Microwolf: The insignificant spec that wasn't.

Maddie Tyson came to me bearing a spec of dust that hurt my eyes to try and focus on. I was quite literally about to brush it off, when it moved... This is the first time that I have encountered the wolf in garbage clothing, that is the larval form of the green lacewing (Chrysopidae).

Well done for finding this super-predator of the micro world Maddie! The reason that this lacewing goes to such length to disguise itself is that it has to avoid the police... in the form of ants, who would keep it from its food source, green aphids. Sometimes the lacewings will glue dead aphids on their backs to avoid the ant patrols that police the aphids to drink their sweet excrement. Yuk! But that's how it works... The aphids suck the plant sap and excrete the sugars that the ants love. The green lacewing larvae try to steal and "aphid sheep" for lunch, and the ants try to keep the lacewing wolves out. What a fascinating world.

Longicorn (Cerambycidae) found by Ms Nikki Jane.

AISM baby gecko in the science department.

Suave Acridid (Short horned grasshopper) at AISM

Daphnis nerii (The oleander hawk moth) at the 4th grade classroom.

The larvae of this moth feed almost exclusively on the oleander plant and in so doing they pick up a load of neurotoxins that offers protection to the adult. DO NOT have one of these for supper.

Pyrgomorphidae (gaudy grasshopper) Green and purple alien invader at the AISM.

Discovered by Gabriel Limaverde invading the school hallways.

large hawkmoth at school this week.

Philothamnus natalensis ( Natal green snake) at school this week

Look at the difference in the eye, The final picture in this post is a green Mamba (thank you Wikipedia), the pupil is clearly black with a green iris, while the previous three pictures of the Natal green snake that was found near the cafeteria today, show an entirely black eye with a light brown ring... can you see the difference? So here is my plea. Please let's learn the difference and stop killing innocent and harmless beauties that have a function to accomplish in our special environment.

We have a obligation to learn about, and to protect our environment. We cannot do that and call ourselves "openminded" (Hello IB learners) If we brand all snakes as demons.

Flap necked chameleon.

This week classes were entertained and informed by a lovely and shy member of the flap necked chameleon group who snacked on flies with his super accurate tongue, and generally amused squeamish kids with his two/three toe death grip. He was released to continue producing more chameleon generations.

Kagiso (grade 7) discovers a super weird waxy fulgorid bug.

The fragile, wax-like plumes are made from the extra carbohydrates found in plant sap. They are not part of the bugs actual body, thus if it is attacked they can break off and it can escape. Nymphs of many Fulgoroids can produce wax from glands on the abdomen they are hydrophobic and can help conceal the insects.

Injured microbat ( House bat, Scotophilus sp. ) rescued at school today by Mr Miguel

Other English names are "insectivorous bats", "echolocating bats", "small bats" or "true bats". All these names are somewhat inaccurate, because not all microbats feed on insects, and some of them are larger than small megabats (The fruit eaters). Please note,It is advisable not to pick up any bat without protective clothing because of the risk of diseases like rabies.

Gorgeous red-lipped visitor at school today.

The red lipped herald is a non venomous, and beautiful addition to any garden, it keeps the number of frogs down and keeps your ecosystem functioning. The name "Herald" is derived from it's first being described in the Eastern cape Herald newspaper. That is, the existence of the snake was initially brought to the attention of the public in the Eastern Cape Herald newspaper.

Leptopelis natalensis (Green tree frog) at school today.

Found by Jonathan de Beer.

Longicorn (Cerambycidae) with the longest antennae that I have ever seen.

Found by Grade 7 at school today.

Hyperolius marmoratus, identified as genuine by Sri Kannan

Seen and verified in the TOK class by Sri Kannan. (It doesn't get better than that).

Amietophrynus garmani (the Eastern Olive toad) mating.

A host of Theriid spiders (Button or Widow family) on our favorite fever tree.