November 30, 2012

This Mosquito was sitting a Miniature Rose that grows on the fence.

The eyes came a quite a surprise!

(Click on the photo to see a larger version)

November 29, 2012

This Dragonfly stopped briefly, giving me the opportunity to take a quick photo.

Although harsh sunlight took its toll, somehow the blue eyes seem to make up for it.

November 28, 2012

This Caterpillar is known as a "Mopane Worm" 

 Gonimbrasia belina is a species of moth found in much of southern Africa, whose large edible caterpillar, the mopani or mopane worm, is an important source of protein for millions of Southern Africans. 

I am truly thankful that I have never been that hungry :)

Read more about these at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonimbrasia_belina

November 27, 2012

Another death-trap in the Daisies.

This little Crab Spider blended in very well with the background while

a Hover Fly was hovering (!) around an adjacent Daisy.

Unfortunately it started to rain and I could not wait around for it to land 

on the Daisy where the Spider was waiting patiently for supper.

Remains of a previous meal can be seen on the extreme right.

November 26, 2012

Doing it in style....

New developments at Zulu Croc Reptile Park outside Hluhluwe really draws the eye!

I couldn't resist to stop for a photo.

If you are planning a trip to our beautiful town and surrounds, be sure to have 

Zulu Croc Reptile Park on your itinerary!

www.zulucroc.co.za

The structure is part of an initiative of Africa!Ignite. The following is copied from their website:

"The National Development Agency (NDA), Africa!Ignite is establishing a network of tourist marketplaces across the province under the WOWZULU brand, to integrate craft and tourism development and provide opportunities for local craft entrepreneurs to grow their businesses."

November 25, 2012

A beautiful Caterpillar - I wonder whether it will become a Moth or a Butterfly.

November 24, 2012

What initially seemed to be a plain Grasshopper, turned out to be quite amazing little creature.
Unfortunately it was quite windy and the Sunflower plant
on which is was sitting kept swaying, making it rather difficult to focus.
The more I look at the photo, the more it seems as if  there is a neon light in its abdomen!
Such beautiful eyes, too!  I would have loved to get a different angle on this one if it was not so windy!

November 23, 2012

This little Crab Spider caught a Hover Fly that is twice its size.

A lesson in life? Take care not to land on the wrong daisies...

November 22, 2012

Pollen grains and rain drops.

These flowers are called 4 O'clocks because they open in the afternoon and are 

pollinated by moths that fly at night.

We have had drizzly cool weather and more rain is expected over the next few days.

November 21, 2012

The Fly. 

We have been without power for most of the evening. 

Although I could continue work on my laptop, I did not have an internet connection.

November 20, 2012

Well camouflaged and nestled in a dead miniature rose, I doubt that this Lynx Spider is waiting for an unsuspecting insect to approach. Judging by the way the petals have been strung together, the little rose has probably been converted into a nest. THIS one will be well worth watching!

Last year throughout August I posted various photos of a Crab Spider waiting for eggs to hatch.

The babies eventually emerged on 28 august 2011 and I had the privilege of posting photos of the event.

I have tried for a number of days to get a photo of this one, but the Spider would make a dash and hide as soon as I raised the camera. It must be getting used to me, because today it just sat there. 

To avoid getting too close, I used a macro converter to try and get a shot of the face.

How amazing are the four little horns!

November 19, 2012

 'Mugshots' of a beautiful little Butterfly

November 18, 2012

We had a rather cloudy day today, but I found this Lizard sunning itself the moment the sun peeped through the clouds. It had a strange fluffy line running down its back. 

Judging by the dull appearance of its skin, it might be due to shed it soon.

There used to be a Lizard that came into the house to climb up against the curtain 

where it would feed on any insect that found its way in through the door 

and consequently landed in the window.

Since I got the puppies last year,  I have not seen the Lizard in the house....  I don't blame it :) 

 I can't help but wonder whether this might be the same one.

November 17, 2012

The patch of Vygie flowers are beautiful right now. 

A variety of bees and other insects are visiting to get their fair share of the pollen.

It was such a treat to watch this little critter's pollen collecting skills.

It ran round and round in the stamens - and ended up covered in pollen.

It then settled on the petal and attempted to scrape the polled towards its underside with its legs.

November 16, 2012

A very grumpy looking Spectacled Weaver.

He somehow reminds me of  Jeff Dunham's puppet Walter!

November 15, 2012

A shot into the garden out of desperation!

The photo that I planned to post did not turn out as expected.

Perhaps I will try again tomorrow.

November 14, 2012

This Glossy Starling certainly gives new meaning to the word "eyeballing"!

It sat high on the Sausage Tree watching my every move.                   

November 13, 2012

 These tiny red-eyed flies love the little Verbena flowers.

The guy above calmly sucked from the flower centers, while the bottom one 'stabbed' hastily 

into the flower as can be seen by the blurred mouth-parts in the photo below 

November 12, 2012

 A visitor was waiting when I walked into my office at home this afternoon!
It did not mind posing for a few 'mugshots'

This spider features a marking on its head that resembles a pair of praying hands.
It also has amazingly large Pedipalps that are used to grab and hold prey.

This side view clearly shows the Pedipalps.

I recently downloaded a page from the internet that shows the various eye arrangements of Spiders.

Apparently it is a handy tool for identification purposes, but does not seem to feature these.

Two eyes are situated either side of the 'hands' in the area of the knuckles, 

two large eyes face forward, with four smaller eyes arranged below them on a nose-like bump.

  (two of these eyes could easily be mistaken for nostrils, making it look a bit like a bat)

This is not a common Daddy-long legs, it has thicker legs and 

does not get the shakes when it feels threatened.

It has made its way into the corner of the office where it will probably build a web

that I won't have the heart to remove....   

Strange pets that I keep!

November 11, 2012

 The Lilac Breasted Roller was perched on the very top of this tree that grows behind my house.

It reminded me of a decoration on a Christmas tree!

I had to zoom to the max to get this photo.  See how tall the tree is in the next photo:

In the photo below the bird is perched on my roof - the tree can be seen in the background.

It is obviously feeding its young of the insect it is holding in its beak.

...and here are the mouths that it has to feed!

November 10, 2012

Today I decided to try and tame the lawn that was already knee-high in places!

(Our gardener is standing in as cleaner in the hostel in the place of someone who recently retired.)

There was a visitor in the birdbath! Do snails drink water, I wonder? 

Perhaps the poor guy was trying to wash all the grass cuttings off its shell, or

perhaps it was just admiring the snail in the reflection!

November 9, 2012

On October 20 during a visit in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park, I noticed this Dikkop aka Water Thick Knee nesting in the grass. The male bird was nearby keeping a watchful eye.

Today I went to the same spot at the waterhole and found the little family!

How cute is this?  It is very obvious why it is named "Thick Knee" 

Although I took a photo @maggieztree, I did not post it. Looks pretty much the same as two weeks ago!

November 8, 2012

What a face!

A Portia Spider was brought to me in a plastic container today by a colleague.

After the photo session at home tonight, it slowly made its way over my desk and 

is now perched above the PC against the window.

I do not mind these spiders in my home - they feed mainly on other spiders.

November 7, 2012

Happy 15th birthday dear little Muffin!

Your teeth are falling out, you have bad skin your breath is not too fresh these days, 

but I love you as I loved you when you were a cute ball of fluff with puppy breath.

Your eyes have grown dim and your ears no longer hear,  but somehow you still 

manage to be waiting to welcome me home after work every day.

Thank you for being such a wonderful friend!

November 6, 2012

This morning as I rushed out, I noticed this new Hibiscus bloom. 

It was quite high up but I could not resist to stop and try for a photo.

Only after downloading the photo tonight did I notice the bug, the pollen grains 

stuck on silk strands and the spider. It seems the bug also has silk wrapped around its legs.

Not my best photo, but considering the distance and the fact that is was taken 

'on the fly'  with arms outstretched - not too bad!

November 5, 2012

This wild Daisy is rich in pollen and favoured by all sorts of visitors.

We are experiencing a problem with bees that are nesting in a wall at the boarding school.

Various attempts have been made to get them away, but they are quite happy and refuse to move!

Not many bees can boast about the fact that they live in a boarding school!

November 4, 2012

 My dogs found this Lily Weevil today but soon lost interest because it was dead. Or so it seemed.

These insects 'play dead' when they sense danger and the tactic sure saved this guys life today 

otherwise the dogs would certainly have played it to death.

It also gave me the opportunity to get real close. 

Not a pretty site, but amazing textures though :)

November 3, 2012

The Lilac-breasted Rollers are back.

I heard the familiar screech this morning and there he was - posing at the tennis court below my house.

Every year they come to breed in the roof at the boarding school.

November 2, 2012

This Ant did not approve of the camera in its face! 

It was practically hanging by its hind legs and reaching out  - ready to bite!

November 1, 2012

A collection of fruit and a bird's nest found on the ground after yesterday's wind.

The cup-like nest might be of a Paradise Flycatcher