger spiders. Other spiders are also common predators of M. volans, as well as wasps, birds, frogs, and lizards.

Conservation status: None of the Maratus species have been evaluated by the IUCN. However, it is generally accepted that they are threatened by habitat destruction, like many other insects.

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Photos

Jurgen Otto 2 & 3

Range: Costa Rica, Panama, & Colombia.

Rainbow Scarab (Phanaeus vindex), male, family Scarabaeidae, Pennsylvania, USA

a species of "true dung beetle".

photograph by Michael Reed

Spiky Leaf Beetle, Hispellinus sp., family Chrysomelidae, Keelung, Taiwan

photograph by Adeline Goh

Hummingbird moth time of year!

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)

July 11, 2023

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Tinicum, Pennsylvania