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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 15:20:10 GMT -5
I wasn't sure if there is already a 'BUG' thread on this forum. I'm not aware of one so I decided to start one, mostly because of the recent interest with insects on these boards. This can be a place to ask insect or 'BUG' related questions, or to share pics of insect feeders you might be using, or even pets of the insect variety you might be raising. Even interesting creepy-crawly critters that show up in your backyard, can have their pics posted here. For a group of species that are so integral to our dear plant's diet and lifestyle, it is time these creatures have their own place for topic of discussion. I chose the 'Materials' section to post this thread in, partly because it didn't seem to fit too well into the other sections, and mostly because, in a strange way, insects are 'Plant Food' for our chosen hobby.
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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 15:41:45 GMT -5
I wanted to say something about a very interesting book I picked up a while ago. (Copyright 2003) The name of the book is "For Love of Insects" by Thomas Eisner. 448 pages of colorful picures of numerous insects, arachnids(spiders), and other arthropods. Everytime I pick up this book and read something new, I am usually amazed with what nature has come up with. For a fascinating read and spectacular photos, I recommend this book, just because of the very close look it takes at strange (to us) insect behavior and their intereactions with other creatures and plants. It even show pics of Drosera capillaris capturing an insect. On the next page it shows the sundew-feeding caterpillar Trichoptilus parvulus, devouring the sundew's traps, sticky glands and all, even the carcusses of all the other trapped insects. One of these caterpillar's observed over an eight day span, was able to eat several entire leaves and also deglanded several others.
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Post by ellsie on Mar 3, 2009 16:01:56 GMT -5
That's a GREAT idea dvg!! ;D I'd be totally up for posting insect pictures....now if only I can figure out how to do that here on this forum.....I think tael posted some instructions.......
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Post by labine on Mar 3, 2009 16:08:13 GMT -5
very good idea DVG ! Mega snails frome Denmark.
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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 16:22:39 GMT -5
Wow! I'd really like to see some pics of your mantids if possible. I actually bought a Mantid egg sack a couple of summers ago, from NIC, at a local garden centre. I purchased it in late July, and left it outside hanging on a sunflower stalk in the garden. Being Alberta, it was probably too cool to hatch. After a few weeks of no action, I brought the egg sack into the house and placed it in a warm spot, inside a clear plastic glass and sealed the lid. The next day the glass was crawling with about a hundred of them. I went around the yard, sprinkling them on my Daturas, and then went into the garden and dropped them off on various plants. I left a couple in my grow area, but they quickly became feed for pings and other things. The ones outside were very territorial. I only saw one mantid per plant. Very interesting creatures, and I could see myself raising one or two of them.
For posting pics I use photobucket. I upload my pics there. To post a pic you have to have "IMG" and "/IMG" sandwiching the photo info, respectively with no spaces. I just started posting photos, but if you have any questions, I or other members would be happy to help you.
EDIT* I tried to post the IMG and /IMG in brackets and it didn't print so I tried putting the backeted IMG's inside some quotes to see if that works.
new edit. The 'IMG' and '/IMG' are enclosed not in the quotes but in this bracket '[' and this bracket ']' the square lower case brackets next to the 'P' key on your keyboard. If this confuses you even more, Mabudon can probably help you out better.
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Post by labine on Mar 3, 2009 17:06:00 GMT -5
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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 17:26:33 GMT -5
Labine, how big were the mega snail/slugs? I've seen large black ones in White Rock BC, about 4-6" long. Seemed quite large at the time. And I love the patterning on a dragonfly's wings, even though that dragonfly's best days are probably far behind him now.
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Post by hal on Mar 3, 2009 17:43:04 GMT -5
I've always been fascinated by insects. I had several dozen hissing cockroaches at one time, and if I could ever have found some of those Asian stick insects I would have got some in a second. Here's a giant millipede from Eastern India. That concrete curb is about 6" wide.
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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 17:48:19 GMT -5
Yeah millipede's are amazing to watch...the way their legs move in unison in different sections, like waves, is captivating to look at. Even the leg's patterns caught on your still shot look ornamental.
Hal, I've seen the stick insects for sale in pet stores before, and there are probably insect clubs with different breeders as members. I'd like to find one of those clubs/forums, especially in Canada if there is one.
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Post by labine on Mar 3, 2009 17:54:32 GMT -5
DVG: The snails were 4 to 6 inches also. First time i see snails big like these. I found the dragon fly when he was about to die so yes it's days were counted.
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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 18:29:40 GMT -5
Petmantis, I hope you can find the pics of your old bug photos. And do post up the butterflies, I'd love to see them.
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Post by ellsie on Mar 3, 2009 18:44:06 GMT -5
Petmantis, If you get a chance, go and talk to Georges Brossard (the guy that started the Montreal Insectarium)...he's such a great guy!! ;D Love his show too!! Hal, What a weird(? maybe not in my case) coincidence......I bred Stick insects too!! Any particular species you're interested in? Dvg, Unfortunately, most of the people in Canada that bred insects were either fined or raided by CFIA and so now, live in seclusion. I have to warn you though, once you dive into this hobby, it's just as addicting as this CP one!! (at least your plants will have food in the winter months though..... )
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Post by hal on Mar 3, 2009 19:01:58 GMT -5
Hal, What a weird(? maybe not in my case) coincidence......I bred Stick insects too!! Any particular species you're interested in? Honestly, I have very little knowledge of them. But the leaf/stick insects at the Toronto Zoo are some of my favourite animals there, after the frogs. Are they a lot of work to keep?
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Post by ellsie on Mar 3, 2009 19:14:31 GMT -5
I can't say for certain, but I might have given some of my surplus Phasmid eggs to people that worked at the Toronto Zoo. Most species of Stick/Leaf insects are quite easy to keep, and you can keep many individuals in an aquarium tank, as long as you have an ample supply of bramble leaves for them to eat YEAR ROUND!! Bramble includes plants from the Rose family and Raspberry/Blackberry family. You might have seen "wild" raspberry/blackberry bushes along the sides of the road, the ones with tons of thorns! The only problem is, when the eggs eventually hatch (can take several months, even longer than waiting for CP seeds to germinate!!) fresh plant food need to be given. This is especially hard in the winter, since bramble dies off!! I have tried to other types of plant food, but Phasmids are known to be extremely picky eaters!!
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Post by dvg on Mar 3, 2009 19:18:25 GMT -5
Dvg, Unfortunately, most of the people in Canada that bred insects were either fined or raided by CFIA and so now, live in seclusion. I have to warn you though, once you dive into this hobby, it's just as addicting as this CP one!! (at least your plants will have food in the winter months though..... ) Ellsie, that is very unfortunate and something I was unaware of. How long ago did that happen? Yes I can imagine that hobby could be quite addicting. Right now I have three different types of flightless fruitfly and two different types of tropical springtails. My plants are getting plenty of food, as well as the feral/'pet' spiders that live between the cp pots. Once I find out where they are living, I always try to drop off a few fruit flies to them, while I'm feeding my plants ;D.
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