An Encounter with Blister Beetles in Warzan, Dubai

A Blister beetle actively feeding on a lovely blossom

Blister beetles are hervibores

Basking in the sun while continually feeding on the yellow petals

Blister beetles have a cylindrical body

Blister beetles secrete a defensive chemical called  cantharidin

In celebration of the end of the summer season here in the Middle East, in eager expectation of the much favorable weather outdoors, I would like to share this awesome encounter I had with the awesome blister beetles foraging on yellow dandelion blossoms in Warzan, Dubai.  Looking forward to more awesome creature encounters now that outdoor conditions are becoming more pleasant.    

BLISTER BEETLES, Hycleus spp. (Coleoptera:Meloidae)

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

Goodbye to a Truly Cute and Gentle Creature

 A truly cute and gentle creature said goodbye to me.

I just came back a little late from the Church Service and an extended catch-up meeting. When I arrived at the flat, I saw my cute little yellow bird on the floor. She was trying to lift her head up to call me. There was no sound coming out but the constant moving of her beak and her small eyes trying to gaze at me. 

I cradled her in the palm of my hands. Massaging her feathers, comforting her and asking her to stand up and not to leave me and Sylvester yet. She responded by just lifting up her head and opening and closing her eyes. With her cute stare as if saying "goodbye and thank you."

She waited for me to get back. She tried to hold on. She was that strong that even up to end of her sweet and brief life. She waited. She did not want to depart from me without saying goodbye and being held gently in my hand. 

She breathed her last laying at the palm of my hand. Allowing me to say goodbye and thank you baby bird as well.

Goodbye my Sweet Tweety Bird.

Thanks be to God for allowing me to be with such a gentle creature. 

Awesome creatures. Awesome CREATOR!

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny: And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father (Matthew 10:29) 

  

A Cranefly (Tipulidae) Encounter at the Tagaytay Midlands, Batangas, Philippines

Craneflies looks like large mosquitoes but they are not mosquitoes

Craneflies are harmless and does not bite or sting

Look at those very long and thin forelegs

We were invited to spend a lovely afternoon at the lovely mansion and farm of a very close family friend at the Tagaytay Highlands. As we were chatting and enjoying the beauty of the newly renovated mansion, my eyes caught a glimpse of a large mosquito-like organism on the wall of the lanai. A lonely cranefly got its way inside the mansion, its huge size, long legs, large wings and dark hue cannot hide itself from the light colored wall.   

CRANEFLIES (DIPTERA: Tipulidae)

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 Close Encounter with Psocids (Booklice)

Psocids or Booklice are insects associated with fungi and moulds

Psocids (Booklice) observed on a surface of a grain sack

Psocids are tiny insects associated with the presence of molds, fungi and high humidity indoors

Psocids observed moving and thriving underneath the plastic sheet

A lone psocid on the surface of a sofa

Psocids moving about on the surface of a baseboard

PSOCIDS, Liposcellis spp, 

Psocids or booklice are soft bodied, minute insects (0.7-1mm in length), translucent to light brown in color, wingless, with the femur of the hind leg enlarged. It has distinctly flattened and broad head in comparison with its thorax. They are fast moving, with a character jerky motion. They are also observed actively crawling on surfaces. 

Biodynamics Notes:

The female psocids lays its eggs in suitable locations and also on the surfaces of bagged commodities. The nymphs mature in 3-4 weeks.

Psocids can be found both outdoors and indoors, It feeds mainly on microscopic fungi and moulds. Outdoors these are usually found under bark, grass and leaf litter and on damp wood. Indoors they harbor in dark and damp locations like inside cabinets, on double walls, underneath sinks, and on crawl spaces under house. They can also harbor on plastered walls in newly constructed buildings that retain water for some time. Furthermore, psocids can also feed on mould growth on carpets, paper, straw and even leather. They are also found in poorly maintained storage areas, bulk goods and on bagged grains.  

Booklice attack any type of dried animal or plant material, especially if it is damp, It is an indicator of moisture and humidity issues inside a facility. These insects are considered nuisance pest, wherein, booklice can be frequently observed in large numbers crawling in everything where they are present. 

IPM Strategies Against Psocids

Mositure control is essential in long term management of psocids infestation. Remember that these insects are generally restricted to humid situations, measures to lower humidity, condensate and other moisture sources should be communicated to the Customer or Facility Representative and immediately addressed. 

A comprehensive inspection of all area where these insects were found is vital. Find the source, locate the areas of prevalence, identify the pest supporting factors. 

Vacuuming can help in drastically reducing the number of adults and eggs especially on interior surfaces.  

Psocids are very susceptible to insecticide treatments. Always follow label instructions when using pesticides on applicable surface areas. Be mindful of the effects (stain, markings) of the pesticides residue on interior surfaces like wooden cabinets, baseboards, walls and other surfaces. 

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 Awesome Encounter with the Arabian Tahr in Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain , Abu Dhabi

A cautious Arabian Tahr concealing itself  on the rock face

Like a true parent ever watchful of its young calves

Checking out Samuraibug as he tries to come closer 

Strong and secured footing is a must in such dangerous terrain

An awesome hornful threesome

Can you locate and count how many are there? 

A final glimpse before disappearing into the rocky mountain landscape 

My recent expedition at the heights of the Jebel Hafeet in the Oasis City of Al Ain, Abu Dhabi has provided me an awesome encounter with a magnificent, truly endangered and rare mountain mammal. It was early morning, the sun was barely rising in the sky, I was out in search for mountain insects and birds when I saw from the face of the rocky mountain a number of horned-figures. These animals were quite robust, agile and elusive. I have to slowly approach the rocky terrain to have a better glimpse and take the snap shots. They were fast and secure in their footing even in the sharp and solid mountain inclines. From a distance, they were able to recognize my presence, thankfully, I was able to secure my precious photo clicks. I had a face to face and close encounter with a herd of Arabian Tahr!     

Arabian Tahr, Arabitragus jayakari 

IUCN STATUS: Endangered

It is the smallest species of the tahr (sure-footed, wild mountain-goat like mammals of the family Bovidae native to Asia). It bears a robust body and backed-arching horns. Males are more robust than the females. Males have manes which extend right down its back and can grow longer as it ages. Similar to mountain goats and sheep, they have rubber-like hooves which provide traction and balance on steep and rocky terrain. 

DISTRIBUTION of Arabian Tahr

They are endemic to Eastern Arabia. They live on the rocky slopes of the Al Hajar Mountains in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. They are also found in the slopes of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE.   

The desert sand and its mountains never ceases to surprise me with such awesome creatures. My face to face encounter with a family of tahrs at the rocky slopes of Jebel Hafeet was truly awesome! 

I would like to encourage you to explore, observe and learn from these creative wonders.

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 Ocellated Skinks in Down Town Dubai

 Skinks have a small head, small legs and cylindrical body

Don't be intimidated by its tiny legs, skinks are very agile lizards

Emerging from its thick foliage hideaway in search for insects

Retreating into the thick cover of leaves  

When carefully concealed in the foliage, it looks like a snake 

Continuing in its search for food in the pathway

It was a bright but cool early afternoon, as I was conducting a site visit, when I got to observe a few shiny, slim and sleek reptiles emerging and retreating into the cover of thick foliage. These reptiles appear like small, dark colored snakes but the presence of their tiny legs revealed their true reptile identity. In the back area garden patches of a premiere location in the heart of Down Town Dubai, I was able to observe the emergence of ocellated skinks along the garden pathway. The skinks were busy setting up ambushes to capture insects for their afternoon delights.   

OCELLATED SKINK, Chalcides ocellatus (REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE)

Ocellated skinks are reptiles which  have a small  head, cylindrical body, and 5 tiny toes on each of their legs. Adult skinks can measure 15 to 30cm. These lizards exhibit a wide variety of coloration patterns. 

DISTRIBUTION of OCELLATED SKINKS  

Ocellated skinks are reported to be present in Greece, Italy, Malta, regions of North Africa, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

BIODYNAMIC NOTES

These reptiles are very agile and are primarily INSECTIVORES (feeds mainly on insects and related  arthropods). They feed on locusts, crickets. ants, beetles, isopods. spiders, centipedes and insect larvae. They can also eat small lizards and also the tails of the younger lizards.

 DO NOT  kill these reptiles as they are important predators of insects.  

Females give birth to live young larvae (VIVIPAROUS).   

The ocellated skinks are not aggressive to humans, NONVENOMOUS and does not carry pathogenic disease causing organisms. 

It was a truly an awesome afternoon encounter observing these ocellated skinks.

SPECIAL THANKS to Mr. MJ Dela Pena of Kendah Pest Control for sharing the location of the garden patch where the skinks are thriving and also for additional pictures.   

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 Bark Stink Bug in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai

A bark stink bug exposed in a wall

Trying to blend in 

Crawling across my safety boot

Continuing its journey, searching for new green frontiers 

I was on assignment for a project in a school facility in Nad Al Sheba area when I encountered this large bark stink bug.  It was steadily crawling, lumbering its way along the glass panel wall. I was able to spot it immediately because its dark brown coloration did not match with the white painted wall base. Away from its tree or shrub niche. it can no longer cloak itself and utilized its unique camouflage. Amazingly it even march straight up my boots as I was trying to examine it closer.    

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