The Interesting Insects Thread

[somtamslap]

Here's where you can posts pics of interesting insects you might come across whilst going about your day. I think we tend after a while to take the things that live around us for granted; the gecko shatting on your computer screen, the frogs that sound like they are constantly letting rip very impressive breakages of wind and the praying mantis that will come to rest on your bottle of lager just before you pick it up to take a swig.

Let's appreciate these little bastards by photographing them.

Unfortunately all I have to work with at the moment is a Nokia telephone, so no prizes for best photograph coming from this computer.

BUT..I'll kick things off with this beast. Noticed it in my garden when my dog's seemed overly occupied with the floor.

I've worked in the Thai jungle and thought I'd seen pretty much all the creepy crawlies that this place had to offer until I saw this thing..

Picked it up on a stick and took a snap of its arse, which is where the glow emitted..



This gives an idea of the size..



One more snap before I popped it back..



When it was on the move its head protruded like a snails and it moved quite rapidly..in comparison to a snail anyway.

Google won't tell me what it is...anyone know?

[pescator]

This excellent site run by an enthusiastic entomologist may come up with a suggestion.

Thailand's amazing insects photographed in the forests around Chiang Mai


Here is my contribution. Hornet and tarantula spotted in Koh Kood in Trat. Tarantula none too happy I reckon.
I wont cash in any prizes for the quality of the photo, the hornet was extremely aggressive when I tried to move in for a close up. I guess I should not try to come between a predator and it`s prey.

[slackula]

Got this while back, not particularly unusual but the colours were lovely:

[somtamslap]

^^ Very nice effort. Got anymore?

The best battle I've seen over here was a python fighting a monitor lizard. I was about 50 metres away when I saw the fracas infront of me..it was very quick. the python reeled up and made itself very tall but the lizard quickly bit its head off, spectacular thing to witness first hand.. unfortunately my didn't have a camera with me, but probably would've been too slow anyway.

[pescator]

If you will excuse me for posting a picture not shot by me, I would like to bring a picture of the hummingbird moth.
Those buggers are simply too fast for me to capture with a photograph.

I first encountered this interesting creature in Koh Chang in `97. I was firmly convinced it was a hummingbird - little knowing at the time that there are no hummingbirds in Asia
This creature moves with lightening speed in spite of the fact that is moth. Displaying the same features as the hummingbird. It sucks nectar and the flowers of the papaya seems to have to be their favourite.

I am still hoping to get a shot of one of those.

[somtamslap]

^^ Nice pic Slack, your right, beautiful colours..

[withnallstoke]

A sink monster.

[pescator]

Beetle from Chao Lao Beach in Chanthaburi.

[somtamslap]

^^ no, that's the greater spotted 'face sucker'. Fortunately no spiders capable of killing in Thailand, or so they say.

[pescator]

Black scorpion at Traitrat beach in Patong Bay.

[slackula]

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Nice pic Slack, your right, beautiful colours..

Thank you kindly, and well played for a great thread idea so many interesting things fly/walk/crawl in on a fairly frequent basis!

For identification help may I humbly recommend Thailand's amazing insects photographed in the forests around Chiang Mai

The site has surely been mentioned before, but the maintainer of it has a fantastic database of pictures and info on the interesting insects here.

[withnallstoke]

Sunbathing

[withnallstoke]

The body is about 3 inches long, and the back legs and proboscis about an inch or so longer.

[slackula]

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Very nice effort. Got anymore?

Not really interesting, but I liked the colours:



This one was also nice



A dragonfly, hard to get a sharp pic because I am very new to using a dSLR, all the buttons confuse me..

[somtamslap]

Nice pics, Slackie. Make my initial effort of a slug with lights coming out of its arse look at bit shit really

[withnallstoke]

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Make my initial effort of a slug with lights coming out of its arse look at bit shit really

Maybe so. Bet slackula can't order pizza with the camera though.

(Nice pics slackula. Anchove on the double cheese?)

[StrontiumDog]

No pic sadly, but saw a millipede, about 6-7 inches long in downtown Bangkok the other day. Lived here for a while and had never seen anything so exotic before!

[slackula]

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Nice pics, Slackie. Make my initial effort of a slug with lights coming out of its arse look at bit shit really

Not at all! I'll take a pic of slug with a dayglo arse anytime over my snaps! As I said before, great idea for a fun thread. I like to poke around the back of my house with the camera but so far I never found any place to bung the pics up.

[slackula]

I have cool looking flying thingy that came in tonight. It is probably abut 1.75 inches long and maybe 2.5 across when his wings are out.

It is sort of similar to the hummingbird moth upthread, except it doesn't have the lobes at the back of the wings but I guess they may be tucked up underneath or something. From a distance it looks exactly like a frog or toad when resting. The colouration is great, amazing camouflage.

Sorry for the quality of the pics, I don't have a decent flash and the bug takes off when I get too close:

[somtamslap]

Blimey Slackie, you've stumbled upon Thailand's best kept military secret there..on his way to the Cambodian border to plant a few incendiary devices no doubt