Dudu Diaries

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Feb 13 2009 | By: dududiaries

Hello - As the rains approach East Africa, many insects are courting and mating. The most ardent lovers in the insect world are no doubt the ‘Love Bugs’ who spend hours and hours mating. They are actually flies in the family Bibionidae. This pair had picked Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania for their romantic getaway. The female is the large one - and it is she who carries the male around while they mate!  

No responses yet

Category: Ecology | Date: Feb 07 2009 | By: dududiaries

This morning we were blessed with rain. Just before dawn the skies poured down on the plains. What a relief to wake to drops dripping from everything - leaves washed fresh and birds singing with renewed energy. As I waited by some flowers for a bee to appear, I felt something tickling the palm of my hand. I lifted up my hand and crawling about on it was a delightful little praying mantid nymph. He ambled about the palm of my hand completely oblivious to me as if he was scrutinizing the lines like a miniature wizened fortune-teller. As you can see from the pictures below, young mantids start out life as perfect little miniature hunters exquisitely formed for hunting. This little fellow was very obliging and perched patiently on my fingers as I took his picture. Many thanks to Dana for the comments - will do a post soon with some tips on insect photography - and I am no expert - just a lucky amateur!  

2 responses so far

Category: Ecology, Flies, Pollination | Date: Feb 02 2009 | By: dududiaries

Have been watching flies coming and going from a flowering Rhus natalensis bush - you may think of them as just pesky insects, but take a closer look and you will see what marvelous forms they are…          

One response so far