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becca 🕷

@buggirlbecca

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Entomologist ✰ Researcher ✰ Tarantula Mom
Sharing my love of spiders and bugs 🕷
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Meet Kimchi the Spiny Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii)💚🐛 Native to Africa, these gorgeous mantises have become popular pets among mantis enthusiasts and it’s easy to see why! Their stunning spiny projections and false eye spots make them especially beautiful. These voracious eaters will feed on prey as large or larger than them. They are sassy and defensive mantises; when threatened, they will spread their arms and flash their wings, revealing bright yellow hindwings and false eyespots on their forewings. The eyespots and bright coloration serve to warn and deter potential predators. Nymphs like Kimchi can’t display wings defensively, as immature insects do not possess wings. Instead, Kimchi will flash her abdomen towards the threat, displaying the large eyespot that is typically hidden on top of her abdomen. Mantises make fantastic pets! Be sure to do your research into their care and requirements before considering a mantis as a pet. Above all else, purchase CAPTIVE BRED insects and other bugs. Do not support the illegal poaching and overharvesting of wild bugs. They are vital parts of their ecosystems and should not be illegally harvested for a quick buck. Have you had a pet mantis or a neat encounter with a wild one? Tell me about it in the comments below! 🐞 Shoutout to @rachaelraerobertson and the Banzo Bean community for encouraging me to get back into social media!!🥰 #entomology #insects #mantis #bugs #science #outreach #pet #fyp by @buggirlbecca
103
a year ago
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Wasp or Moth?🤔 🐝 Believe it or not, this insect is a moth! Clearwings, which belong to the family Sesiidae, are renowned for their Hymenopteriform Batesian mimicry. Batesian mimicry occurs when a harmless species evolves to mimic the warning signals (often aposematic, or cautionary, coloration) of a harmful species. This Lilac Borer (Podosesia syringae) has evolved to impersonate paper wasps (Polistes) and does so exceptionally well! The individual pictured emerged from field-harvested green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanicus) logs within our insect rearing facility. When I first saw her flying against the enclosure from a distance, I was sure I’d have to deal with an angry paper wasp😅 Upon closer inspection, though, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was one of these clearwing moth mimics instead. They’re beautiful!🥰 🐝 Lilac borers, despite their wasp-like appearance, are entirely harmless. Adults feed on nectar while larvae feed beneath the bark by chewing into the sapwood of lilac, ash and privet trees. The larvae are dull, white caterpillars with brown head capsules. Dying limbs, rough bark, trunk/branch swellings, sap exudation and frass (a technical term for insect poo) piles are good indications that these wood-boring insects have heavily infested a tree. 🐝 Would you be fooled by this tricky moth? 🦋 Let me know in the comments below! taken in Newark, Delaware by @buggirlbecca
34
5 years ago
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Check it out: these beautiful earrings are made from the iridescent wings of jewel beetles (Buprestidae)! 🪲 This incredible jewelry was crafted by talented fellow entomologist Heather Andrews (@entowhimsy) and is composed of clusters of jewel beetle elytra (AKA hardened forewings). The wings are ethically sourced after the beetles have passed of natural causes. As an entomologist who currently works on Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive jewel beetle from Asia, I just had to have a pair! 🪲 Excluding bioluminescence, all animal colorations are produced by either pigmentary coloration or structural coloration. Pigmentary colors are created by depositing pigmentation that interacts with light on a molecular level to absorb specific wavelengths. Think of your hair, for example! The brilliant iridescence common to this beetle family is not a result of pigmentation within the exoskeleton but is instead caused by structural coloration. Structural coloration is produced by the interaction between light and the microscopic, structured variation in the exoskeleton of the jewel beetles. Multilayer reflectors, which are thin parallel layers of chitin that vary in refractive index, are the most common mechanism of iridescence in beetles. The reflected color depends on the refractive index and periodicity of the multilayer reflectors and can vary with differing thickness across body regions. This is why we often see a variety of coloration on one specimen and is also why the color may vary with the angle of observation. Green is the most common multilayer color and is speculated to perform a role in crypsis (AKA camoflauge). Some research suggests that multilayer reflectors combined with a light-scattering surface texture could greatly aid in substrate matching for beetles, especially for substrates for which no insect pigment exists. While these bright, glimmering colors may stand out in an insect collection, they could very well aid in the camouflage of certain species. 🪲 Swipe left for a pic of a mating Emerald Ash Borers (Agrilus planipennis) and a video demonstrating their metallic shine. Bonus points to anyone who can name the insect whose egg mass is on that leaf!😉 by @buggirlbecca
37
6 years ago
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Have you ever seen a cicada killer?🤭 🐝 The Eastern Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus), also known as the Cicada Hawk, is a sizable, solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae. It is the largest wasp species occurring in the eastern United States and happens to be one of my favorites! 😍 Their common name was inspired by the way these wasps hunt cicadas for their offspring, lining preconstructed nest cells with the insects. Female cicada killers then deposit a single egg onto the paralyzed cicada, providing plenty of food for their offspring to develop into adulthood. As adults, these formidable wasps are not predators, instead consuming nectar, exuded plant sap and other sugary substances. 🐝 Because they sting to paralyze prey rather than to defend their nests, these wasps are truly reluctant to attack people. You can see in the video that the wasps are largely unbothered and unthreatened by my presence. They’re only interested in reproducing and creating the next generation😉 When the summer rolls around, I tend to receive a lot of worried messages regarding the presence of these guys around the home. Cicada killers tend to create their underground homes in loose, well-drained soils near sidewalks, driveways, and houses. People are understandably shocked and scared by the sheer size of these wasps! Thankfully, though, you can rest easy knowing that cicada killers want little to nothing to do with you. The chances of being stung are incredibly low. Leave them be and they won’t bother you! 🐝 What do you think of these beautiful wasps? Let me know in the comments below! 😊 by @buggirlbecca
55
6 years ago
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Unboxing a mystery box from @kf_invertebrates 🕷🥰 🕸 Recently, I ordered a premium mystery box from Kelly at KF Invertebrates. I was SO excited to receive a box full of mystery spiders valued around $500 total. Kelly did not disappoint! Swipe to see a video of the unboxing/rehousing process for a few of the spiders I got ☺️ 🕸 When shipping tarantulas, it is best to package them fairly tightly in vials or containers that are almost equal in size to the spider. This decreases the chances of damage throughout transport because, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, tarantulas are very fragile. The paper towels provide cushioned support and are dampened to provide moisture as needed. Inside the insulated box, a heating pack helps to maintain a warm temperature while they travel. In the video, you can see me open the paper towel tube to reveal the safe, happy and lively spiders inside🥰 That’s what you want to see and means the seller did a great job packaging! While I’ve only included a couple of the spiders from the box in the video, I do intend to share images on my story as well as regular posts including all of my new spiders. But if you’re curious, I included a full list of what I got in this box below! I’ll happily take any questions or name suggestions in the comments 🤗 🕸 • Arizona Blonde (Aphonopelma chalcodes) • Blue Bloom (Pamphobeteus sp. nigricolor) • Pamphobeteus sp. mascara • x2 Venezuelan Blue Bloom (Xenesthis intermedia) • x2 Indian Ornamental (Poecilotheria regalis) • Burgundy Bird Eater (Theraphosa stirmi) • Golden Blue-legged Baboon (Harpactira pulchripes) • 3 acrylic enclosures • 2 magnetic log decorations • 1 water dish • 1 DVD set on tarantulas taken in Newark, Delaware by @buggirlbecca
57
6 years ago
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Happy Valentine’s Day!🏹💖🥰 🕷 When it comes to love in the tarantula world, there’s a lot more risk involved for the male. Unlike females, males are short-lived, smaller and often clumsy. They live solely to pass on their genetic material to the next generation. Therefore, it is crucial for males to develop methods and structures to ensure their reproductive success. One of these structures are the tibial spurs, or mating hooks, which are located on the tibia on the first pair of legs. They are essential for keeping the female’s fangs at bay during copulation. 🕷 Another method males have developed is the process of drumming. Males will lightly tap near the entrance of a female’s burrow using their pedipalp to signal their presence. This serves not only to alert the female and gauge her interest but also to communicate that he is not prey. If she is not interested in mating, she will very likely eat him. If, however, the male successfully “woos” her, the mating process will begin. 🕷 During mating, the male uses his tibial spurs to hold the female’s fangs up and out of the way. Then, he inserts his emboli into her epigynum. The emboli are bulbous sexual organs located on the ends of the pedipalps and are used for sperm transfer. Their presence or absence also make it very easy to determine the sex of a mature spider! The species in the video is the Chaco Golden Knee tarantula, or Grammostola pulchripes. 🕷 I think tarantula mating is SO fascinating! What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments below!👇🏼 by @buggirlbecca
22
6 years ago
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Happy new year from me and Dwayne “The Flat Rock” Johnson! 🦂 Hey fellow bug lovers — this past year sure has been crazy! I hope you all have been staying as safe and healthy as possible. I’m sorry to have been absent from social media for so long; I had some health problems (thankfully not COVID related) to manage along with a surprisingly busy field season, presenting at ESA for my first time and applying to graduate programs. With all of this on my plate, I decided it was best to take some time away from social media but I am so excited to finally be back🥰 I’ve missed you all! A big thank you to everyone who reached out to me while I was away. It means a lot! 🦂 Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been slowly adding to my bug family. Here are a few new additions! Hopefully, you’ll all remember Dwayne “The Flat Rock” Johnson (tattoo of Dwayne by @katy.wiedemann). The first three pictures are of him. I was fortunate enough to be able to welcome two new flat rock scorpions to the family! The fourth picture is of a young male Banded Flat Rock Scorpion, Hadogenes paucidens. The fifth picture is of a younger female Flat Rock Scorpion, Hadogenes troglodytes, the same species as Dwayne. These new scorpions need names! Drop some suggestions in the comments below👇🏼Punny names preferred🤪 🦂 I’ve also ordered a premium mystery box from @kf_invertebrates that I just can’t wait to share with all of you as soon as it arrives☺️ stay tuned for more info on that!! taken in Newark, Delaware by @buggirlbecca
90
6 years ago
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Look what I found this weekend: hellgrammites!😍 💦 This bizarre, worm-like creature is known as a hellgrammite. Hellgrammites are the larval form of Dobsonflies (swipe through the images to see this insect’s adult form with a photo by Joe Bartok ). This species is Corydalus cornutus, the Eastern Dobsonfly. Found in healthy, rocky streams, these bizarre animals live underneath stones or snags and feed on a variety of soft-bodied, aquatic insects as well as minnows and tadpoles. Adults do not need to feed, instead focusing their energy on locating a mate. They have a short time to do so, living for only 3 to 10 days as adults. By contrast, the larvae take 1 to 3 years to complete their development, molting up to 12 times in the process. So, the larger hellgrammite I’m holding is likely a few years old! After completing larval development, the hellgrammite will emerge from the stream to burrow into nearby soil. There, it will create a pupal chamber, forming a pupa that will allow the insect to slowly develop into its adult form. Once the insect is ready, it will emerge as an adult and seek a mate. 💦 The abdomen of the hellgrammite has 8 pairs of lateral, tactile filaments which are used to help sense their surroundings and protect them from predators. At the base of abdominal segments 1 through 7 are pairs of tracheal gills which help the insect to absorb dissolved oxygen from the water. You can see these tufts in the first video! 🥰 These larvae also have spiracles (breathing holes), allowing them to breathe out of water when necessary. When disturbed, the larvae will either bite defensively with their large, serrated mandibles or will curl into a ball (as seen in the second video). This hellgrammite was thankfully not interested in biting me at all, participating in our little mini photoshoot before I released him back into the stream. 💦 These insects, along with other aquatic invertebrates such as caddisflies, stoneflies and mayflies, are great indicators of water quality and health. These insects do not tolerate polluted streams and therefor are not readily found in unhealthy waters. Have you found a hellgrammite before? Tell me about it in the comments!😊 taken in Lititz, Pennsylvania by @buggirlbecca
80
6 years ago
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Find what you love and pursue it🕷 🕷 No long informational post today. Instead, this is a friendly reminder to find your passion in life and pursue it!! I decided when I was 5 years old that I wanted to become an Entomologist. It was my dream and I made it happen! So can you💕 I’m not saying that it will be easy — I certainly faced my own share of obstacles — but it will be worth it. I’m grateful every day that I get to do what I do🥰 🕷 What’s your passion in life?? Tell me in the comments below! 💕 🕷 This is Poe, my P. hanumavilasumica. Unfortunately, he passed last year from a bad molt. Poe was fairly comfortable being handled and never displayed defensive posture; HOWEVER, please remember that this genus has potent venom and their bite is unpleasant. Handle with care or not at all! For more info on this genus, see a couple posts back. taken in Newark, Delaware by @buggirlbecca
95
6 years ago
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🐝 🐝 Watch as this European Hornet (Vespa crabro) dismembers its prey: a Dog-day Cicada (Neotibicen canicularis). This wasp is the largest eusocial wasp in Europe. It was introduced to North America in the 1840s. True hornets belong to the genus Vespa, making this species the only true hornet in North America until the recent discovery of the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) in 2019. 🐝 These hornets are largely carnivorous, hunting prey items often much larger than themselves including cicadas, grasshoppers, beetles and mantises. I actually found this hornet attacking the cicada because of the explosively loud “screams” the cicada was producing. After it was stung, it slowly became paralyzed and stopped producing the sound. The hornet then made quick work of all limbs and wings; in this video, you can see her use her mandibles to tear away the cicada’s legs. When insect food sources are unavailable, they will instead feed on fallen fruit and other sugary snacks. by @buggirlbecca
39
6 years ago
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Groot the Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa)💕 🍂 Ghost Mantises are beautiful insects native to Africa. With their calm demeanor, stunning coloration of browns, grays and greens and their ability to live in communal colonies, these mantises make attractive pets! Their cryptic (AKA camouflaged) appearance helps fool potential predators into believing that this isn’t an insect but instead is just a dead, dried-up leaf. They are even capable of playing dead when disturbed and will keep up the act for minutes at a time! I will gently blow on Groot when she does this and she will drop the act. 🍂 Like many insects, Ghost Mantises are sexually dimorphic, meaning the female and male differ in appearance. Females are larger, thicker-bodied and have 6 abdominal segments. Males, on the other hand, are thinner and smaller with 8 abdominal segments. The males also have longer, thicker antennae and the leaf-like crown on their head is tall, jagged and often asymmetrical. Females have shorter, straighter and more symmetrical crowns along with thin antennae. 🍂 Chime in with your own fun facts about these cool mantises in the comments below! Or, if this is your first time hearing about them, tell me what you think their best feature is🥰 taken in Newark, Delaware by @buggirlbecca
49
6 years ago
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Spooks the Ghost Ornamental Tarantula💀 🕷 Poecilotheria vittata, the Ghost Ornamental Tarantula, is a gorgeous arboreal spider endemic to Sri Lanka. As such, these are old world tarantulas and therefor lack urticating hairs. While they are reluctant to bite, this genus has fairly potent venom. A bite can result in moderate to severe pain in tandem with long-lasting muscle cramps. They are also FAST. For these reasons, Poecilotheria (or Pokies, as we lovingly call them) are not recommended for beginner tarantula enthusiasts. 🕷 That being said, I was lucky enough to find my Pokie out and about today! The way Spooks was stretched out over the decorative skull hide in the enclosure was absolutely picture-perfect so I had just to share 🥰 🕷 What are your thoughts on Pokies? Let me know in the comments below!😊 taken in Newark, Delaware by @buggirlbecca
25
6 years ago
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