A Bug for Dan

[Dan From Smithville]

Must be an Aussie or gardening name.

Slaters - Backyard Buddies

Slaters, also known as Roley Poleys, Pill Bugs, or Wood Lice are common across Australia. They look like tiny little armadillos!

backyardbuddies.org.au

Slater Control in Your Garden

Slaters - also known as woodlice, pillbugs, and 'butcher boys' - are ground-dwelling, 14 legged creatures with chewing mouthparts.

www.yates.com.au

And roly poly is an accepted scientific name. LOL!

I used to have a book on trees of the eastern US that listed all the known common names for each species. The list for each was extensive and revealing of the way common names are applied to the same species depending on where the name originated.

I rather like some of the regional differences.

I can't think of one at the moment, but I recall some of the Brazilian common names for certain insects were particularly interesting.

 

[John53]

Not sure like usual. Maybe a type of crane fly? It was fairly large, the body was about 20mm.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Not sure like usual. Maybe a type of crane fly? It was fairly large, the body was about 20mm.

View attachment 83677

Yes. What I don't understand is how something like that managed to fly all the way from the Middle East thousands of years ago.

And manage to stick with the other one or find it again. What are the odds?

 

[John53]

This one looks like a lady bug but I don't think it is. There's a plague of them here at the moment on my peas. There's also a colony of them living in my letter box.

 

[John53]

Yes. What I don't understand is how something like that managed to fly all the way from the Middle East thousands of years ago.

And manage to stick with the other one or find it again. What are the odds?

They're not great flyers so I also am bemused. There's a lot of flapping going on but they never go more than about a metre.

 

[John53]

Yes. What I don't understand is how something like that managed to fly all the way from the Middle East thousands of years ago.

And manage to stick with the other one or find it again. What are the odds?

I just worked it out and now I feel stupid. They hitched a ride on the kangaroos.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

This one looks like a lady bug but I don't think it is. There's a plague of them here at the moment on my peas. There's also a colony of them living in my letter box.

View attachment 83678View attachment 83679View attachment 83680

I think it is a species of lady bug. Did you do a search yet?

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I just worked it out and now I feel stupid. They hitched a ride on the kangaroos.

Of course. What was I thinking? The kangaroos. It's always the kangaroos.

Those pouches are pretty roomy I suppose. Probably a lot of insect couples could hitch a ride.

 

[John53]

I think it is a species of lady bug. Did you do a search yet?

Not yet. I posted it to the Aussie entomology group but it takes a while for an admin to approve them.

 

[John53]

I think it is a species of lady bug. Did you do a search yet?

Do lady bugs hang about piled on top of each other? I assumed they were solitary.

 

[John53]

I think it is a species of lady bug. Did you do a search yet?

Found this with a google image search. Has the circular dot pattern like the ones here and it says they've been introduced here.

Hippodamia variegata - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Found this with a google image search. Has the circular dot pattern like the ones here and it says they've been introduced here.

Hippodamia variegata - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I think it is may be that one. It looked like Hippodamia, but I couldn't remember the genus name off the top of my head to do the search.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Do lady bugs hang about piled on top of each other? I assumed they were solitary.

They can mass. We have an introduced species that masses in the fall before seeking overwintering locations. Often in a house. They bite too, the little ********.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Do lady bugs hang about piled on top of each other? I assumed they were solitary.

Australia is entering or is in spring isn't it?

 

[John53]

Australia is entering or is in spring isn't it?

A bit over half way through it.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

A bit over half way through it.

Maybe you will have a bumper crop of beetles this year. I should send you some vials.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Do lady bugs hang about piled on top of each other? I assumed they were solitary.

The one's on the bottom are giving the ones on top a ride to the hospital.

 

[John53]

The one's on the bottom are giving the ones on top a ride to the hospital.

I wish they would find somewhere other than my letterbox to hold their orgies

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I wish they would find somewhere other than my letterbox to hold their orgies

I really should stop mailing you that pheromone infused junk mail.

 

[exchemist]

They can mass. We have an introduced species that masses in the fall before seeking overwintering locations. Often in a house. They bite too, the little ********.

Is it true they also exude a noxious fluid from their knee joints, to deter adversaries?

I think I read this somewhere, but it might have been 1st of April.