Date Added
March 16, 2023
01:17 PM UTC
Date Added
February 2, 2024
10:47 PM -03
Date Added
July 19, 2017
08:35 AM CDT
Date Added
March 14, 2017
01:32 PM CST
Date Added
June 9, 2020
06:43 AM EDT
Date Added
March 3, 2023
07:32 PM SAST
Date Added
February 26, 2023
09:25 AM -03
Date Added
February 1, 2023
06:16 PM EST
Date Added
September 12, 2019
10:03 AM EDT
Date Added
February 26, 2023
03:18 PM MSK
Date Added
February 26, 2023
03:18 PM MSK
Date Added
October 1, 2022
10:10 AM SAST
Date Added
May 2, 2022
11:27 AM UTC
Date Added
May 3, 2022
12:08 PM SAST
Date Added
September 11, 2022
05:36 AM SAST
Description
@richyfourtytwo and @beetledude, I have made my plan. Apologies for the delay. All individuals shown here were from one colony found feeding on "pupating" larvae of the gregarious Megaleruca on a white stinkwood trunk.
The main larval differences that I could observe when comparing the larvae of Harmonia axyridis (H.a) and larvae of Harmonia vigintiduomaculata (H.v), are the following:
(Pls. ignore the possible grossly wrong or misguided terminology I am using, but I think you will know what I am referring to when looking at the photographs while reading my descriptions).
- In H.v there are yellow markings on the lateral lobes of the first four abdominal segments, and in H.a on the first five. Note, in some H.a larvae I have noticed that the lobes of the fifth abdominal segment contains duller yellow markings which may complicate comparisons - it may look that there are no markings. Younger individuals may also display duller yellow and/or white markings or the markings may be completely missing. H.v may also have yellow markings on the ventro-lateral sides of abdominal segments one to four, I have not seen these yellow markings in H.a yet.
- In H.a there are yellow (sometimes very light yellow or whitish) markings on the two dorsal lobes of the first, fourth and fifth abdominal segments. There are no such markings on the dorsal lobes of H.v (this may be the most obvious and usable difference between the two species).
- In addition to the lateral abdominal and thoracic white markings, mature larvae of H.v also have clear white markings on the inside dorso-lateral prothorax and dorsal mesothorax. H.a may have faint and/or much smaller white markings on the dorsal metathorax, but markings on the dorsal or dorso-lateral pro-and mesothorax are mostly absent.
- A problem may arise when there are dramatic variation between populations (I only photographed one population). Another problem may arise when we inspect and compare these two species with the larvae of other species, e.g. Harmonia quadripunctata - I do not think we have any verified images of larvae of the latter species, maybe they are similar to H.a and/or H.v.
- The adults of H.v occur in two distinct different forms (relating to the markings on the elytra), but adult differences is not the objective of this post (I have included them both in this posting for reference anyway - all from the same population).
- All iNat observations of H.v so far were from the eastern coastal areas, my observation was in Pretoria - am I missing something, another species?
- Maybe some kind taxonomist want to completely rewrite my "larval descriptions" above - I will not object.
Date Added
September 15, 2022
08:55 AM SAST
Date Added
August 11, 2011
07:05 PM EAT
Description
This guttoral toad was being consumed by a beautiful Rhombic night adder (Causus rhombeatus) in the Langata forest of Nairobi National Park at about 10 am when we came across it in the middle of the road during a park clean up organized by Friends of Nairobi Park (FoNNaP). Our presence disrupted the snakes breakfast. I got both identified by Patrick Malonza at National Museums of Kenya
Date Added
September 8, 2022
03:33 PM EDT
Date Added
September 7, 2022
10:32 PM SAST
Date Added
September 6, 2022
12:54 AM EDT
Date Added
September 6, 2022
06:39 PM SAST
Date Added
March 27, 2021
08:16 AM SAST
Date Added
February 2, 2018
03:16 PM PST
Date Added
January 13, 2021
05:02 AM HST
Date Added
April 24, 2020
03:37 PM UTC
Description
Found dead in our garden.
Date Added
April 19, 2020
04:37 PM UTC
Date Added
April 24, 2020
06:16 AM SAST
Date Added
April 24, 2020
12:03 AM SAST
Date Added
February 3, 2020
05:37 PM UTC
Date Added
February 1, 2020
06:56 AM SAST
Date Added
January 30, 2020
10:30 AM SAST
Description
Catching and eating a large Nyala calf!
Date Added
December 20, 2015
03:04 PM SAST
Description
Plant growing on water^s edge
Growing in a shady area, on the edge of the water stream near the dam. It grows approx. 1.5m high
Date Added
April 15, 2019
12:29 PM SAST
Description
5 km from the river mouth of the Sand river. A surprise visitor
Date Added
April 11, 2019
07:54 AM SAST
Date Added
March 28, 2019
01:49 PM HST
Date Added
March 31, 2019
03:48 AM EDT
Description
We saw dozens. A few on land, mostly in the water.
What
Capybara
(Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
Date Added
March 30, 2019
05:05 AM -03
Date Added
March 29, 2019
05:31 PM -03
Date Added
March 24, 2019
06:11 PM -03
Description
Observados dos ejemplares juntos.
Date Added
February 3, 2019
07:30 PM -03
Date Added
April 5, 2017
10:54 PM -03
Date Added
July 18, 2018
11:52 PM CDT
Date Added
April 13, 2018
07:36 PM CDT
Date Added
March 24, 2019
06:14 PM SAST
Date Added
March 11, 2019
02:48 PM HST
Date Added
March 9, 2019
01:51 PM SAST
Date Added
March 9, 2019
06:05 PM SAST
Date Added
October 31, 2014
10:06 AM SAST
Description
How to verklik slange - Montagu WCape
Karoo robins have different calls and displays and ways of dealing with different snake species.
Boomslange are followed and pecked and shouted at (pic 1).
Puffadders get a wingflick display. The robins hold out the wings and literally herd the snake out of their comfort zone. Puffadders really don't like this display and immediately change course away from the imposing robin. The robins don't call much. (rest of the pics)
Cobras get the full hysterical treatment - incessant alarm calls and annoying dive-bombing.
Date Added
March 5, 2019
04:09 PM HST
Date Added
January 14, 2019
11:26 AM CAT
Description
Old shot,taken 10 years ago, but despite many visits to Rietvlei Nature Reserve since then, we never saw there a serval again...
Date Added
March 12, 2017
08:14 PM SAST
Description
The Waterkloof Giant (Pta)
271 The Waterkloof Giant - Largest landmark tree of the eastern Pretoria suburbs. Remnant of a plantation taken over by suburban development. - Waterkloof Primary School Pretoria Gauteng S 25º 46' 40.7600'' E 28º 14' 29.1700'' Height: 34 Stem size: 6.783 circ Crown size: 33.72 & 34.82 (* visit by appointment only* )
If you want to go and hug the tree then you would have to contact beforehand as it is on the school grounds. However it is almost next to the fence line and can easily be viewed from outside on the South-eastern corner (c/o Milner Street & Crown Avenue)
There are 2 trees standing next to each other, however the one closest to the buildings been by far the larger. (see last photo) The list mentions "tree", thus I presume it would be the larger and not both. The specs also only mention 1 trees dimensions
Date Added
February 22, 2019
07:54 PM CAT
Description
Common African Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)
I had not seen a chameleon for years, so was highly surprised to suddenly see one walking the lavender bushes.
So together we decided on a photoshoot of him/her where he/she also showed some colour tricks..
Date Added
February 22, 2019
09:29 PM SAST
Description
The capsule would not open even after 10 mins of sucking.
Date Added
December 21, 2018
05:12 AM SAST
Description
Awww
Tiny green tad-on-the-wall, with last of black tadpole tail still to absorb. Released in safer spot in garden.
Date Added
February 20, 2019
10:36 AM CAT
Description
yellow mongoose/cynictis penicillata
Date Added
May 22, 2017
08:04 AM PDT
Description
In tandem... on the head of an aquatic Garter snake. Awkward for all parties involved.
Date Added
July 16, 2018
07:00 AM CDT
Date Added
February 15, 2019
05:57 PM SAST
Date Added
January 7, 2018
01:58 PM SAST