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rattyexplores · 9 months

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Giant Scale Insect

I got a bit of a shock when I saw this thing.

At first I thought it might've been the larva of those big leaf beetles I found. Was very surprised to discover it was a scale insect.

Unidentified, genus Monophlebulus

28/03/23

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sixteenseveredhands · 5 months

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Vida's Sheep Jumping Spider: researchers believe that these tiny spiders developed their "woolly" appearance as a way to mimic lacewing larvae or scale insects

The scientific name for this species is Oviballus vidae, but it has also been referred to as the "sheepy jumping spider" or "Vida's jumping spider." It was discovered in 2015, and first described (in a formal context) back in 2020.

As this article (PDF) describes:

Recently, two new salticids, R. legitima and Oviballus vidae were described from South Africa, and suggested to be mimics of either scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) or lacewing larvae (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), due to their white colouration and the presence of peculiar tufts of white setae on the body.

The possibility of [scale insects] being the model is supported by Oviballus vidae being regularly collected from plants with woolly scales, although the movements of O. vidae quite closely resemble those of chrysopid larvae.

In fact, a fourth species of possible scale mimic, a new Rhene species, was recently discovered in a collection of salticids from southern Mozambique, indicating that this phenomenon may be more widespread than has previously been known or even suspected.

O. vidae was named after Vida van der Walt, the photographer who captured some of the first images of these spiders back in 2015, just after the species was discovered by Dr. Galina Azarkina. Vida van der Walt also took the photographs that appear in this post.

Sources & More Info:

Arthropoda Selecta (scientific journal): Rediscovery and Redescription of Rhene cooperi, another possible mimic of scale insects (PDF)

Spider Club of South Africa: Two New Species Named After SA Photographer (PDF, with the relevant info on page 5)

Field Guide to the Spiders of South Africa: Section on Vida's Sheep Jumping Spider

#arachnology #jumping spider #oviballus vidae #mimicry #cute bugs #animal facts #lacewing larvae #scale insects #south africa #wildlife #cute spider #sheep jumping spider #arthropods #cw spiders #but it's a really fluffy spider

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sandpaperoctopi · 2 months

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mealybug angel who visited my computer screen

#art #illustration #animals #bugs #insects #hemiptera #scale insects #nature

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apsciencebydan · 3 months

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One day I'm going to make a Wax Scale Dessert: a cap of meringue covering a nugget of Turkish Delight. Just a delicate little bite.

#nature #animals #photography #bugblr #science #invertebrates #entomology #scale insects

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jenfoundabug · 4 months

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I discovered these interesting scale insects on my prickly pear cactus (opuntia).

It turns out these are cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus), the source of the natural dye carmine. You can see some of this pigment in the third picture (purple splotch) where the bugs may have been injured. Carmine, aka crimson lake, is frequently found in cosmetics (blush and lipstick) and food (ice cream, yogurt, soft drinks, sausage, and candy). Farming these bugs began as early as 700 BC in South America, and carmine has been used by many indigenous cultures to dye textiles and create artwork.

While mature females are about 25% carminic acid, it still takes tens of thousands of them to produce one pound of pigment.

If I get enough of these, I may try making some dye myself XD

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rjalker · 4 months

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Look at these mysterious little insects. Found in Savannah Georgia on southern magnolias and small flower pawpaws (Asimina parviflora).

According to one person on inaturalist these are false oleander scales and they're supposedly only found in Europe.

So did they get over here somehow or is this a different species?

#undescribed images #bugs #insects #scale insects #false oleander scale

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by-jessica-achillea · 2 months

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How to Safely Treat Your Home and Plants of Irritating Pests

In this comprehensive article, we will dive into pests that commonly afflict houseplants, from tiny aphids to stubborn spider mites, providing you with organic, natural strategies and easy to understand tips to identify, prevent, and eradicate these nuisances. Get ready to reclaim your indoor oasis and have a pest-free environment in your home again! According the U.S. Environmental Protection…

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#Aphids #Gnats #houseplant #houseplants #Indoor plant #Indoor plants #Leaf miners #Mealybugs #Neem #Neem oil #Scale insect #Scale insects #Spider mites #White flies

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shpepyao · 3 months

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Thats a lot of shiny iridescent critters lately! Custom for beeblebobble from TH

#creature design #character design #oc #original character #anthropomorphic #anthro #monster #insectoid #insect #bug #shiny #rainbow #iridescent #muscular #scales

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dinoserious · 1 month

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i don’t know if you take requests or not, but if you do i would love to see a tomato horn worm in your style! if not, thanks u anyways and i love ur art! always so awesome seeing funky bugs on my dash

i dont typically do requests, but ive had this ask sitting around for a bit AND its for a bug, so i finally thought it might be fun to do a lil somethin. heres your guys o7

#insect #bug #tomato hornworm #caterpillar #animal art #tomato vine and worm not to scale lol

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kiabugboy · 1 year

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Another carboniferous painting, going for something more stylized this time