Robber Fly (Family Asilidae)

Silhouette of Robber Fly

A few days ago I found this bearded fellow sitting on a skirting board in our dining room.  Its head was covered with stiff , white bristles. At first I did not know what type of insect it was, until Grantthegeek and I came across Thomas Shahan's website. Mystery solved: It was a Robber Fly (Also known as an Assassin Fly)!

Sitting on a perch waiting for its next victim

Like the praying mantis, robber flies also have 3 simple eyes (ocelli) located in the depression between the two compound eyes. Another interesting fact :  A male should be vigilant when courting a female or she will fly out, stab him with her proboscis and eat him!!!

 

These flies are famous for catching its prey in mid-air.  The mouthparts consist of a triangular proboscis which is stabbed into the prey.  Enzymes are injected into the insect to liquefy the insides, so that it can be sucked up by the robber fly.  Yummy!!!!

I just love the colour of the compound eyes and the white 'beard' on this insect!  I'm really so glad I took an interest in photography as I'm learning more each day about mother earth and its inhabitants....

Finally, I just have to mention that my brother gave me gift vouchers from Exclusive Books for Christmas.  Can't wait to visit the shop to purchase a book on South African insect and spiders.  Tx, my Ironman!   :D

Praying Mantis

Found this beauty enjoying the sun following two days of heavy rains. Its common knowledge that these insects can turn their heads 180 degrees.  What I did not know was that situated between its two large compound eyes are three tiny simple eyes.  The latter are used for light detection only.

Also spent some time photographing flowers in my parents' garden.  Unfortunately I had to use a high ISO setting as it was quite late in the afternoon.

Kissing Pollen Stems

 

It was the perfect end to a good day....  d:-D

My Intro To Underwater Photography - Phillip's Reef

Silvertip nudibranch (Janolus capensis)

Diving with Ocean Divers International has opened up a whole new world for me.  On my first dive with them the DM (dive master ) took us to a sand patch and indicated that we should sit  down for a moment.  I couldn't understand the reason for the 'request', but being the new kid on the block I did as I was told.  I still remember listening to the sound generated by my breathing aparatus and the bubbles flowing from it  - then all of a sudden I became aware of a whole range of other sounds created by the fish and the inhabitants of the reef.  I was in awe... how come I've never heard it before?  Maybe its because I got use to swimming from point A to point B and then returning to the back to the boat again...

A few months later I joined Juan Snyman on another dive at Phillip's Reef.   Not only  is he a qualified DM, but he's also a very keen underwater photographer.  Halfway through the dive he handed me his camera, and I immediately started to panic.  How does a person swim against the strong currents and still manage to take photos?  Well, I gave it a shot and I here some of my attempts:

Heart urchin (Spatagobrissus mirabilis)

Just for info - Phillip's Reef is situated in Algoa Bay and was named after Philip Coeztee, a marine biologist who did extensive research on this reef.  The maximum depth here is approximately 18 metres.

Choirboys (Podoclavella sp)

Frilled nudibranch (Leminda millecra)

What I enjoy most of underwater photography is returning home and sharing my diving experience throught my photographs with my husband and friends.

The Haerlem Wreck

Cryptic Sponge Crab (Crytodromiosis spongiosa)

Last Sunday I joined several divers from Ocean Divers International on a wreck dive.  Since I started diving in 2002, The Haerlem, an SA Navy frigate scuttled in late November 1987, has been one of my favourite dive sites in Algoa Bay.  I can't really say why - maybe it has something to do with the eary feeling I get when I look into the portholes. On the top of the deck the average depth is approximately 18 metres and 21 metres at the stern.

Square-mouthed Striped Anemone (Anthothoe sp)

The wreck is home to a large number of leopard and pajama catsharks, soft corals and a variety of other fish, e.g. batfish.

A Leopard Catshark playing hide and seek....

The viz was particularly bad on the day of the dive - one metre at the most.  I buddied with Juan Snyman, who is one of the best divemasters in Port Elizabeth.  What I love most about diving with him is that he takes time in showing fellow divers all the little interesting sea creatures. 

Basket Star (Astrocladus euryale)

My two favourite sea creatures, with the exception of dolphines and whales, are basket stars and nudibranchs.  The basket star is a type of brittle star and often attaches itself to sea fans (see pic above).

Crowned Nudibranch (Polycera capensis)

Most nudibranchs or sea slugs have flamboyant colour patterns - a warning to potential preditors that they are distasteful or even poisonous.

Variable dorid (Aphelodoris brunnea -1)

Staghorn False Coral (Gigantopora polymorpha)

Nippled Sea Fan (Eunicella papillosa)

Black Nudibranch (Tambja Capensis)

Scollaped Lacy False Coral (Reteporella lata)

Cobbled Starfish (Calliaster baccatus)

3,2,1....BUNGEE!!!!!

Jumping Spider (Portia sp.)

Upon returning from work on Thursday, I found this little spider on my dining room table 'waiting for supper to be served'.  It was less than 2cm in size and very fast on its feet. This little fellow belongs go the Saliticidae (jumping spiders) family,  which is the largest spider family in the world. Its favourite food source - primarily other spiders!  YUCK!!!!! 

After releasing it back into 'the wild', I grabbed my camera to take a few photos.  It kept running up and down the stem of one of our succulent plants.  Eventually it found solice under a dried leave.  Still trying to 'capture' the perfect photo, I turned the leave around - AND GUESS WHAT I SAW.....

David and Goliath

Don't be too brave little spider! Sometimes its best just to turn around and 'walk' away.... 

I've battled for days to identify the spider in the pictures above.  Finally I decided to contact Mr Lambert Smith to ask him for help.  Here is what he had to say:

"From what I can see this appears to be a Baboon Spider from the family Theraphosidae. It is able to deliver a painful bite but is not known to be toxic to humans."

For more info on insects and spiders found in South Africa, visit www.insecta.co.za

"If you wish to live and thrive, let the spider run alive" Proverb