SANParks.org Forums

Right. I have found a page that could help for starters. Have a look at:

http://www.life.illinois.edu/entomology ... tions.html

As for people dropping soapies for science and biology, you are overlooking one worrying fact about human nature:

The people you meet here are unusual; they enjoy thinking.
Most other people can't take it any longer than they take to say "Gee- whizz!" when they see some biological violence in a watered-down and misleading nature program for kids.

Do I sound negative?
Perhaps I do.
But at least you now know part of why I appreciate you folks!

Thanks for the link, Jon.

I agree that so few people actually appreciate the smaller aspects of the great Creation. Actually, few appreciate the larger facets too. Which makes all of us on this forum rare individuals.

All I know is that I have always been enthralled with Nature's intricate workings, and much of these can be extrapolated to human nature. We are all mammals, thereby sharing characteristics with that group; but also animals, so, though many times less common characteristics exist with the "lesser" life-forms, there are always some.

We are all interlinked. All magnificent in our own ways. Nothing is truly lesser - just different.

Thanks for that site Jon!

And yes, unfortunately you are right - not many people want to think. Too much like hard work! Our age of infotainment. You see a TV image. Not like the old days when you listened to a story on the radio, or had it read to you, or read it yourself, and had to visualise for yourself what was being described. Now it is given to you...

Yes, Bish, I believe too that, as evolution takes place, we'll grow onto those alien-like creatures portrayed in the early years of alienism, when we'll have arms and legs like the forelimbs of T-Rex, tiny eyes to shield against light-generating devices, and huge heads with tremendous brain capacity; but, the latter lopsided in the sense that they'll only have small areas for rote memory and robotic like responses. The creative sides of the brain, the ones for structure and learning, and the ability to communicate, will all be atrophied through non-use. Too dramatic and Sci-Fi? Mmmmm, I wonder ...

Can someone identify these?

The first picture was taken in Karoo National Park, the second in Augrabies Falls National Park.




Thanks a lot!

Off the cuff I would say that the first is a milkweed locust and the second an armoured ground cricket.

I saw these two critters — the dark one is an insect for sure, but I'm not so sure about the pale pink critter — "interacting" near the Venus Pool at Cape Point in March 2010. I've no idea about either, so am hoping that someone can help with an ID?

arks,
It def looks like a wasp and the pinkish one like a spider.

Arks looks like it may be a saw fly of some kind . Spiders I cant help with

Hi arks

This looks to be a species of spider hunting wasp and the spider a rain spider.
The wasp will have stung the spider and paralyzed it and will then take it back to its burrow or built nest where the wasp will then lay an egg on the spider and this will be food for the larva when it hatches.

Hi all,

In August 2010 I was visiting the KNP and saw this strange looking insect sitting on the roof of my car. I still don't know what kind of insect it is. Please let me know if you do.

That looks like a praying mantis to me..but as to which kind I have no idea....
Great video ..

Thnx caracal!

( With close up lenses)
Seen in Windhoek on an Olive Tree: