Unusual insects

[Dark Raptor]

Ok. Now if you are bored by 'usual' mealworms. Here are some close relatives of Tenebrio molitor.

Tenebrio opacus (Tenebrionidae) - very, very rare in whole Europe. They live in old, hollow deciduous trees. "primeval forest relic"

Tenebrio picipes (Tenebrionidae) - also very rare. Under bark of old trees and in wood mould in hollows.

Uloma culinaris (Tenebrionidae) - common in Poland. Under bark

Scaphidema metallicum (Tenebrionidae) - common, habitat similar as U. culinaris. One of my faw species.

Opatrum sabulosum - (Tenebrionidae). Very common on warm, kserotermic meadows.

Hololepta plana (Histeridae) - my favourite histerid beetle. Mostly under bark of old Populus. Very interesting and rare predator.

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[CustomNature]

Man oh man, that camera up there looks like an anti-aircraft gun.

 

[Dark Raptor]

Man oh man, that camera up there looks like an anti-aircraft gun.

Because there are attached m42 lenses, I'd call it MG42 machine gun

I don't see any differences

 

[Ecilious]

Those histerid beetles look incredible, great little bit of design. What do they eat; do they hunt under the bark? Those look like grabbing-and-not-letting-go jaws so I'll have a guess and say they go after grubs/worms?

 

[Dark Raptor]

Those histerid beetles look incredible, great little bit of design. What do they eat; do they hunt under the bark? Those look like grabbing-and-not-letting-go jaws so I'll have a guess and say they go after grubs/worms?

According to prof. Mazur (1981) they attack other saproxylic insects and their larvae. They feed also on Collembola. There are reports that they were found in Corvus monedula nests.

Source: Mazur S., 1981: Coleoptera: Histeridae. Fauna Polski 9. 207 pp. 590

 

[Ecilious]

Yeah, that makes sense, thanks.

 

[Dark Raptor]

More beetles

Trox scaber (Trogidae) - on faeces and carrion. They can stridulate, sometimes very loud.

Molorchus minor (Cerambycidae) - very common on Umbelliferae flowers.

Chalcophora mariana (Buprestidae) - common in old pine forrests.

Asemum striatum (Cerambycidae) - very common, dammages pine wood

Plagionotus arcuatus (Cerambycidae) - common on old oaks

Acanthocinus aedilis (Cerambycidae) - one of my fav longhorbed beetles. Very common, on pine.

Lepidoptera sp. (Ephestia?)

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[Dark Raptor]

Chrysopa sp. (Neuroptera)

Eurycantha calcarata (Phasmida) - hatched one hour before taking that pic

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[mantid]

Nice, I love that phasmid.

 

[anisomorpha]

I emailed your photo of a purple moth to a friend who has an identification and wishes to use your photo on his website- but is asking for permission, could you email me and I will provide particulars?

 

[Carlos.e]

WooW
I love your Hololepta plana! I've never seen that before!
Could you tell us how do you take care of this beetles and their larvaes???

Thank you.

 

[Dark Raptor]

Thanks

WooW
I love your Hololepta plana! I've never seen that before!
Could you tell us how do you take care of this beetles and their larvaes???

I wasn't able to breed them They are too specialized predators and it is difficult to create the best environment for them.
...so they quickly landed in 70% ethanol

 

[Carlos.e]

But you know how to take care of them?
I also like your Cicindela hebrida, can you tell me more about this specie?
Thanks

 

[Dark Raptor]

But you know how to take care of them?

I believe you have to take them with their whole environment So it means that you'll need to take large part of Poplar wood with loose bark on it. I can't tell you how much humid they need. I captured all of them on trees that were exposed to direct sunshine, but near marshy forests. I expect that the beetles will be able to catch and kill small tenebrionid larvae, Collembola ect. But as I said, I didn't keep them for a longer time.

I also like your Cicindela hebrida, can you tell me more about this specie?

It is very common in Poland on every sandy places. I've kept them last year and left myself 20 larvae. They had grown to L3 stage, but I lost them (they probably need wintering, I'll have to test it this year).
They eat almost anything that is smaller than them. You can use humid sand as substrate for them.

 

[Carlos.e]

Thank you. The questions about Hololepta plana were only for curiosity, I can't obtain this species, because in Spain there's only on the northern part of the country, and I live in the southern-east region of Spain...

Another question is: Cicindela spp lives in sandy banks of the rivers, don't it?
Is it the same habitat that Myrmeleon formicarius?

 

[Dark Raptor]

Another question is: Cicindela spp lives in sandy banks of the rivers, don't it?
Is it the same habitat that Myrmeleon formicarius?

Yes. I found both species in the same habitat many times (and life/hunting strategies of their larvae are similar). Cicindela hybrida can be also found on the sandy field roads, far from forrests (M. formicarius can be found mostly close to border of forest and on glades).

 

[Dark Raptor]

Carabus auronitens

Nauphoeta cinerea - female with ootheca

Sciaridae fly... I know, you HATE THEM!... and I understand that

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[Carlos.e]

Among flies, I really hate Hippobosca equina. They are parasites of mammals and birds, and they also sting humans. They are very hard and for this, you can't kill them like the other flies. They also fly slowly and look more heavy than other dipters.

 

[Dark Raptor]

Among flies, I really hate Hippobosca equina. They are parasites of mammals and birds, and they also sting humans. They are very hard and for this, you can't kill them like the other flies. They also fly slowly and look more heavy than other dipters.

Yup, maybe you are right but I've never been stung by Hippoboscidae flies despite I had many 'close contacts' with them. The worse are Tabanus and other Tabanidae species... I can't forget also about Simulidae and Culicidae they are really nasty ;P Especially in northern Europe.

 

[Dark Raptor]

Another pictures of Sciaridae flies. They are fast and very small but it is possible to take their pics

And my latest addition - Archimandrita tessellata

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