Min Bannister
Possessed dog
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2003
- Messages
- 5,994
It was answered at the time as well.Wow! A 12 year gap between question and answer.
Is that a record for this forum?
It was answered at the time as well.Wow! A 12 year gap between question and answer.
Is that a record for this forum?
I've only ever seen one Devil's Coach Horse in my life, and that was back in the early 70s. It was dead
When I lived in South London (North Kent area) ~ yonks' ago, I used to come across these coachmen fairly frequently during Summer day's. Bit scary coming across them back then, especially when they would arc their abdomens and display their pinchers - was only a kid then so it was fascinating to watch them all-be-it at a cautious distance!
In fact... that's just brought back a memory of a most unusual large bug I happened cross paths with.
It was a very large, and a very unexpected Beetle - I was in the Klondike area of the north of Scotland undertaking a bit of licenced gold prospecting, as I'd come across some information about this place being an old Klondike camp - evidence of which is still there today!
Anyway, I was exploring walking about in thick heather one nice sunny evening, when I was stopped in my tracks as I'd spotted this huge beetle directly in front of me scuttling away pretty quickly disappearing underground. Found out later it is known as 'The Tiger Beetle!' (Big; metallic green/blue Beetle, with white spots and huge pincers!
Making my the way back down to my tent, I had to pass (a bit too close for my liking) quite a number of snakes (adders, and grass) sunning/cooling themselves in the gully's along the side of the peat track down the hill. I made sure the zipper was fully zipped down that night, and on subsequent nights!
I was thinking about the Hummingbird moth yesterday - the first and only time I saw one was nearly twenty years ago in my Sister's garden in Suffolk. It flitted from flower to flower just like a hummingbird, (that had got lost in Suffolk).Another great example of convergent evolution is the remarkable Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
I saw a beautiful one of these in my sister-in-law's garden in France last year and, for a moment, thought it was a hummingbird a very long way from home:
View attachment 27683
Have Hummingbird Hawk Moth's visit the garden most years (none so far this year), there are large and smaller versions of this miraculous mimic of one of natures most fascinating flyers.I was thinking about the Hummingbird moth yesterday - the first and only time I saw one was nearly twenty years ago in my Sister's garden in Suffolk. It flitted from flower to flower just like a hummingbird, (that had got lost in Suffolk).
I was thinking about the Hummingbird moth yesterday - the first and only time I saw one was nearly twenty years ago in my Sister's garden in Suffolk. It flitted from flower to flower just like a hummingbird, (that had got lost in Suffolk).
Another look-alike insect 'escargot,' is one that seems to be on the increase in the UK with the Hummingbird Hawk Moth in mind, and that is a fly which carries the name of a 'Bee Fly.'My youngest and I saw one flying round the town centre flowerbeds years ago. What a beautiful and intriguing sight. We watched it for ages until it flew off, then popped to the library to find out what it was.
... What I saw on the path outside my house in 1969 was like a rove beetle, but really long and had about 10 legs (unforgettable). Do these beetles molt their skins ? If so then what I saw could have been the beetle dragging its old carapace behind it.
You anywhere near the coast?One of my colleagues at work saw this on a driveway today. I’m not sure if it’s flora or fauna. Those blocks are 7 3/4 inches long so it’s a fair size. Any ideas?View attachment 27862
No,the photo was taken in Northwood, MiddlesexYou anywhere near the coast?
One of my colleagues at work saw this on a driveway today. I’m not sure if it’s flora or fauna. Those blocks are 7 3/4 inches long so it’s a fair size. Any ideas?View attachment 27862
I’ll get in touch with them . I’ll post any answers on hereBrown centipedes normally don;t get much bigger than a few cm, I wonder if the specimen above is an escapee? It might be worth getting in touch with the Natural History Museum with the photo! One such found in 2005: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4201634.stm
One of my colleagues at work saw this on a driveway today. I’m not sure if it’s flora or fauna. Those blocks are 7 3/4 inches long so it’s a fair size. Any ideas?
Someone should have poked it with a stick. It looks more like one of those "sticky" toy centipedes made of silicone. ...
I’ll ask him to give it a poke this morning if it’s still there and if he’s on the same delivery. I’m not totally convinced it’s an animal.Someone should have poked it with a stick. It looks more like one of those "sticky" toy centipedes made of silicone.
View attachment 27865
Yeah that’s why I was asking about the sea, looks more sea weady than anything.That is saying 'plant with roots' to me, I have to say. (Or maybe fake centipede.) But a real creature would have joints in its legs, which would be more obvious, I think. Cool though.
edit - Maybe BadBungle's animal was actually "getting friendly" with another rove beetle? (But beetles definitely don't moult once they're an adult. and although the larvae would have legs, the pupa between larva and adult wouldn't have legs)
One of my colleagues at work saw this on a driveway today. I’m not sure if it’s flora or fauna. Those blocks are 7 3/4 inches long so it’s a fair size. Any ideas?View attachment 27862
Yes, I originally said that I wasn’t sure if it was flora or fauna. I’ve asked the postman concerned to get some more photos if it’s still there.Yes I think it is just a twig as the "legs" just look wrong. It has no doubt been brushing against the ground and has begun to take root.
I imagine it is/was a female, as the one I shown above must be a younger female of the specie. Also note that in your photograph the antenna have been lopped off somehow.Yes, I originally said that I wasn’t sure if it was flora or fauna. I’ve asked the postman concerned to get some more photos if it’s still there.
Wonder if they are sold in exotic Pet stores - (maybe a local one might be able to shed some light on it 'Stillill?')Quick update. The thing on the driveway is no longer there. I now waiting for a reply from the Natural History Museum.