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- April 28, 2013
- 04:00 PM
- 57 views
House Sparrow communal courtship
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
House Sparrows are quite vocal birds. In spring, a house sparrow colony is hard to miss, with males advertising their chosen nest sites to potential males by chirping and posturing, but mainly by their peculiar communal courtship. Communal courtships start when a fertile female not guarded by her mate flies by an unmated male, the male then will pursue her while chirping and displaying persistently soliciting copulation. More males usually join in the female chase and courtship in a cacoph........ Read more »
Moller, A. (1990) Sexual behavior is related to badge size in the house sparrow Passer domesticus. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 27(1). DOI: 10.1007/BF00183309
- April 27, 2013
- 06:09 PM
- 73 views
Nectar feeding Blackcap
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
Yesterday I heard a male Blackcap singing on my way to work. Although it was high on a tree, luckily, I had a small pair of binoculars with me and I found him on a Sycamore in bloom. While I watched it, the Blackcap alternated singing and clearly drinking from the Sycamore flowers, in one occasion clinging upside down from a branch like a tit to reach them. It is well documented that several European birds, especially warblers, regularly drink nectar (I have posted on Blue Tits feeding on Mahoni........ Read more »
Ortega-Olivencia, A., Rodríguez-Riaño, T., Valtueña, F., López, J., & Devesa, J. (2005) First confirmation of a native bird-pollinated plant in Europe. Oikos, 110(3), 578-590. DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2005.13877.x
Ford, H. (1985) Nectarivory and Pollination by Birds in Southern Australia and Europe. Oikos, 44(1), 127. DOI: 10.2307/3544053
SCHWILCH, R., MANTOVANI, R., SPINA, F., & JENNI, L. (2008) Nectar consumption of warblers after long-distance flights during spring migration. Ibis, 143(1), 24-32. DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2001.tb04166.x
Ortega-Olivencia, A., Rodriguez-Riano, T., Perez-Bote, J., Lopez, J., Mayo, C., Valtuena, F., & Navarro-Perez, M. (2011) Insects, birds and lizards as pollinators of the largest-flowered Scrophularia of Europe and Macaronesia. Annals of Botany, 109(1), 153-167. DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcr255
- March 12, 2013
- 02:02 PM
- 195 views
There is more to the eyes of the Robin
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
We are used to see Robins all year round, and indeed, although is a large resident population in the UK, they are migratory birds in much of their range, with northern European birds migrating every winter to Southern Europe and North Africa. Many of these migratory Robins pass through or winter in the UK. Robins migrate at night, and much research has been devoted to find out how they manage to navigate during migration. Human navigation uses a 'map and compass' system, to find out where we are........ Read more »
Wiltschko, R., & Wiltschko, W. (2006) Magnetoreception. BioEssays, 28(2), 157-168. DOI: 10.1002/bies.20363
Stapput, K., Güntürkün, O., Hoffmann, K., Wiltschko, R., & Wiltschko, W. (2010) Magnetoreception of Directional Information in Birds Requires Nondegraded Vision. Current Biology, 20(14), 1259-1262. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2010.05.070
- February 24, 2013
- 03:05 PM
- 224 views
Territorial Great Crested Grebes
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
The breeding season of the Great Crested Grebes is approaching. I have never seen their spectacular courtship so I thought I would pay them a visit in a local park where they breed regularly. I had almost given up on finding them when, from the bridge, I located a winter plumage individual at the far end of the lake. When I got there, I saw that there were two winter plumage individuals, and then an individual with full breeding plumage emerged from the water quite close to me (above). Breeding ........ Read more »
Theunis Piersma. (1988) The annual molt cycle of Great Crested Grebes. Ardea, 82-95. info:/
- January 21, 2013
- 05:11 PM
- 142 views
Siskin winter flocks
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
I have come across a flock of Siskins in my street a couple of times this week. Today, about 20 birds were quietly feeding on seeds of a large Italian Alder (Alnus cordata), a widely planted tree along avenues. They were easily disturbed by car door slamming or a passing dog and tweeted while they flew to a higher tree. Given that my photos are quite distant, I decided to draw a male feeding on alder catkins (above).Siskins - like Waxwings - are nomadic birds that follow unpredictable resources:........ Read more »
AILSA J. MCKENZIE, STEVE J. PETTY, MIKE P. TOMS, & ROBERT W. FURNESS. (2007) Importance of Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis seed and garden bird-feeders for Siskins Carduelis spinus and Coal Tits Periparus ater. Bird Study, 236-247. info:/10.1080/00063650709461480
- November 21, 2012
- 03:56 PM
- 250 views
Bottoms up!
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
This is probably one of the most familiar duck behaviours. Mallards often 'upend' to feed, submerging the anterior parts of their bodies and keeping their tails pointing up, while keeping their balance paddling with their feet - a behaviour most kids find hilarious. Although it is not a universal duck feeding method, Mallards are amongst the experts. Mallards are dabbling ducks, they obtain most of their food from near the surface. Upending allows them to reach just a little bit ........ Read more »
Andy J. Green. (1998) Comparative feeding behaviour and niche organisation in a Mediterranean duck community. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 500-507. info:/10.1139/z97-221
- November 15, 2012
- 02:42 PM
- 275 views
Carrion crows dunk their toast
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
I had the chance of watching a Carrion Crow dipping bread on a puddle this morning. The crow deliberately walked towards me holding a piece of bread in its bill as it approached the water. It was obviously so preoccupied with the task that took no notice of me taking the camera clumsily from inside my backpack. I stayed still and avoided eye contact while the crow carefully placed the bread on the edge of the puddle and nibbled a few bits. Immediately after, it decided to walk around the puddle ........ Read more »
Dufour, V., Wascher, C., Braun, A., Miller, R., & Bugnyar, T. (2011) Corvids can decide if a future exchange is worth waiting for. Biology Letters, 8(2), 201-204. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0726
- November 11, 2012
- 05:43 PM
- 246 views
Wandering Waxwings
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
I have litte interest in watching birds swept away from their native grounds by a tropical storm, or inexplicably lost and found far away from their usual migratory routes. Waxwings are different, and I have been wanting to see them for years. They might be rare, or not present in great numbers every year, but the UK is part of their distribution range. The last couple of days, I have been popping in a local supermarket carpark to watch a large flock of these amazing birds. Bohemian Waxwings, Bo........ Read more »
Koenig, W., & Knops, J. (2001) Seed-crop size and eruptions of North American boreal seed-eating birds. Journal of Animal Ecology, 70(4), 609-620. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2001.00516.x
- November 3, 2012
- 01:49 PM
- 225 views
Food hoarding Coal Tits
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
One of the things I enjoy the most about watching birds is that even familiar species often surprise me with behaviour I have not seen before. I watched birds feeding on seed and peanut feeders a few days ago. A pair of Coal Tits, Periparus ater, showed their usual energetic prowess: a constant back and forth between the feeders, quickly snatching a seed and then flying away, to return within a few seconds later for another one. This time though, I could see where the Coal Tits were going and th........ Read more »
David F Sherry. (1989) Food storing in the Paridae. Wilson Bulletin, 101(2), 289-304. info:other/
- September 10, 2012
- 03:39 PM
- 239 views
And now, ladies and gentlemen, spider sex!
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
I have seen spider courting behaviour in a few occasions, but the courtship was either too slow for me to watch the end of it, or the affair ended when the female captured the male and had him for lunch. Yesterday I was luckier, as I watched the common spider, Linyphia triangularis sequence of courtship and copulation. Let me warn you: spider sex is weird. Males produce their sperm in testis inside their abdomen and insemination is internal, but instead of penises, male spiders use their pedipal........ Read more »
Weldingh, Ditte Louise,, Søren Toft, & Ole Næsbye Larsen. (2011) Mating duration and sperm precedence in the spider Linyphia triangularis . Journal of Ethology, 143-152. DOI: 10.1007/s10164-010-0237-x
- August 29, 2012
- 06:32 PM
- 234 views
On insect migration and fairy tales
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
When it comes to invertebrates, very odd ideas can circulate even in scientific circles. One of such is called 'The Pied Piper' effect, and states that many insects migrating to northern latitudes in the spring do it hopelessly, as their offspring will be incapable of making the return trip to the region of origin, where they would be able to successfully overwinter: a one way migration trip. Of course this makes no evolutionary sense. If in a population some individuals were genetically predisp........ Read more »
Chapman JW, Bell JR, Burgin LE, Reynolds DR, Pettersson LB, Hill JK, Bonsall MB, & Thomas JA. (2012) Seasonal migration to high latitudes results in major reproductive benefits in an insect. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. PMID: 22927392
- August 25, 2012
- 05:09 PM
- 208 views
Migrant Common Darters
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
At this time of the year, my garden - which hasn't got a pond - hosts occasional dragonflies as they migrate to warmer climates. The most regular one is the Migrant Hawker, which often hunts in small parties 2-3 m high, occasionally stopping to rest hanging from branches. Rarer species are the Darters. In the last few days, I have watched female Common Darters, Sympetrum striolatum, resting and hunting. The first day it banked atop my parasol and I couldn't get good shots. Today I was ........ Read more »
Cynthia Longfield. (1948) A vast immigration of dragonflies into the South coast of Co. Cork. The Irish Naturalists' Journal, 9(6). info:/
David and Elizabeth Lack. (1951) Migration of Insects and Birds Through a Pyrenean Pass. Journal of Animal Ecology, 63-67. DOI: 10.2307/1644
- August 16, 2012
- 04:16 PM
- 263 views
Flies dancing on water
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
Approach a pond in July or August and crouch down. Focus on the surface of the water, checking the floating leaves or debris by the water edge and you will likely see jittery, shiny green flies. Get comfortable and watch them for a while, it takes some time until you can transport yourself to this small, alien world. These are long-legged flies, Poecilobothrus nobilitatus. They like to rest on floating objects or the mud on the edge (above), but they are also able to walk on the water ........ Read more »
Land, M.F. (1993) The visual control of courtship behaviour in the fly Poecilobothrus nobilitatus. J Comp Physiol A, 595-503. DOI: 10.1007/BF00197767
- July 23, 2012
- 09:12 AM
- 257 views
Moth bat detectors and the evolution of butterflies
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
This noctuid moth, a male Large Yellow Underwing, Noctua pronuba entered the house a couple of nights ago and my cat alerted me to it. This is a large moth, very variable in colour: females are lighter than males, and both sexes have a black mark near the end of the wing. As most moths, they have a highly developed sense of hearing and can hear ultrasounds by means of a timpanal ear behind their middle legs, in order to detect and avoid echolocating bats. When they ........ Read more »
Yack JE, & Fullard JH. (2000) Ultrasonic hearing in nocturnal butterflies. Nature, 403(6767), 265-6. PMID: 10659835
- July 2, 2012
- 03:28 PM
- 294 views
A close look at an Alder spittlebug
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
This cold Alder Spittlebug, Aphrophora alni, sat on a rose leaf, cold and reluctant to fly, so I decided to give it a session on the white bowl, and it graciously obliged. The Alder Spittlebug is one of the largest British froghoppers (9-10 mm), so called for their - alleged - resemblance to a frog and their ability to jump. Unlike the Common Froghopper, which is smaller and on close inspection covered on fine hairs, the Alder Spittlebug has fine dark punctures and is less variabl........ Read more »
Burrows M. (2009) Jumping performance of planthoppers (Hemiptera, Issidae). The Journal of experimental biology, 212(17), 2844-55. PMID: 19684220
Tishechkin. (2003) Vibrational communication in Cercopoidea and Fulgoroidea (Homoptera: Cicadina) with notes on classification of higher taxa. Russian Entomology, 129-181. info:other/
- June 25, 2012
- 05:38 PM
- 489 views
Mute swan colour polymorphism
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
After weeks of waiting for the cygnets to hatch, we were rewarded today by the mute swan family approaching us in a local lake. I noticed the two cygnets were different, one had grey-brown down and black beak and legs.The other, had creamy white down, with pinkish-grey beak and legs.It was quite noticeable when they were together. Next up a close up of the male, I even used the macro setting, that close we were. He was very relaxed around us, but he reacted by opening his wings, raisi........ Read more »
Conover MR, Reese JG, & Brown AD. (2000) Costs and Benefits of Subadult Plumage in Mute Swans: Testing Hypotheses for the Evolution of Delayed Plumage Maturation. The American naturalist, 156(2), 193-200. PMID: 10856201
Munro, R. E.,, L. T. Smith,, & J. J. Kupa. (1968) The genetic basis of color differences observed in the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). Auk, 504-505. info:other/
- June 16, 2012
- 05:33 PM
- 385 views
Girl power: sex and parthenogenesis in Vine Weevils
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
Precariously perched on a young oak branch, a Black Vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, the first of the year. I am really not looking forward to seeing them, but they have an intriguing life cycle, which is key to their success. The Black Vine weevil is a generalist feeder which in the early 19th century was only known in a small area in Central Europe and since then has expanded to much of the world aided by human activities and has become a pest of a range of agricultural and horticultural pl........ Read more »
Lundmark M. (2010) Otiorhynchus sulcatus, an autopolyploid general-purpose genotype species?. Hereditas, 147(6), 278-82. PMID: 21166797
- June 15, 2012
- 05:28 PM
- 413 views
A Strawberry Seed Beetle
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
Given that the weather is so damp and cold I am seeing very few insects these days other than bumblebees. At least I have plenty of time to tidy up my ever growing photo library! While going through my ground beetle photos, I thought I would share this shot of Harpalus rufipes, a common species that I have even found inside the house. The species is quite distinctive with its orange legs and its wings covered on very fine hairs - giving the elythra a matt feel when compared with ........ Read more »
Loughridge, A., & Luff, M. (1983) Aphid Predation by Harpalus rufipes (Degeer) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the Laboratory and Field. The Journal of Applied Ecology, 20(2), 451. DOI: 10.2307/2403519
Hartke, A., Drummond, F., & Liebman, M. (1998) Seed Feeding, Seed Caching, and Burrowing Behaviors ofHarpalus rufipesDe Geer Larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the Maine Potato Agroecosystem. Biological Control, 13(2), 91-100. DOI: 10.1006/bcon.1998.0645
- May 21, 2012
- 03:32 PM
- 395 views
Communal mining bees
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
A few years ago, a crack in the concrete path at the front of our house became busy with bees coming in and out. We assumed they were honeybees that had settled their hive there, but on closer inspection they turned out to be mining bees instead. Their cleptoparasite bees, Nomada, hung around the nest entrance awaiting an opportunity to get in and lay their eggs. There are many similar species of Andrena mining bees in the UK and several of them looked very similar to mine so I finally........ Read more »
Paxton, R., Thoren, P., Tengo, J., Estoup, A., & Pamilo, P. (1996) Mating structure and nestmate relatedness in a communal bee, Andrena jacobi (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), using microsatellites. Molecular Ecology, 5(4), 511-519. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294X.1996.00117.x
PAXTON, R., THOREN, P.A., & GYLLENSTRAND, N. (2000) Microsatellite DNA analysis reveals low diploid male production in a communal bee with inbreeding. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 69(4), 483-502. DOI: 10.1006/bijl.1999.0371
- March 30, 2012
- 12:36 PM
- 476 views
Why are some hoverflies poor mimics?
by Africa Gomez in BugBlog
Merodon equestris, the Narcissus fly, a bumblebee mimicEristalis tenax, a dronefly (top left) and honeybeeVolucella zonaria, a large and colourful hoverfly that is an excellent mimic of the european hornet Vespa crabroHelophilus, a wasp mimic Sericomia silentis, a wasp mimicThe photos above illustrate that hoverflies are amongst the best examples of mimicry. Although harmless, their colours, patterns, level of hairiness, and detailed morphological and behavioural features often matche........ Read more »
Penney, H., Hassall, C., Skevington, J., Abbott, K., & Sherratt, T. (2012) A comparative analysis of the evolution of imperfect mimicry. Nature, 483(7390), 461-464. DOI: 10.1038/nature10961
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