MightyMouse Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Hello everyone, I just got home from Mexico, the Yucatan penninsula area, not far from Tulum. My patio was a bug haven at night (um, also a bat haven, but that's another topic ).I'm not sure the names of the bugs I've gotten in my photos, but they were all really cool looking. I'll give you size specs for each one, as a few of the photos are very close up and make the bugs look larger than they are...and then there are two bugs that were GI-NORMOUS (giant-enormous)...This one was about an inch by an inch and really cool lookingThis next one was similar in size to the one above (1 inch x 1 inch), but the coloration was different, more yellow than orangeThen there was this one with clear dots on it's wings, a little wider, about 1.5 inch by 1 inch long-two views hereOkay, these two are very similar but if you look at their feet, they're definitely different--one has the black bushy feet and white dots on it's body, and the other has black and yellow feet and white stripes on it's body--again about 1.5in x 1in.Okay, these next two were the big boys/girls of the Yucatan...the Katydid (oblong katydid) was HUGE. At least 4 inches long and 2 inches wide at the widest part. And the moth is definitely in the "sphinx" group, but I'm not yet sure on the exact taxonomy--my best guess after looking at literally hundreds of research photos is: Typhon sphinx... but that's still up for debate. I have an email into my bugman resource. My next best guess is a type of mournful sphinx, but I can't find one quite that matches. He/she was about 3 inches long in the body and I'm unable to say how wide with wings extended, but it's about 3 inches to 4 inches in it's resting state...my guess is a 6 inch span open winged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacquie802 Posted April 9, 2007 Report Share Posted April 9, 2007 Did the bugs bite or sting? The top ones look like bees/wasps.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted April 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 No, no, no...no biting or stinging. All of the bugs were non-harmful. First, look at the ends of the bodies...no stingers. Also, the heads are not shaped like the biting types of flying bugs. None of the bugs are anything to be afraid of, although I'll admit that the moth looks a bit prehistoric, doesn't it? At first I was nervous to get close up to it, but it's just a moth, so I knew it was just a harmless being.My best guess is that all of these are tropical types of bee flies, which look like bees and wasps ...and this helps protect them from some predators who confuse them for real bees/wasps. It also explains the clear wings--which happen in several different groups of insects, not just flies, wasps, and bees. There are clearwinged moths and butterflies too, as well as some "true bugs" that have clear wings.Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxine Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 # 5 bug looks evil--------------good to hear they don't sting or bite, but they sure look like they do. Interesting stuff----Maxine :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadine Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Nina-I must say these are not your standard vacation pics!! Hope you had a wonderful, relaxing time!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted April 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Oh... okay, normal vaction photos, if I must... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadine Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 great photos Nina--- looks like you had a wonderful time!!! More critters-- is this bird playing dead??? you crack me up--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 nina!!!!!i was thinking how to say something nice about the "bug" photos, but eventhough the colours are beautiful they rally scare me!! the parrot photos are the ones i LOVE. i would love to have one on my shoulder!!! well, of to mexico that means???!!!hope you and teri enjoyed your stay,corina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Tired Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 Bugs, birds, and blue skies.... Does it get any better??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 Love the bugs. That moth is an amazing creature. Looks like a great vacation!Katherine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted April 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 The bird's owner said he likes to be held like a baby and rocked, so he asked us to do that and the bird was happy as heck! We really had a lovely time--I have other photos and videos that were professionally taken and we paid for from a place where we went ziplining, biking, and snorkelling in cenotes (underground lakes and streams, usually in caves that are open or partially open ...but some are closed and only accessible by scuba and I'm not THAT brave).I may post some more if I can spend some time sorting through the ones that are nice enough and don't show too much of me... Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.