Monthly Archive for November, 2007

Diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis)

Published on November 17, 2007 in Loire Valley. Closed Tags: , .

An unused swimming pool becomes the home of many freshwater plants and animals. Insects of many types, such as beetles (Coleoptera), true bugs (Heteroptera), and fly larvae (Diptera), can be observed swimming in unused swimming pools.

Here a Dytiscus beetle has flown in from a neighbouring pond to make the pool its temporary home. It surfaces rear-end first to breathe before diving again to hunt for prey. Diving beetles are excellent swimmers, their bodies are streamlined, and their flattened rear legs, which bear two rows of “swimming” hairs (see photo), can generate powereful strokes.

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A disused swimming pool is great place to observe freshwater wildlife because it is easily accessible, its edges are free from terrestrial vegetation which often make it difficult to see. In addition to this the blue of the pool allows us see creatures that we might not have noticed – check out the spiral of green algae in the photo.

Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)

Published on November 11, 2007 in London and Videos. Closed Tags: .

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If I were an early bird, this plump little fellow would look like a tasty morcel to me! What one might call a good start to the day. I’m sure there’s a moral to be learnt here somewhere.

Ahh, yes, of course :

The early bird gets the worm.

We all know that the world belongs to those who get up nice and early. Get up early and life can but smile for you.

However, there is a darker side to this story… one of personal disaster… the early (perhaps even earlier) worm gets eaten! Of course we automatically associate ourselves with the bird. The moralists of old conveniently failed to complete their comforting proverb. It should read :

The early bird gets the worm.
But the early worm gets eaten!

In other words know yourself! If you are a bird, get up early. If you are a worm, stay in bed a little longer and let other worms get eaten!

And, for the mice amongst us, here is some food for thought :

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Wikipedia entry on the earthworm

Watch “Darwin’s Worm” a short video made by Jean Painlevé on the virtues of the earthworm.

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius)

Published on November 10, 2007 in Provence and Videos. Closed Tags: .

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When on the wing, this large and powerful butterfly resembles more a small bird than a butterfly due the speed and the nature of its flight. This no doubt serves it well since it has the habit of establishing and defending hilltop territories otherwise known as “hilltoping” (hilltops serve as mate-encounter sites not only for this species but also for many other insects).

Ideally, I would have liked to photograph it with its wings open, but when it did eventually decide to land (several times on animal dung), it immediately placed its wings in an upright position. This was the best shot I could get – naturally I avoided to photograph it on dung!

Charaxes jasius’ larval foodplant is the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) but it is also attracted to fermenting fruit, animal dung, and alcohol in the form of beer and wine!

Now watch a short educational film (in French) on the life-cycle of Charaxes jasius.

Other resources :

Antlion (Myrmeleontidae)

Published on November 10, 2007 in Ile-de-France. Closed Tags: .

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Other resources :