You learn something new each day

[tidal]

As some of you may have spotted I like taking pics of bugs.

Usually they are very small ones but today I met this character (and about two to three hundred of his mates down on the Rio Cullar......



I didn't know you got locusts in Spain are they normal residents?
I know you are supposed to report them in France.......

[Heston]

I have noticed there seem to be a lot more this year.

[laclotte]

.....looks like he/she has just visited the dentist

[katy]

It looks like a Preying Mantis.

[Miggy]

locusts are abundante this time of year here, got a few in my scorpion tank for them to feed on... they are crop destroyers in the fields but harmless if you pick them up, just a massive grasshopper! Langosta!

[MrsP]

http://www.just-a-webpage.com/rantings/?p=161

They are much prettier green

[guirigriton]

I thought grillos were noisy, but you can't imagine the noise and commotion that a locust can create when they land in a girl's hair.

[guirigriton]

Anyone for supper?

[detourer]

Great picture Tidal............is it a locust?

I spoke to "our people" in Morocco today and they told me although not yet as bad as earlier years swarms are moving up from Algeria and Mauri and some are already being blown over the Atlas .....from there they get blown over here.........Erggghhhhh.

..

[tidal]

Yep it is definitely a locust, though apparently not the same breed as those causing problems in Africa.
Having now done the research it appears that Spain has a resident population and that the wet weather earlier in the year is responsible for the larger numbers being seen here this year.

Like I say you learn something new every day........

[detourer]

That's good news then, I think!

I have come across many "swarms" in North Africa, but have never got out the vehicle...Drove on with slimy widows.....Erhhhhhhh. Hate the things. More pink in colour over there.

..

[ValL]

I found a picture of a praying mantis on our patio, not a good quality one.

[Daystar]

We regularly have the yellow crop-sprayer flying around the village. I was wondering what the main target was?

I was amazed to see a dragonfly/damselfly which was totally black...wings and all, the other evening.

Nice photo, Tidal !!!

[alaninspain]

How can you tell if a praying mantis is a quality one or not ? I am bemused.

[tidal]

was amazed to see a dragonfly/damselfly which was totally black...wings and all, the other evening.

Was it one of these?



Still haven't identified it yet (still going through latest pics) but the males do show a bright red extrusion at the tail

[tidal]

But probably "Calopteryx maculata "

Unless of course somone knows different

That is what I love about the insect population......I do....and am willing to learn something new every day

[Daystar]

It probably is the one, Tidal. It spent a couple of hours flitting between two twigs by an irrigation ditch.
Ref. praying mantis...........definitely the patio

[alaninspain]

Sorry about the quality comment, I think the heat is getting to me. Last summer we had a flying cockroach land on the balcony, I did not know there were such things, and I certainly did not bother to take a photograph.

[ValL]

alaninspain "How can you tell if a praying mantis is a quality one or not ? I am bemused"


My sentence construction is dreadful. I meant that the quality of the photo was not good. I know nothing of the quality of praying mantis.

[Daystar]

ValL.......but a female praying mantis would certainly know the quality of the male she is about to have for lunch.