Uploads from Andrew Cooper 2013

The Atlas Moth

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:42:51 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

This individual was reared by a friend of mine and with a total wing surface area of 400 cm2, it is the biggest moth in the world.

However, the Atlas moth only has a wingspan of over 25cm whereas the White Witch moth has 31cm (12 in), making it THE biggest moth in terms of wingspan.

Comma

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:10:26 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

The first butterfly seen in the garden this year, photographed through the mesh on the pond.

Nice to see and I am currently planting Nettles in sunny, sheltered areas of the garden to hopefully encourage these and other species to lay their eggs later on in the year.

I have also planted a couple of Alder Buckthorn trees today to attract Brimstone butterflies to the garden; because Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn are their caterpillars sole foodplants.

European Map butterfly

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:01:29 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

The Map (Araschnia levana) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family (the same as our Red Admirals). It is common throughout the lowlands of central and eastern Europe, and is expanding its range massively in western Europe and in a relatively short length of time.

In the UK, this species is a very rare vagrant, but there have also been several unsuccessful attempts at introducing this species over the past 100 years or so: in the Wye Valley in 1912, the Wyre Forest in the 1920s, South Devon in 1942, Worcester during the 1960s, Cheshire in the 1970s and the South Midlands during the 1990s.
All these introductions failed and eggs or larvae have never been recorded in the wild in the UK.

However it is predicted that this species could colonise the UK within 20 years or possibly even less; it may only take a fertile female to be blown across from northern France where the species is being stopped from flying over here because of the English Channel.

Purple Emperor

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:59:16 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

Sadly I didn't get a better photograph of this magnificent butterfly when I went to find them at Bentley Woods in Wiltshire, so this is just a record shot.

Hoping to visit the woods again as I've heard the butterflies can be seen in the car park!

Horsehead Grasshopper

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:22:45 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

Yes this is a Grasshopper, a very unusual one though! Managed to get hold of this species at the Bugfest a few months back.

My birthday is tomorrow so I won't be online but hopefully I will be able to catch up will all your uploads next week! :)

Young Deaths-head larvae

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:01:24 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

These are the Deaths Head Hawkmoth caterpillars which I said I had about a month ago.

Well they are much bigger than this now so will be posting a photo soon, hopefully.

Update: The female Praying Mantis is showing signs of getting better- the honey looks to be doing her good!

Giant African mantis

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:50:28 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

This is the same Mantis that was in the video a couple of weeks of it eating a Locust.

Sadly this fully grown female has come down with a bacterial disease that probably originated from the Brown Crickets she was eating.

I have put her in a different enclosure away from any other Mantids because the disease can spread easily. I've also decided to feed her more Locusts, Meal Worms and even baby Stick Insects to try and vary the food. She's been drinking well but only eaten one locust in about a week.

I've been told to try and feed her watered down honey, I don't know why but it won't do any harm.

European Swallowtail pupae

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:08:29 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

These were given to me by a friend in Malta.
I am hoping to try and breed them this Summer; first I'll try and get a pairing (mating pair) and then I shall release the adults into my greenhouse where there shall be potted nectar plants for the adult butterflies and potted carrot and fennel (caterpillar foodplants)for the females to hopefully lay eggs on.

The adults will hatch around June and they shall alternate between the greenhouse to outdoor netted cages and even to the living room if it's raining!

Desert locust (immature adult)

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:01:40 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

This species which originates in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia is the species that you see in huge swarms and that destroy crops- below is how these solitary insects become swarms:

Abundance of food leads the solitary locusts to the same areas and when the insects' hind legs repeatedly bump against each other, this stimulus triggers a cascade of metabolic and behavioral changes that cause the insects to transform from the solitary form to the gregarious form.

When this happens, they change from green-coloured to yellow and black and the adults change from brown to pink (immature) or yellow (mature). The bodies become shorter, and they give off a pheromone that causes them to be attracted to each other, and subsequently swarm formation.

I am currently trying to breed these not only so that I have a constant food source for my Mantids but also because I think they're lovely and interesting insects.

Giant African mantis feeding on Locust

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:18:07 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a video:

Not good quality but thought it would be good to share.

This species is native to West Africa, south of the Sahara desert. It can also be found as an introduced species in areas outside its original range including Israel and Spain.

Females can reach 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length. This individual readily feeds on insects as big or even bigger than herself but in the wild this family of mantis has been known to catch small birds.

Madagascan Bulls Eye Silkmoth

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:41:36 -0700

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

AKA the Suraka Silkmoth (antherina suraka).

This species can be found in Madagascar and Mayotte but is a common species amongst breeders and is relatively easy to rear as they feed on Privet (pictured) as well as many other species of plant.

I am currently waiting for various species of butterfly and moth to emerge from hibernation; either in March or April including a few European Swallowtail- one of my favourite species!

*Saw some frog-spawn in the pond today; Spring is hopefully on it's way!

Malaysian Leaf Katydid (nymph)

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:53:59 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

When fully grown this species is around 70mm in length. These nymphs are thought to be a mimic of spider with long thin legs and a bulbous abdomen. The whole life-cycle takes approx 1 year.

This is not a very difficult species compared with other species of Katydids which are actually large bush crickets. It will tolerate temperatures of 15-28C but likes humidity with reasonable ventilation- clean out regularly. This particular species enjoy communal living and they will feed on Privet, Raspberry, Bramble, Oak, Sumac, Buddleia and Viburnum but also enjoy flower petals.

Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 11:34:50 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

The Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys lobata) lives on the ground around dead leaves and bushes in damp areas such as tropical rainforests.

This specimen is a young nymph (immature mantis), probably about 2nd instar- one I bought from the Bugfest.

Amata mogadorensis

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:56:15 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

This beautiful moth originally from North Africa is a member of the Tiger moth family (Arctiidae).

A really easy species to breed; the larvae can feed on Lettuce, Dandelion and other low growing plants.

Giant Malaysian Shield Mantis

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:19:01 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

(Rhombodera basalis)

This Praying Mantis which originates from Malaysia as the name suggests can grow to 100mm if a male and 120mm if it's a female (4 inches) and is apparently a quite aggressive species. This is a female and I am currently feeding her shop bought crickets as there aren't many wild insects to feed her at the moment.

Deaths Head Cockroach

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:37:22 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

Here is a close-up shot of one the Deaths Head Cockroaches which I am breeding at home.
Talking of Deaths Head's, I recently received some Deaths Head Hawkmoth eggs from Germany which have already started hatching; will be uploading photos in the next week.

I recently went to Bugfest, an insect fair which is held in places around the UK. Every year in February it is Yeovil that is home to Bugfest so for the first time I attended as it's not too far from me. I came back with Katydids, Peruvian Fern insects, caterpillars, sun beetle cocoons, Leaf Insects and 4 new species of Mantis as well as some other species!

Dave- I am still trying to get a photo of the jumping spider who at the moment is hiding in bark.

Deaths Head Cockroach enclosure

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:52:16 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

I rarely show you the other creatures which I breed at home and what I breed them in so here is a photo of both. These are my Death's head Cockroaches (Blaberus craniifer), a lovely species that is easy to keep as it cannot climb up glass or plastic and they are relatively clean and do not smell, they are not the 'dirty' cockroaches that everybody thinks of as the classic roach.

Their name is due to the markings on the top of the thorax of the adults who have beautiful wings; not for flying as such but more gliding downwards to escape predators. They feed on fruit and veg but also like oats or similar dry foods.

Bullseye moth

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:56:48 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

This is the same species as those 'stinging' caterpillars I shared with you a couple of weeks back. These individuals however are from another brood that I received as cocoons from a friend of mine. I am hoping that they will pair so I can get more larvae as I only have 5 left because some failed to feed.

The large eye spots from which the moth get's it's name are for scaring away predators by pretending to be a larger animal, perhaps an Owl. The white markings inside the 'eyes' are an imitation of light reflecting on the surface of your eyes.

Gonimbrasia Krucki

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:08:18 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

A species which I cannot find a English name for.

The individual in the photo has literally just shed it's skin, this is why the the head is a red colour because it is fresh however when it dries and hardens the head will turn black.

This larvae is in it's 5th instar.

Photo below is of the large amount of eggs I had back in the Autumn 2012, some of you may remember. Above is what the larvae look like now!

Rothschildia Cincta

nobody@flickr.com (Andrew Cooper 2013) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:56:36 -0800

Andrew Cooper 2013 posted a photo:

I like the latin name of this species so thought I'd include it!

Currently have 2 sets of larvae of this species, one in their 2nd instar and the others in their 4th instar.

For most insect species the term "instar" is used to denote the developmental stages of the larvae. In Lepidoptera, (Butterflies and moths) larvae of most species have 5 instars and then pupate (make a cocoon/pupae) however in some species of moth there have been up to seven or more instars which is unusual for most!

It is when the larvae moult (change instar) that they grow and sometimes change colour and pattern.