Field Museum
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
South African Butterflies: Gaudy Commodore
This natives of South Africa have two forms and colours depending on the season! They are alike in form but the females are a bit larger.
The Southern subspeciesSummer form (Precis octavia sesamus natalensis).
TheWinter form (sesamus), which is a bit larger than the Summer form.
The Southern subspecies
The
Kew Gardens, London: Marianne North Gallery
Vegetation of the Addo Bush with Kaffirs and their Habitations
South Africa´s Butterflies: Red BLood and Dusky Acrae
Their wings can measure between 45–48 mm in males and 45–55 in females.
The Dusky Acraea (Acraea esebria) has the same wingspan as the Red BLood.
Kew Gardens (London) Marianne North Gallery: South Africa
Marianne North (24/10/1830 – 30/08/1890) was an English Naturalist and Botanical Artist who visited South Africa in 1883.
Haemanthus and other South African Flowers
(Haemanthus, Erythrina, Pineapple Flower, Eucomis punctata Tulbaghia alliacea, Haemanthus magnificus, Coral Tree)
"Coming out" of a Cape Beauty (Ostrich)
View of the valley of Ceres, from Mitchell's Pass, "Cabbage Plant" in front
(Othonna Compositae Othonna amplexocaulis)
Haemanthus and other South African Flowers
(Haemanthus, Erythrina, Pineapple Flower, Eucomis punctata Tulbaghia alliacea, Haemanthus magnificus, Coral Tree)
"Coming out" of a Cape Beauty (Ostrich)
View of the valley of Ceres, from Mitchell's Pass, "Cabbage Plant" in front
(Othonna Compositae Othonna amplexocaulis)
Cape Town´s GIANT Cockroach
Unusually for insects, it gives birth to 18–24 live creatures and it even protects the young for a while.
When scared, it lifts its abdomen into the air, squeaks loudly and lets go a nasty smelling liquid from glands on its back.
Adult females can be from 30 to 40 millimetres and they have no wings! Males are a bit smaller: 29 millimetres long.
Cape Floral Kindgdom: Duvalia Inmaculata
This succulent, blooms in mid-June and grows in light shade. It needs little water and is also found in the Little Namaqualand region.
The Cuckoo Wasp: South Africa
Parasites of solitary bees and wasps.
These insects spread mostly in terrestrial habitats and will roll up into a ball in self-defence.
Here is a close up of its body surface.
These insects spread mostly in terrestrial habitats and will roll up into a ball in self-defence.
Here is a close up of its body surface.
S. African Threatened Species: Cape Vulture
The Cape Vulture or Cape Griffon is only found in Southern Africa.
VIDEO of it flying and with its chicks. CLiCK!
South Africa´s Sarpa Salpa Fish
Etymology: Sarpa: Spanish, sarpo, sapo = toad (a toad-fish)
Salema Porgy: This fish was consumed during the Roman Empire as a recreational drug, because it produces hallucinations!
It is presently believed that the fish ingests a particular algae or phytoplancton which causes it to become hallucinogenic.
Changing the World: Swaziland´s Kids
Two teenagers from the southern African country of Swaziland have won Scientific American's inaugural Science in Action Award, part of the Google Science Fair.
The prize is awarded to a project that addresses a social, environmental or health issue to make a practical difference in the lives of a group or community.
This year's winners are both 14 years : Sakhiwe Shongwe of Siteki and Bonkhe Mahlalela of Simunye.
Their project explores an affordable way to provide hydroponics to poor subsistence farmers, enabling them to grow their crops and vegetables in very large quantities and within limited space without using soil.
Scientific American: CLicK to find how teens engineer a way to help farmers in Swaziland
The prize is awarded to a project that addresses a social, environmental or health issue to make a practical difference in the lives of a group or community.
This year's winners are both 14 years : Sakhiwe Shongwe of Siteki and Bonkhe Mahlalela of Simunye.
Their project explores an affordable way to provide hydroponics to poor subsistence farmers, enabling them to grow their crops and vegetables in very large quantities and within limited space without using soil.
Scientific American: CLicK to find how teens engineer a way to help farmers in Swaziland
Kite Spiders: South Africa
Kite spiders are diurnal Araneidae or "orb-web" spiders which means that during the process of making a web, the spider will use its own body for measurements.
Gasteracantha falcicornis
Gasterocantha sanguinolenta
These spiders are small (8-10 millimetres long), with 4 species in South Africa. The Araneidae occupies a niche not utilized by other spiders: the aerial passage amongst vegetation in the path of flying insects.
The diurnal orb web spiders continually repair their webs, usually using them for a few of days. The web cannot be used indefinitely as it dries and loses its capture ability and insects will no longer stick to it.
The diurnal orb web spiders continually repair their webs, usually using them for a few of days. The web cannot be used indefinitely as it dries and loses its capture ability and insects will no longer stick to it.
South African Mountain Bike Racing
A "natural" incident...
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