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pramod.mitikiri

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pramod.mitikiri Geometric moth
Geometric moth commented on by pramod.mitikiri Bosabehari Gaon, Assam, India2 years ago

I think this is a similar moth to the moth you posted, but I'm not entirely sure either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometer_m...

pramod.mitikiri Green Heron
Green Heron commented on by pramod.mitikiri Hiddenite, North Carolina, United States2 years ago

How do you deduce what type of bird left this footprint, based on the actual footprint? That's really amazing!

pramod.mitikiri False scorpion
False scorpion commented on by pramod.mitikiri Bosabehari Gaon, Assam, India2 years ago

I agree with you that the insect you found was a type of pseudoscorpion: an insect that looks like a scorpion but isn't.

It could possible be Chelifer cancroides, but the insect in the picture has a slimmer body than that of a normal Chelifer cancroides. I would argue that from this chart (linked below), I would say rather it being close to (f), it is closer to (d), given the insect's small size, and so I think its Microbisium parvulum.

https://theconversation.com/explainer-wh...

pramod.mitikiri Oriental Velvet Ant, female, new species 2019
Oriental Velvet Ant, female, new species 2019 commented on by pramod.mitikiri Thành phố Sa Đéc, Đồng Tháp, Viet Nam2 years ago

That ant looks amazing, but also very scary at the same time! So the red patch of color on the ant are probably visual signs (aposematic signaling) for predators to stay away from. I also read that they can actually excrete "foul-smelling" chemicals as well (with a painful sting) in case of defense too.

I think this insect is specifically a female ant according to this website:

https://www.allgoodservices.com/pest-inf...

pramod.mitikiri Asian Ant mantis nymph
Asian Ant mantis nymph commented on by pramod.mitikiri Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India2 years ago

I think it's a form of Batesian mimicry. But still, I find it pretty funny considering the ant mantis is imitating the appearance of a black ant (down to the mandibles), and it preys on black ants.

It makes me wonder if sometimes ant mantises can mistaken other ant mantises for black ants and accidentally try to eat them. Can that happen?

pramod.mitikiri HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING MOTH
HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING MOTH commented on by pramod.mitikiri Stamford, Connecticut, United States2 years ago

From what I have learned, this could be a form of Batesian Mimicry as the hummingbird moth imitates the appearance of the the hummingbird, which makes sense as it mistakes its predators by making them think its a hummingbird, when it's not.

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollin...

I got the idea after finding another insect within the same genus (Hemaris) that mimics the appearance of a bumblebee.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewc...

pramod.mitikiri HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING MOTH
HUMMINGBIRD CLEARWING MOTH commented on by pramod.mitikiri Stamford, Connecticut, United States2 years ago

That moth looks amazing! Does it follow some type of imitation of a hummingbird to prevent predators from eating it while eating similar food as the hummingbird?

I'm actually really curious about the specific type of imitation the humming bird moth uses on.

pramod.mitikiri Antlion
Antlion commented on by pramod.mitikiri Vashti, North Carolina, United States2 years ago

I would agree that this would be an antlion. It's scientific name is Glenurus gratus, and its order is Neuroptera, which has evolved from the event Holometabola, or the event when insects underwent complete metamorphosis (Yes that would mean they are also affected by the event Neoptera; the ability to put their wings over their back roof-like). Specifically, this is the antlion in its larva state, as you can tell by its sizable 2 points of articulation sticking out. In its larva state, it is quite predacious and will fight other ants in its vicinity. A fun about them is that when they reach their mature stage, they will have wings that "resemble drab-colored, 1.5 inch long damsel flies with four long, narrow, net-veined wings (roof-like)" over their back.

Just out of curiosity, where did you find this insect?
https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/neuroptera...

pramod.mitikiri black-footed yellow sac spider
black-footed yellow sac spider commented on by pramod.mitikiri Bengaluru, Karnataka, India2 years ago

I think you're partially correct that the insect you found is a male black-footed yellow sac spider. The scientific name of this spider is Cheiracanthium inclusum, however I would argue that this wouldn't be the insect you found. The insect is indigenous to only the Americas (and is referred to as the American yellow sac spider). I believe it's the American yellow sac spider's cousin, Cheiracanthium indium. This insect is a type of yellow sac spider (has genus Cheiracanthium), with the distinctive trait of having a pale yellow color, but this insect is native to India and Sri Lanka, which is more likely.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheiracant...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheiracant...

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