Mystery Creature

Peacock spider

Peacock spider

nao

Week 15th – 22nd April

Did you guess this weeks CAN YOU NAME THIS CREATURE?  It is a PEACOCK SPIDER!!  Well done to Michael from Nature Learn and to Sonja Koprek for getting it right!

photo credit: Jurgen Otto via photopin cc
photo credit: Jurgen Otto via photopin cc

What is not apparent from the photo above is the size of these spiders, they are tiny, growing to no bigger than 5mm!  It is only the males that have this splendidly coloured stomach flap… the females are brown in colour with black markings.  When the male spots a female it raises it’s legs and flashes it’s brightly coloured flap in an unusual dance like sequence…. a spectacular mating ritual!There are about 20 know species of peacock spiders but less than half of them have been formally identified!  This one is the Coastal Peacock spider (Maratus specious).  Peacock spiders are found in south eastern Australia they are also know as gliding spiders and are a type of jumping spider.

Yeti Crab

Yeti Crab

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Week 8th – 14th April

Did you manage to guess last weeks CAN YOU NAME THIS CREATURE? …. I got two correct answers… from Dave at The Wedding Artist and from Michael at Nature Learn; Well done because it was a tricky one I thought.

So what was it?  It was a YETI CRAB (Kiwa hirsuta)… a deep sea crustacean newly discovered in 2005.

photo credit: ditzywolflady via photopin cc
photo credit: ditzywolflady via photopin cc
These wonderful looking creatures are deep sea dwellers.  The are found on the ocean floor off Easter Island.  It is thought that the “fur” on their legs might actually trap bacteria given off by hydrothermal vents.
In 2006 another species of yeti crab (Kiwa puravide) was discovered off the coast of Costa Rica, living in deep methane filed fissures.
Bacteria were also found on the silky hairs of the Kiwa purivida and it is thought that the crab literally farms the bacteria on the hairs of it legs, feeding them, maintaining them and ultimately harvesting and eating them.  It is likely that bacteria on the Kiwa hirsuta arrive at a similar fate!
Farming food on their own bodies…another marvel of nature!
The Thorn bug

The Thorn bug

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Week 1st – 7th April 2013

Did you guess this weeks CAN YOU NAME THIS CREATURE?

I got some correct responses…. it was a thorn bug ( a treehopper).  These bugs can be found on all continents except Antartica.  As you can see from the photo, they are excellent mimics of thorns on the plants and trees on which they feed.

photo credit: mmmavocado via photopin cc
photo credit: mmmavocado via photopin cc

These thorn-like protrusions on their backs act as a wonderful camouflage to prevent detection by predators.  They also act as protective armour if attacked.  These insects cut into the stem of the plant and feed on its sap.  The females of most species cut into the bark to lay their eggs and often sit on their eggs to protect them.  In some species there is even collaborative egg minding between females!

Another of nature’s wonderful creations!

Lacewing Larva

Lacewing Larva

nao

Week 25th – 31st March

Last weeks “can you name this creature?” image was supplied by Molly, who is ten years old.  Molly spotted this in her garden and, with the help of her Dad, Michael at Nature Learn, has shared it with me for this slot.  A big thanks to Molly!!

Lacewing larva – photo credit Michael and Molly Bell

So did anyone guess what creature this is?

It is a LACEWING LARVA!  A hard one this week I know, but we did give you some good clues!
I thought Molly did particularly well to spot this little guy as they only grow to between four to seven mm in length!

So now you know what it is do you want to learn some more?

These lacewing larva are a welcome addition to any garden as they like to dine on soft bodied insects, particularly aphids!  They like to hang out in humid environments and can be a great gardening aid to any greenhouse or poly tunnel!  They also feast on the eggs of certain other insects and spiders, as well as mites and mealy bugs.  All in all a real asset to the garden!

Although the larva stage does not last more than two to three weeks these little guys certainly have a big appetite …. consuming up to 600 aphids during this period.  The larva must make direct contact with it’s prey… injecting digestive enzymes into it and sucking back up the digested body parts once the enzymes have done their work!

Lacewing larvae are also experts in the art of camouflage, they often cover their bodies in debris to hide them from predators.  This debris often includes bits of body parts from their own prey!