Better late than never: 2015

A yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus sp.) on Jeju Island, South Korea

2015 was full of travel, research, and changes.  My library from the year contains some 14 thousand images - and it seems I've been increasingly photographing the people around me as well as the fauna.  That said, hominids have never been the primary focus of this page, so here are selections from the year covering some other taxa across a few locations.

Rangitoto from Tiritiri Matangi, NZ

North Island Saddleback, Tiritiri Matangi NZ

Queensland, Australia

Hihi, Tiritiri Matangi, NZ

Long-nosed Lycid Beetle, Queensland, Australia

Dainty Green Tree Frog (Litoria gracilenta), Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

Kereru with Puriri fruit, Goat Island, NZ

Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

Juvenile Green and Gold Bell Frog (Litoria aurea), Hamilton, NZ

Tuatara, Otorohanga NZ

Little things that run the world: Parasitic Wasps

The parasitoid wasp Telenomus podisi emerging from Euschistus servus stink bug eggs.  The wasp is about 2 mm in length. As she developed, she consumed the bug inside the egg.  Both the wasp and the host stink bug egg are native to the Eastern U.S.

Parasitoids differ from other parasitic organisms in that they kill their hosts as a normal part of their life cycle.  Because many are quite small they often go unnoticed, however, their degree of importance in ecosystems far outweighs their diminutive size.  Parasitoids can be important for controlling populations of their hosts, and as such they can be great drivers of evolution of defensive behaviors and forms:

Defensive behavior: A Costa Rican stink bug in the genus Loxa defends her eggs by standing over them.  She will use her hind legs to deliver a sharp kick to any intruders; enough to startle a human or send a small parasitoid careening through the air.

Defensive form? All stink bug eggs have micropylar processes - a ring of tubes that allow sperm and oxygen to enter the egg.  Those of Podisus maculiventris are very long, forming a spiky crown around each egg.  I wonder if they serve an additional purpose in interfering with the movement of small parasitic wasps among the eggs.

Because parasitoid wasps are so effective at reducing populations of their hosts, they can be very useful for providing control of pest species.  When one organism is used to control another, this is termed biological control.  Current research is investigating certain parasitoid wasps as potential biological control control agents for the brown marmorated stink bug.

The brown marmorated stink bug is a familiar pest because of its annoying habit of hiding out in houses during the winter months.  Unknown to many, it causes huge losses in agricultural systems and negatively affects the environment; farmers must spray more pesticides to control stink bugs.  Researchers hope parasitoid wasps in the genus Trissolcus (a relative of the Telenomus wasp pictured above) will be able to provide control of the brown marmorated stink bug, without being a hazard for native stink bugs and ecosystem function.  Because of the close relationship that many parasitoids share with their hosts, many will not attack other species.

Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug.  Originally from Asia, this insect is a serious agricultural pest and a nuisance pest in buildings.  It is broadly distributed and has a growing range in the U.S. and worldwide.

New Zealand: Land of the long...

A New Zealand Stick Insect, probably in the genus Acanthoxyla.  All species in this genus are entirely parthenogenetic; populations consist only of females that reproduce asexually.

Moving to a new part of the world is a big adjustment, and perhaps particularly so for a biologist.  Getting used to the New Zealand culture has been a minor adjustment, but finding myself surrounded with species and ecosystems that are mostly unfamiliar to me has been a much bigger change.

For me, a walk through the woods, or 'bush' in New Zealand is a bit like reading poetry in French (Je ne parle pas français).  I know that it is beautiful, and recognize things here and there, but still have a lot of learning to do to fully understand what I am seeing.

Despite the learning curve, I have been doing some exploring and photography.  I don't have enough images yet to tie together a biologically relevant theme - but I have noticed one trend in my photos: animals of unusual size.  The Māori name for this land is Aotearoa, "the land of the long white cloud," but judging from my photo library, this is also "the land of the long invertebrates."  Here are a few of the lengthy critters I have come across thus far:

A male sheetweb spider in the family Stiphidiidae.  These can be quite large spiders, the leg span on this one was at least 6 cm, and... wow!  Hey there, mandibles!

 New Zealand has a number of amazing spiders (more of those on the way!)  Some of the most impressive are the sheetweb spiders.  They are quite common in bush fragments with native plants.  Their complex webs are often seen at the bases of large trees, with the spiders hiding out nearby during the day.  This large sheetweb was found high up a tree by a researcher climbing in the canopy.  They can be a bit startling at first, but of course, I find them quite beautiful!

Many of the caterpillars I've been finding in New Zealand are long, twig-mimicking geometrids, or 'inchworms'

As we've discussed previously, many caterpillars are 'masters of disguise,' hiding themselves from hungry birds and other animals that would like to find a high-protein snack.  The moth family Geometridae are the best of the best when it comes to hiding in plain sight, and a number of the new Zealand fauna are excellent when it comes to pretending to be a stick (although the stick insect at the top of this post may give them a run for their money).

Not all animals take the hiding approach.  This lovely yellow terrestrial flatworm isn't hiding from anybody - and I suspect that the bright color would be followed by a nasty taste, although I didn't have a bite to find out.

A bright yellow terrestrial flatworm, around 15 cm long.  Terrestrial flatworms are predators;  they eat other invertebrates including slugs and earthworms.  I haven't been able to find out much about this species, but it may be an introduced species from Australia.

One of the New Zealand insects that I was most looking forward to seeing was the New Zealand Giraffe Weevil.  There was no mistaking it:

The New Zealand Giraffe Weevil Lasiorynchus barbicornis (Brentidae) is worthy of attention.  They can be over 8 cm (3 inches) long!

 These beetles have extreme sexual dimorphism; the males are  much larger than the females.  These males fight each other for opportunities to mate with females, with the largest males usually having the upper hand.  However, there is a notable exception to the rule: the male pictured here is relatively small: closer to the size of a female than to a large male.  Rather than being a fighter, this male is probably a 'sneaker' who will mate with females without being noticed by large males, even if they are mating right under their (long) noses.

This method of circumventing that seem to be the normal rules of engagement is what biologists call an 'alternative mating strategy,' and similar sneaking behaviors have been recorded in many animals from insects, to fish, to orangutans.  It would be really cool to know if the smaller males have similar success rates to larger males when it comes to fertilizing eggs; for many insects, the act of copulation is only half the battle when it comes to passing genes along.

My, what a long nose you have, Lasiorynchus barbicornis

More adventures in Aotearoa to follow!

Kia ora New Zealand!

In just over one month, Aotearoa will be my new home!

The blogging has been slow lately, but I promise it is for a good reason!  My wife has accepted a Ph.D. position at the University of Waikato, and we are preparing for a move to New Zealand!  Kiri (whose name is Māori) will be studying urban restoration ecology and I am excited to go on this adventure with her.

As you can see on the map, New Zealand is geographically isolated - and it has been for a looooong time.  Because of this, a number of animals have evolved there that are drastically different from anything that can be found elsewhere in the world.  The only native mammals on the islands are bats, so many other creatures fill the ecological roles that would more typically be filled by something furrier.  One group that I am particularly looking forward to meeting again are the wetas:

A tree weta in the family Anostostomatidae

These insects look a bit like crickets, but they are in their own different family - to an entomologist like me that automatically makes them cool.  On an island with no rodents, these guys evolved to fill the ecological role (or niche) of mice and rats!  Accordingly, some are very large:

Giant weta... babies.  Photo credit: Kiri Cutting

Now that's what I'm talking about!
  Deinacrida sp. Giant Weta, New Zealand. Photo credit: Kiri Cutting

Unfortunately, each group of humans that reached the New Zealand islands brought new invasive species with them, including rats and stoats which have destroyed populations of wetas and many other New Zealand endemic species.  Some species have only persisted because of the relative safety of offshore islands.  This is the case for the tuatara:

Male tuatara, New Zealand  Photo credit: Kiri Cutting

Tuatara look like lizards but they are a separate, ancient, and unique group.  They did just fine until humans added a bunch of species to their home.  Recently, researchers have had some success reintroducing them to parts of mainland New Zealand that have been painstakingly cleared of introduced mammals.  Kiri had an opportunity to help out with a tuatara study a few years ago:

My kind of woman.  Photo credit: unknown

 These are just a few of the unique and wonderful things that I hope to see over our next few years in New Zealand.  I'm looking forward to sharing more photos from the "Land of the Long White Cloud"

See you in 2013!

Pandorus Sphinx

Eumorpha pandorus

When insect photography goes bad

The beautiful tachinid fly Trichopoda pennipes, cooked medium-rare a la torchiere

 Trichopoda pennipes is a parasitic fly that attacks true bugs, and is the particular dipteran responsible for 'death by maggot'.  In addition to devouring leaf-footed bugs from the inside, this Halloween-colored insect also attacks stink bugs, and has been used as a biological control agent for some species in Europe.  For some time now I've been wanting to get a picture of these 'feather-legged flies' laying eggs on stink bugs, and so was delighted to catch a mating pair this afternoon.

Unfortunately, Trichopoda like many insects exhibits a behavior that entomologists call "positive phototaxis."  This is the same behavior that draws a moth to a flame, or as it were, a pair of flies to a 300-watt halogen floor lamp.  As soon as I opened the container both flies spiraled upward with Icarus-like disregard, achieving results comparable to the myth.  Alas, rather than the oviposition action shot I had hoped for, we are left with this photo of another upside-down insect.

Her mate, I am afraid, fared even worse and could not be salvaged at all.  Consequently, it smells of charbroiled death in here, and I am inspired to retire for the evening.

The martha of all butterflies

Live your wildest dreams with Martha - that is if you, like me, dream of B.O.U.S.s (Butterflies of unusual size)

Want to bring all the splendor of a summer meadow into your bedroom? Well apparently you can with the new...GADZOOKS THOSE ARE HUGE!

I doubt very much that Martha consulted her entomologist before publishing this advertisement.  Not only do mutated butterflies adorn the wall, but also multiple size variants of what looks like Urania ripheus - a cool day flying moth from Madagascar.  The scene recalls to mind the classic tabloid headline: "Farmer shoots 6-ft. butterfly!"

Thanks to my grandmother for thoughtfully putting this advert aside for me!

Way to go...

Stiretrus anchorago the Anchor Stink Bug, in copula, with a twist.

 The anchor stink bug is a predatory pentatomid species that is found in Delaware, but looks very little like a stink bug at first glance.  While taking care of a lab colony of these bugs this mating pair caught my attention.  I was soon amazed to see that the female was upside down, or I suppose she was right side up depending on your perspective.  I soon realized the cause of this bizarre mating arrangement:

um, was it good for you?

That's right - I'm not sure this was a consensual act, or perhaps accepting this male was the female's last earthly act.  Either way, this is the first incidence of insect necrophilia that I have ever witnessed.  I suppose that wont do much for the male's reproductive success - especially if this is indicative of his mate preferences in the future.

NMW: The Exploding Moth

a pretty cool looking ctenuchine moth...

Finishing up a splendid National Moth Week,  I give you 'the exploding moth!'  It may not compare to fireworks or the exploding genitalia of male honeybees, but it is still pretty impressive.  When a student first grabbed one in Costa Rica, he was startled to find his hand covered with a sticky foam-like material.

... with an even cooler behavior

The 'foam' is actually a mass of filaments that are laced with toxic chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids.  The male moth collects these chemicals from the surface of plants that produce them and in doing so it incurs protection from spiders and other predators.  These filmaents (collectively called flocculent) are very light and it seems that even the slightest puff of air scatters it everywhere:

Flocculent containing toxic chemicals deters predators

 Perhaps most interestingly, the male moth releases filaments as part of courtship and covers his mate with the flocculent, providing her (and her eggs) with chemical defense against predators.

Thanks to Anthony Deczynski for pointing out this unique behavior to me.

NMW: Saddleback Caterpillar

Acharia stimulea the saddleback caterpillar, Delaware

There are two methods for finding the saddleback caterpillar.  The first is careful searching of a variety of its plant hosts, looking for evidence of feeding and flipping leaves over to see the larvae.  The second method is to put on a pair of shorts from 1982 and stride confidently through shrubby vegetation until you feel the caterpillar.  Like many other species in the family Limacodidae, the saddleback's spines will deliver a painful sting - I have (accidentally) encountered many of them this way.

The Limacodidae are called the 'slug caterpillars' because their prolegs (the grippy legs at the rear) are modified into one big pad.  Members of this group also have turtle-style retractable heads, which I think contribute to their exotic appearance.  This video might show you what I mean:

NMW: Masters of Disguise

Do you see anything unusual on these blazing star flowers?

How about now?

 

For most caterpillars, life is about 4 things:
eat
poop
grow
don't get eaten.

That last one is a doozy - caterpillars make up a huge portion of the diet of most songbirds.  There is a lot of pressure to not be seen.  Nothing does 'I'm not here' better than the Camouflaged Looper, Synchlora aerata.

Theses little loopers are quite common, but it took me years of looking to finally see one.  The larva snips off pieces of the plant that it is eating and uses silk to attach tiny bouquets to its back, taking on the very color and texture of its host plant.  As generalists, they feed on a wide variety of host plants and therefore come in a rainbow of colors, I have featured them in orange, green, and purple, and they have become a favorite of mine to photograph.  The adult is a delightful emerald moth:

 

As with so many things; patience is the secret for finding these guys.  I find flowers on known host plants and simply stare at them from different angles until one of the blossoms wiggles or poops.  It happens more often than you might imagine!

NMW: Moth Fashion!

Who knew fur leg warmers could be so fashionable in the tropics?

National Moth Week continues with some bold fashion accessories demonstrating the amazing diversity of this group.

  The moth above is from Costa Rica.  I can only guess why it has evolved leg warmers - except that I severely doubt they are for warming legs.  Maybe they are for brushing away would be attackers, or dampening bat sonar?  They could be for putting the moves on a female, or they might work great for blending in on my dog (again very unlikely).  It's a mystery for now.  Any ideas?

Sphingidae, Costa Rica

Sphinx moths are pretty speedy on the wing - but this one looks fast just sitting still.  With the swept wings and the tail fin - it's hard to look at it without the 'Top Gun' theme song popping into your head.

Adult moths aren't the only ones with intense ornamentation, caterpillars are often just as striking as their adult counterparts.  The Costa Rican Saturniid below is covered in spines that may make it difficult for a parasitoid fly or wasp to land and lay an egg.  At the same time bright colors advertise to larger predators that the spines are capable of delivering a painful sting.

The Delaware native paddle caterpillar below also employs it's adornments for defense against parasitoids.  When touched, the caterpillar thrashes its head from side to side, sending the 'paddles' flailing wildly - a formidable challenge for a small wasp.  Instead of stinging, the caterpillar (larva of the funerary dagger moth) hides out during the day doing its best impression of bird poop.

Acronicta funeralis

Our last fashion victim is horned spanworm or filament bearer.  The tentacles may help disguise the caterpillar as a dead leaf, but then bothered, they expend to twice their normal length.  It is one of the most bizarre caterpillars I have yet to encounter:

Nematocampa resistaria, Delaware

NMW: Think Pink! The Rosy Maple Moth

Dryocampa rubicunda the 'green striped mapleworm' feeds gregariously in its early life stages

Have you ever seen a moth that was so bright pink that you thought it couldn't possibly be real?  I have been seeing beautiful adult rosy maple moths at our porch light from time to time but had not come across caterpillars before Kiri brought these to my attention (she is on a roll!)  I took one home and provided it with fresh Acer rubrum leaves until if pupated:

 You can clearly see the outline of feathery antennae on the head (right) side of the pupa.  For some reason it is still always a little shocking to me when pupae move around - this guy was particularly wiggly!

The adult is pretty small for being in the family of 'giant silk moths' but what it lacks in size it makes up for in vibrant colors!  The heavy bodied moths tend to sit pretty still when at rest; when one of my neighbors asked 'is that really real?' prodding the moth into movement wasn't all that convincing.

They are indeed real, and just one of the many species of fascinating moths that can be found right here in Delaware!

 Dryocampa rubicunda

NMW: Some Costa Rican Moths

Scape moth, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Kicking off National Moth Week with a quick sample of moth beauty and diversity!  Finding these moths was as easy as turning on a light.  In parts of Costa Rica where natural areas abound, these moths showed up under a porch light within minutes of it's being switched on:

There is a downside to the attraction to lights.  In places where the lights never go off some moths will be content with bashing against the bulb until they perish, rather than flying off to find a mate.  That's right: some moths like porch lights better than sex.  All-night lights can hurt local moth populations, so it's best to turn that porch light off when you're finished.  In the meanwhile, enjoy these beauties that stop by to check it out:

Hieroglyphic Moth Diphthera festiva.  No, google, I did not mean to type "Diptheria festival."  Yikes!

This one might blend in well on a mossy tree, or the eye-spots might spook a would-be predator

Can't go wrong with a red bow-tie

What an impressive Ctenuchine!  Many of these guys are wasp mimics - this one is a bit over the top!

Eat your heart out butterflies!  Moths can be just as colorful!

 That's just the smallest taste of what moth diversity has to offer!  Check out more at the National Moth Week website, and stay tuned for some local leps!