Insect or Invertebrates Identification - DONE

[Richprins]

Klippies!

[Klipspringer]

Summer insects should be emerging now

[Richprins]

They are, but we are behind on the production line, Klippies!

A small butterfly, 3cm, Marloth end July:

[Klipspringer]

Tailed Black-eye Leptomyrina hirundo. It has very long white tails

New one

[Richprins]

A longer tail pic:

[Klipspringer]

Nice species, we need the upperside, too

[Richprins]

Will try!

[Klipspringer]

Many butterlfies have filamentous "tails" at the ends of their wings and eye-patterns of markings on the wings themselves. These combine to create a "false head". This misdirects predators such as birds and jumping spiders. Spectacular examples occur in the Lycaenid butterflies; when perching on a twig or flower, they commonly do so upside down and shift their rear wings repeatedly, causing antenna-like movements of the "tails" on their wings. Studies of rear-wing damage support the hypothesis that this strategy is effective in deflecting attacks from the insect's head.

[ExFmem]

Some of my favorite specimens from my (dark days) of collecting, are the "hairstreaks". Gorgeous butterflies with impressive tails.

Keep 'em coming

[Richprins]

A small wasp/bee? 1cm

Emerging from a flower, Nelspruit