An Encounter with Giant Ants Locked in Combat in the Desert Area near Dubai Academic City

 

Giant ants with large mandibles locked in mortal combat 

Each ant grabbing unto fallen twigs to secure oneself and to pull its opponent

Notice the decapitated hind leg of one of the combatants

 

Twisting, grabbing, pulling as they crawl 

No ant is budging! No ant is giving up! Grip and pull!

It was a very cool morning out in the desert area adjacent the Dubai Academic City. I was exploring the sand and shrubs, searching for beetles and spiders, when I observed two large black ants with their huge mandibles tightly pulling one another. Initially, I thought the two ants were just doing their food transfer habit (trophallaxis) and will part ways. I was surprised to see that their mandibles were locked in mortal combat against each other. The two giant ants were twisting, grabbing unto fallen twigs and grasses, trying its best to secure a position to pull and overpower its opponent. It was like witnessing a live insect wrestling match and the main event  to determine the winner involves a brutal tug-of-war. I waited and observed for over 15 minutes, on my knees in the sand, the ants were relentless, no one is giving up.  The two ant warriors where still locked in mortal combat!    

GIANT ANT, Camponotus xerxes (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) 

The Giant Ant (Camponotus xerxes) is among the largest of the ants species, belonging to the group of the Carpenter ants. The workers can measure up to 14mm while the soldiers can reach up to 18mm in length.

Worker ants  are black in color with slender head and thorax. The soldiers are also black but possessed an enlarge head equipped with massive mandibles.    

DISTRIBUTION OF GIANT ANTS

These large ants are reported and observed to be present in Saudi Arabi, Iraq, Iran, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates. 

BIODYNAMIC NOTES

Giant ants have smaller colonies as compared to other ants. They do not follow trails and are more solitary when foraging for food. They are carnivores. They feed on other insects, even fellow carpenter ants, especially the individuals from rival colonies.

These ants are active hunter during the day (DIURNAL) and are most commonly found in the desert areas.

These ants can release formic acid and their bite can produce a burning sensation on the skin. 

After 15 minutes, the two ants where still at each others mandibles. I left without seeing who among the two ant combatants won. With the tenacity of those ants it will be a long match!

Carpenter Ants are truly awesome!

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 Pair of Spotted Owlets or Lilith Owlets in Maleha, Sharjah

A Spotted Owlet or Lilith Owlet on its rocky mountain perch

Truly majestic desert mountain predatory birds

A truly cute "beautiful eyes pose" for the explorer

The color and pattern of there plumage perfectly matched the desert 

Constantly vigilant in search for potential prey and threats

its a turn around

Thanks to the bright blue sky I can see them pass their camouflage

Protruding mountain rocks are the owls favorite roosting points

Do you agree that this mountain rock formation looks like an owl head? 

Can you spot the owlet in this picture?

There are 2 owlets in this photo. Can you spot them both?

The chilly winter season mountain air makes it truly the perfect reason to explore the UAE mountains and wadis, not just to traverse the various desert terrains but mainly to explore in search for awesome creatures. During my recent expedition to the Maleha, Sharjah trail I was truly blessed and thankful to have a close encounter with a pair of Spotted Owlets or Lilith Owlets in their rocky mountain home. The bright blue sky enabled me to spot these birds as they roost on the rocky outcrops. They were truly tough to spot as their plumage perfectly matches the color of their surroundings. As they have positioned themselves high on top the rocky mountain, I have to slowly crawl my way up to have a closer look and capture these awesome shots.  

LILITH OWLETS, Athene noctua lilith (AVES, STRIGIDAE)

These little owlets breeds on the rocky outcrops of the desert mountains. Unlike other owls, they are active during the day. There main prey on their rocky mountain desert home are mainly insects, smaller birds, lizards and rodents.   

The owlets are enjoying the awesome desert winter weather. Time for us to get out of our city dwellings and explore outdoors.    

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 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