Africa Wild

Klippies!

Summer insects should be emerging now

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

A small butterfly, 3cm, Marloth end July:

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

New one

A longer tail pic:

Nice species, we need the upperside, too

Will try!

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.

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

Keep 'em coming

A small wasp/bee? 1cm

Emerging from a flower, Nelspruit