An Encounter with the Elusive Desert Mantis in Maleha. Sharjah

Blending In! Perfectly camouflage in desert sand

This predator lies flat on the sand as it awaits potential prey

Its long and thin legs makes it extremely rapid and agile in sand

This mantis was trying to conceal itself on the desert sand and pebbles

Perfectly blending in the sand. Can you spot the mantis?

It was during our recent hike up the desert mountain trails of Maleha, after our search for desert owls and other birds. marching on the sand and stones, I observed something with a prominent head and eyes moving rapidly and trying to conceal itself on the small stones scattered along the surface of the desert sand.  Initially I thought it was a robberfly darting its way on the sand or a desert locust jumping among the stones.  But this insects was not flying and was not jumping. It was a very rapid and agile runner. I was totally surprised to see the rare and elusive, Desert Mantis!   

DESERT MANTIS, Eremiaphila brunneri (MANTODEA: EREMIAPHILIDAE)

This wingless mantis thrives well in the desert areas of the Middle East. It is a voracious predator, ambushing ants and small insects, grasping these critters with it spiked forelegs. Its a DIURNAL  insect, actively searching, hunting and waiting for its prey during the day.   

Due to the extreme environmental conditions where it lives. little information or studies have been conducted on this species.  

My chance encounter with this awesome predator is truly an awesome experience. Spotting them in the sand and stones of the desert was quite daunting! Hope to encounter this elusive predator again in my next desert exploration!  

 

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com 

 

An Encounter with Striped Mantis at the Wadi Al Munay, Hajjar Mountains, RAK

Stealth, streamline and speed best describes the Striped Mantis 

The cross-crossing stripes on its wings and the mottled pattern are key features

The agile and rapid raptorial front legs are its main armaments

The piercing eyes of a fearsome predator

Wielding its weapons for battle! En garde!

This awesome predator proved that it can be "handled" 

A nymph out in dry branches away from its hiding place

The young predator on the move

The young predator striking a pose on top of a rock

Its time for a little grooming - antennae cleaning moment!

This thick green and white desert bush serves as their hiding and hunting place

It was a cool and windy morning, perfect for an ascend unto the rocky foothills  at the Wadi Al Munay, Hajjar Mountains, RAK. From a thick green and white bush, I spotted something moving. I have learned to be extremely careful and mindful with moving objects in the desert vegetation. You might never know if its a snake, a scorpion or spider lurking in the bushes! Behold it was another creature designed for stealth - a perfectly camouflaged Striped Mantis! I got the chance to spot it, as it was moving away from its green and white cover unto a new branch it search for a suitable ambush site.   

THE STRIPED MANTIS, Blepharopsis mendica (MANTODEA: EMPUSIDAE)

The Stiped Mantis are large mantis species reaching up to 5 to 6cm. Bright green with white stripes making them perfectly camouflaged in desert vegetation. They have a large disc at the top of their prothorax that conceals their front legs. The front legs (raptorial legs) bear series of spikes that aid in the secure and rapid capture of prey.  

The males are more slender compared to the females with the tip of their wings reaching over the tip of the abdomen. The females are broader in size, with a wider prothorax with its wings just reaching the tip of the abdomen. Males have long feathery antennae. Females have long, thin antennae.

Nymphs looks similar in appearance and color patterns with the adults but lacks the functional wings and reproductive organs.  

This mantis is also called as the Devils Flower Mantis, Thistle Mantis and Arab Mantis. 

DISTRIBUTION of STRIPED MANTIS

The Striped Mantis is present in North Africa (Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Mauritania), the Middle East (Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates), South Asia (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan), the Mediterranean (Cyprus, Turkey) and the Canary Islands.

BIODYNAMICS NOTES

The Striped Mantis showcases a deimatic display wherein it will raise its wings and holds its forelegs sideways. This posture will make the mantis look very big and the bright colors much visible. This stand is meant to scare away predators.

Noted as fearsome predators, they are well camouflage in low vegetation in search for insects and spiders. They lie motionless in vegetation to ambush the prey that lands and pass by. This vicious attacks are carried out by its spiked forelegs.

The Striped Mantis are observed to be less aggressive compared with other mantis species. Wherein they tend to avoid larger organisms. However the females mantids can still attack and feed on the male during mating and feed on them (such a dangerous love affair).

Females can produced 10 to 400 eggs after mating. 

Adult lifespan can reach up to 10-12 months.   

I truly had an awesome time observing and photo capturing these awesome insect predators! I feel they also like to pose for my camera as I disturbed them from their secured vegetation hideaway.     

 

Awesome creature! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com 

 

An Encounter with the Dubia Cockroach in Umm Ramool, Dubai

The Dubia Cockroach, Blaptica dubia

Male Dubia cockroaches have fully developed wings 

Female Dubia cockroaches have short wing stubs

Adults are shiny black with the distinct orange markings

Females hiding inside a crevice 

A Dubia cockroach nymph

A nymph in a huddle with adult male Dubia cockroaches

More adult male and female Dubia cockroaches

This is NOT an albino cockroach but a newly molted male Dubia
 

It was during a site inspection at a warehouse facility in Umm Ramool, Dubai, that I got to encounter a large horde of cockroaches being reared inside a temperature controlled room. These cockroaches were reared not to be destined for use in pesticide trials or medical experiments but actually being fed and  bred to be food for other animals. Another awesome thing I discovered, is that these cockroaches originated from South America. I encountered the popular feeder insect species, the Dubia cockroach, Blaptica dubia.       

DUBIA COCKROACH, Blaptica dubia (BLATTODEA: BLABERIDAE)

The Dubia cockroach is also called the Orange-spotted cockroach, Guyna orange-spotted cockroach and Argentinian wood roach.

Adult Dubia cockroaches are dark brown to shiny black with light orange markings. They can reach 40-45mm long. 

Sexual dimorphism is exhibited by the adult males and females. Males have wings that reaches the full length of their body which extends beyond its abdomen. Females do not have fully developed wings instead they posses reduced wing stubs (called tegmina). 

Nymphs are smaller, grayish in color with the distinct light colored markings. 

DISTRIBUTION of DUBIA COCKROACH

The Dubia cockroach originated from South America namely from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

BIODYNAMICS NOTES

The female Dubia cockroaches are ovoviviparous. They lay an ootheca, pull it back into themselves to incubate it internally and later give birth to live nymphs. The nymphs that hatch inside the female can reach up to 20-40 nymphs. They undertake 7 instars. depending on food and temperature nymphal development can take 4-6 months. Adult lifespan is 1-2 years.   

The Dubia cockroach is a frugivorous insect, preferring to feed mainly on tropical fruits, and certain vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, lettuce  and grains.  

Being slow-moving and flightless insects, they are very popular worldwide, being artificially reared and sold as feeder insects. These cockroaches are a food source for pets and zoo animals. They are fed to tarantulas, amphibians and reptilian pets.   

I have always known that there are over 4000 species of cockroaches worldwide. I still need to see more of this great diversity. It was truly an awesome encounter with a cockroach species not marked as a domestic pest  but as an important component of  keeping zoo animals and pets healthy. 

Awesome creature! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com 

A Walk with The Zigzag Ladybird Beetles of Zabeel Park, Dubai

A Zigzag Ladybird Beetle up close

A ladybird beetle immersed in yellow blossoms

Showing of her posterior markings

Off the ladybird goes in search for food

Morning walks and runs around the Zabeel Park, Dubai is truly an awesome time. As the cool morning breeze was blowing, I was fascinated to see lovely ladies immersed in yellow blossom, oops.. I mean lovely ladybird beetles immersed in yellow blossoms. Looking upon the distinct 6 darkened markings on its elytra, I have encountered the Six Spotted Zigzag Ladybird Beetles. 

The Six Spotted Zigzag Lady Bird Beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata 

(COLEPTERA: COCCINELIDAE)

The Six Spotted Zigzag Ladybird beetles is a well known and wide spread species of ladybird beetle (coccinellids). These beetles are 3-4mm long, yellow to canary yellow in color with 6 distinct dark markings on its elytra.  

DISTRIBUTION OF Six Spotted Zigzag Lady Bird Beetles

These ladybirds are reported to be present in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, particularly in India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Philippines and Japan. They are present in the Middle East Region and also reported in France, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. 

BIODYNAMICS NOTES

These ladybirds are voracious predator! They are known  as relentless hunters in the insect world!

They hunt and feed upon whiteflies, aphids, scale insects and diaspids, 

There food insects are mainly agricultural insect pests, which makes these ladybirds important biological control agents!

By the way you might have encountered the term "ladybug." The ladybugs are not true bugs (from the insect order Hemiptera) but they belong to the coccinellid family of beetles (Coleoptera)

These beetles DO NOT feed and damage plants and crops. They DO NOT bite and attack humans. 

As stated, these ladybird beetles act as BIOLOGICAL CONTROL agents against insect pests of crops. If possible, DO NOT spray the plants or locations where you see these little insect hunters. Let these ladies continue on their voracious hunting spree!

Ladybird beetles maybe small but they have the tenacity of any large size predator whenever they are roaming their plants landscape. 

Awesome Creature! AWESOME CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com 

A Longhorn Date Palm Beetle Encounter at the Zabeel Park, Dubai

A longhorn beetle resting on a pod

The longhorn staying motion-less on its legume pod hideout 

Details of its long antennae and dark brown sclerotized covering

Locate the longhorn beetle in the vegetation

It was a windy weekend morning and as I was strolling around the walk-way around the Zabeel Park,  Dubai, I stumbled upon a large, dark brown beetle clinging on the pod of the landscape plant. This was my first time to see a live longhorned or longicorn beetle in the UAE and upon my research about it, I get to know that what I encountered was the date palm pest, Longhorn Date Palm Beetle or Borer, Jebusaea hammerschmidti.  

LONGHORN DATE PALM BEETLE, Jebusaea hammerschmidti 

(COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE)  

Beetles from the family CERAMBYCIDAE are characterized by their extremely long antennae which can be longer or have the same length as its body. 

The Longhorn Date Palm Beetle or Longhorn Date Palm Borer is a well-known member of the longhorn beetles family as it is listed as an important pest of date palms (Pheonix dactylifera). 

The adult beetles are dark brown color, with females 30-45mm long and the males 21-31mm.

The larvae are creamy white, legless, the first 2 thoracic segments of the body are broader than the rest, the body tapers up to its posterior end. 

DISTRIBUTION of the LONGHORN DATE PALM BORER

This longicorn is reported to be an important pest of date palms in the Middle East, North Africa and India. 

BIODYNAMIC NOTES

The eggs are laid on the fronds of the date palm, wherein they dig into green frond base for months and they they bore their way into the trunk. They spend their whole larval and pupal development stage inside the trunk. 

It prefers to infest old, neglected date palms but it can also attack young and healthy trees. 

The attack of the longhorn date palm borer greatly affects the date palm lifespan, its yield and the quality of the palm wood. 

For the control of these longhorn beetles in Date Palms follow label recommendations of approved and registered Agricultural Pesticides.

I have always keen a fascination for beetles, especially the longicorns. Their relatively large size, the thick sclerotized body armor and the long pair of antennae are truly awesome to observe and document. 

I hope to get more awesome beetle encounters.

I know these longhorn beetles are agricultural pest, but despite their potential threat to date palms,  they still look so awesome!

Awesome creature! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com 

A Robber Fly Encounter at the Desert Area Adjacent Dubai Academic City

Female Robber flies are ferocious hunters

This is my 3rd live encounter with Robber flies in the desert

I was searching for desert dwelling beetles during my early morning hike, when a large fly buzzed passed me and then landed on the sand. Its large and piercing blue-green eyes immediately got my attention. It was a female Robber fly setting up herself for another flight prowl in search for prey. This will be my 3rd encounter with the ASILIDAE here in the UAE. I had two sightings on  the trails in Maleha, Sharjah and this will be my first in Dubai. 

By the way ROBBER FLIES are also known as ASSASSIN FLIES! 

FOR MORE INFO on Robber flies check out my Feb 17, 2022 and July 03, 2021 articles.  

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com 

 

An Encounter with a Giant Golden Orb Weaver Spider in Mt. Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna

Large body size, long legs, dark and bright markings describes Nephila pilipes

Large spider, large intricate web

A large female N. pilipes revealing its underside

To showcase the relative size of this giant spider 
 

Holding on to the golden silken threads of its web as it awaits its prey

The distinct double bright yellow streak on the abdomen

Releasing silken thread from its spinnerets 

Front view of its spinneret

Detail of markings on the abdomen and spinneret

As I approach its web, it began to vigorously shake it

The giant golden orb weaver 

It was during our early morning hike at the trail of Mt. Makiling in Los Banos, Laguna, that my daughter, Odette spotted this awesome giant golden orb weaver. Located just on the side of the hiking path, it has strategically laid out its large silken web across the shrubs and tree branches. The large female spider was in the middle of the web, patiently waiting to snare potential prey. As I was getting closer to the web, the lady spider began to shake her web vigorously, trying to distract me as she moves away. I was not distracted, I was more attracted to observe this lady giant spider!

GIANT GOLDEN ORB WEAVER, Nephila pilipes (ARANEAE: ARANEIDAE)

The giant golden orb weaver, Nephila pilipes is one of the largest orb weaving spiders species in the world. In terms of body size, it it second to the recently discovered N. komaci. 

Sexual dimorphism is very evident in spiders, particularly with this species. Female N. pilipes are much larger reaching a body size of 30-50mm (gigantism) while the males are very small with a body length of 5-6mm (dwarfism). Females are mostly black, yellow-brown with golden stripes. The back (tergum) is dark brown covered with dense hairs. Eyes appear in rows which bulge towards its rear. The bottom size of its abdomen (plastron) is mostly black and brown. Legs are very long with, black with yellow. There are no hairs found on the female spiders legs.  Male N. pilipes are 4-10 times smaller than the females. These are mainly brown to reddish brown in color. Their front eyes are larger than their rear eyes. The light brown legs possess hairs. 

DISTRIBUTION of GIANT GOLDEN ORB WEAVER SPIDER 

These giant spiders are found in tropical forest habitats of South Asia (Sri Lanka, Nepal, India), Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines). They are also reported in China, Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. 

BIODYNAMICS NOTES

They produced large, orb like structures, composed of elastic, golden silk reaching 0.5-1.0 meter in diameter. The spider web strands are reported to be as strong and durable as kevlar! 

The hub of the spider is usually on the top of the web while it does most of its capturing of prey on the lower parts. As a predator, it employs an adaptive strategy it capturing its prey. Small captures are caught directly, removed from the web and consumed. For larger prey, venom is injected and the spider awaits for the victim to die (truly ferocious!)

N. pilipes are selective in the type of insects that they consumed. They feed mainly on flies, beetles, locust, moths and cicadas.  When other non preferred insects are captured in their web, they remove specific insects that secrete unpalatable compounds like vespid wasps and the alates (reproductives) of ants. Reports have also been made that these giant spiders can feed upon birds and bats captured on their strong web!

These spiders are observed to make food reserve caches during time of plentiful prey to enable them to deal with food shortages. When lots of prey is available, they wrap these surplus food in silk and store these in the hub section of their web. Ready made insect take out food!  

For protection against predation from birds, the spiders stays mainly on their web day and night and build a "barrier network of durable threads" on one or both sides of the web. They also vigorously shake their web to distract and also allow them to move away. 

It is important to note that these giant golden orb weaver spiders are NON AGGRESSIVE and they will not usually bite humans. In cases that you encounter their bite, this can cause muscle pain and tightness. 

A simple request, if you see a spider on its natural habitat, please don't kill it. Let is stay on its golden web. It means you no harm! It is there mainly as GENERALIST insect predator, doing its part in the natural balance of life!

It was truly an awesome encounter with this giant lady spider in the hiking trails of Mt Makiling!  

Awesome Creatures! Awesome CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com   

An Awesome Encounter with the Eagles of the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City

A truly awesome bird - the Philippine Eagle

The Philippine Eagle is considered the largest of the extant eagles in the world

They are also called the Monkey-eating Eagle and the Great Philippine Eagle

These raptors are the apex predators of the forest

The Philippine Eagle Center in Davao is home to these captive birds

"Mindanao" is going to be 21 years old soon

"Sinag" (ray of light) a captive-bred eagle is going to turn 7

"Marikit" (Pretty or Lovely) is a lady eagle that truly lives up to her name

My three lovely ("Marikit") ladies gazing at Marikit the Eagle 

Can you spot "Kaibigan" (Friend) in this enclosure?

Kaibigan - a 23 year old female on her make shift nest 

Showing off its top form - truly awesome!

Contemplating about the future - hopefully it will be bright for these Eagles

Awesome work and effort, Philippine Eagle Center, Davao City!

It was during my recent holiday, that our family journeyed south to explore and enjoy the beauty and wonders of Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines. As a naturalist-explorer-adventurer, one of the highlights of trip was our visit to the Philippine Eagle Center. This place is truly awesome, it simulates a rainforest environment, complete with lush greenery, tall trees and streams. There are also lots of butterflies, dragonflies and other bugs that also caught my fancy. This conservation-education-breeding center is home to 36 eagles and other raptor birds, mammals and even 2 large estuarine crocodiles! Truly an awesome place to explore and observed these awesome birds up close!  

The Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jeffreyi (AVES: ACCIPITRIDAE)

The Philippine Eagle bears a nape that is adorned with long, brown feathers, that exhibits a shaggy, mane-like crest. It has a dark face, creamy-brown nape and crown. Its back is wholly dark brown while the underside and underwings are white. It possessed yellow-colored heavy legs, equipped with large, powerful and dark claws and the distinguished large, high-arched and deep bluish gray beak. The piercing eyes of these apex predators are blue-gray. Adult Philippine Eagles measure 2.82 to 3.35 feet (86 to 102cm) long with a weight of 8.9 to 17.6 lbs (4.04 to 8kg). Average length was reported to be 3ft 1in (95cm) for males and 3ft5in (105cm) for females.  

The Philippine Eagle is considered as the largest of the extant eagles in the world, in terms of length and wing surface area. Wingspan is measured at 6ft to 7ft3in (184 to 220cm) and the wing chord length at 22.6-24.2 in (57.4-61.4cm). Only the Stellar Sea Eagle and Harpy Eagle are larger in terms of weight and bulk. 

Distribution of the Philippine Eagle

The Philippine Eagle is endemic to the forests of the Philippines and found mainly in the major islands of eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.  

Biodynamics Notes

A complete breeding cycle of the Philippine Eagle last for up to two years. A female becomes sexually mature at 5 years while the male takes 7 years. Similar to most eagle species, the Philippine Eagle is monogamous. Once the birds paired, the couple will stay together for the rest of their lives (now that's what you call bird commitment).

The average life span of the Philippine Eagle in the wild is 30 to 60 years. A captive bird at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City was reported to live up to 46 years.    

The Philippine Eagle is the most dominant predator in its Philippine forest habitat. Recent studies conducted in Davao City revealed the nearest distance between mating pairs can cover 13km (8.1mi). That is still considerable forest size, which makes these huge birds extremely vulnerable to deforestation. As apex predator of the forests, listed among its prey are the fruit bats, rats, tree squirrels, flying lemurs, flying foxes, the giant cloud rats, large snakes and lizards, large birds like owls and hornbills and also monkeys, 

I remember a story my youngest Brother, John Louie, shared with me regarding their encounter with these raptors up on the high slopes of Mt. Banahaw in Luzon. He told me that when they had a sighting of an eagle, they hurried to hide in their tents to avoid being spotted and for these young mountaineers to be mis-identified as monkeys moving across the mountain foliage. Well I don't blame them for hiding in fear, this eagle was not formerly called the Monkey-eating Eagle for nothing! 

The Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City is doing such a noble and excellent work in education, research, breeding and conservation of these majestic birds. I truly had an awesome time during our visit.

The Philippine Eagle is truly an awesome bird of prey! May it continually soar in the sky above the forests of the Philippines.  Lets protect it and conserve its natural forest habitats.           

Awesome creatures. AWESOME CREATOR!

Thanks for your support and careful attention. 

If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com