Wed 28 Nov 2007
Plume moths (toriba-ga) are easy to recognize because of their narrow wings, which stretch out in a T-shape when the moths are resting.
Plume Moth = ezogiku-toriba-ga
Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae
Platyptilia farfarella (Zeller, 1867)
Location: in an orange grove on the side of Kodaiji-yama in Munakata (map)
Wed 28 Nov 2007
Just as it was getting dark, I found this dung beetle (oosenchi kogane) trundling along a path in the forest.
See my previous post on this species: here
Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae
Geotrupes auratus (oosenchi kogane)
Location: forest on the side of kodaiji-yama in Munakata (map)
Sun 25 Nov 2007
I went for a walk at Ikeura Dam with the kids this morning. The final week of November but the temperature was a balmy 18 degrees C. We saw plenty of butterflies and grasshoppers, but the best find of the day was this giant praying mantis (oo-kamakiri).
Class: Insecta; Order: Mantodea; Family: Mantidae
oo-kamakiri = Japanese Giant Mantis
Tenodera aridifolia
Link to Google map: here
(Note: The map does not show this reservoir because it’s a new one.)
Sat 17 Nov 2007
It’s nice still to see so many butterflies flying around even though it’s halfway through November. I’ve taken hundreds of pictures of Asian Red Admirals (aka-tateha) over the years, but I will never tire of them. I like the way they settle on the path seemingly without a care in the world.
Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae
Vanessa indica
Asian Red Admiral = aka-tateha
Location: Fureiai Forest Park in Munakata (map).
Sat 17 Nov 2007
I’ve found oil beetles before (see this post and this one), but it was still exciting to see this one sitting on a leaf.
Coleoptera: Meloidae
Meloe coarctatus
Oil beetle = hime-tsuchi-hanmyou
Location: Fureiai Forest Park in Munakata (map)
Sat 17 Nov 2007
In England we call these green bush-crickets, while they are called katydids in America. This bush-cricket had only one hind leg, but I took the photos from its “good side” and it posed nicely against the sky with a few autumn leaves in the background for good effect.
Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae
Phaulula macilenta = hime-kudamaki-modoki
Location: Side of road near cow farm close to Munakata Common (map).