A Cornucopia of Insect Curiosities...

[trehopr1]

Wintertime for me is a good time to get a lot of varied tasks accomplished which I would not likely do when the warm weather months are here. I manage to do something with my collection nearly every day. Whether I prepare up a couple two or three specimens, make labels, change out mothballs or even add some items to some drawers --- there's always something to do ! And quite frankly I find it invigorating....

However, a hobby should not always be work as there should be a fun factor. For me, the enjoyment comes when I just spend an evening looking over that which I have so passionately assembled in MY museum. Personal captures always bring up warm thoughts and memories of sunny days, humid nights, and of things I felt lucky to capture. Purchased or traded things too are special in their own right as they have a wonder, beauty, or strangeness about them which begs many questions and often causes me to turn to the old bookshelf or internet to learn more. It's just all so fascinating !

As much as I see myself as generally a lepidopterist there are just too many interesting "other" insects out there to not take notice or even collect (from time to time). Within my museum (of which I am Chief Curator);I have at least 8 or 9 drawers of what I term "choice mix". These drawers house all my other insect order (representatives) other than Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. One could say an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind.

So, tonight I took some pictures of some of these acquired curiosities for your viewing pleasure.

I know that my selection may not appeal to everybody but, they will individually appeal to somebody....


   Thread-winged Lacewing
    Family:Nemopteridae

This delicate creature was found by me in an old collection
being parted out. It was the only one so I imagine the owner
found it a curiosity of sorts as well.

Data: Africa: Niger, Bauchi plateau, Jos
                    1932

[trehopr1]

     Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Family: Pompilidae/Genus:Pepsis

I also found this well spread specimen 
in another collection being parted out.
The wingspan of this hunter is 72mm.
(tip to tip). The body measures 40mm.
 from the head to the abdomen tip.

Data: Oklahoma:El Reno,
            July.14.1951

[trehopr1]

Bullet Ant/Genus: Ponera
Subfamily:Ponerinae

Well, with about 1,600 species in
47 extant genera I cannot begin to
say anything more about this one
taxonomically.
However, when any "ant" gets to be
this large (25mm./Head-Abdomen Tip);
it's probably not something to bother or
to take "lightly" should you get ONE or
more on you by accident....

No, this is NOT a "fire" ant. Those are quite
a bit smaller and yes they are still pretty bad
but, these heavyweights of the ant world are
are indeed called by many local peoples bullet
ants. It is said that one sting from such an ant
is as painful as if you had been shot by a small
caliber bullet.

This is just one specimen of four which I acquired
from a close friend who was in Southeastern Ecuador
about 10 years back. He said though he never got
any on him he occasionally picked one up in his net
when he took a swing (here and there) at butterflies.

There are still larger species; with genus:Dinoponera
being the largest ants of all. Still, best to avoid them 
all the best you can...

[trehopr1]

The Jewels of the Bee World
Orchid Bees / Euglossine Bees
Subfamily: Apinae

Orchid bees are simply without compare in
the bee world in terms of their rainbow colors.
Most of the tribe's species are solitary, though
a few are communal, or exhibit simple forms of
eusociality. There are about 200 described species,
thus far which are distributed in 5 genera.

These are absolutely fascinating creatures to read of
and no trip to Central or South America or even tropical
Asia would honestly be complete (for a naturalist) without
ever having seen these in life. Beautiful....

These 3 individual species were all found by me in
one singular drawer dedicated to world bees by one collector.
All three are from different places in Panama with dates from
the early-mid 1960's.

I could just have a drawer of these incredible things if I could
catch them myself.

So, for now it is getting late and I must rest but, I do hope my
pictures and sorted knowledge and anecdotes have made for a
pleasant if not amusing read at this wintery time !

More to come later....

[exoticimports]

Bullet ants have massive jaws that can remove a chunk of flesh. The sting is powerfully painful and the pain extends well beyond the sting site. Swelling extends quite a way as well. Speaking from experience.

[trehopr1]

One of the more unusual finds I made over the years was my acquisition of this winged male of the common Dorylus driver ants or "safari ants" as they have also been called. These winged creatures are known as "sausage flies" although that is a misnomer as these are not flies. They are quite harmless and fly at night to gain a chance to mate with a queen from another colony.

I imagine creatures of all kinds take advantage of this protein "feast" when these fellows are briefly on the wing...