the namaqua sandgrouse ( pterocles namaqua ) , is a species of ground-dwelling bird in the sandgrouse family .

it is found in arid regions of south-western africa .

namaqua sandgrouse

a flock of namaqua sandgrouse on approach to drink water in the arid kalahari desert .
nest‐site selection , egg pigmentation and clutch predation in the ground‐nesting namaqua sandgrouse . . .
namaqua sandgrouse male , kgalagadi national park , south africa . [ photo johann grobbelaar © ]
namaqua sandgrouse female , kgalagadi national park , south africa . [ photo johann grobbelaar © ]
the namaqua sandgrouse is found in stony deserts , dry scrublands , sandy deserts with scattered bits of grass and dry savannas .
• the namaqua sandgrouse is 1 of 14 species of sandgrouse in the genus pterocles , including the spotted sandgrouse , p . senegallus , and madagascar sandgrouse , p . personatus . all have three front toes and a small , raised hindtoe . two other species of sandgrouse in the genus syrrhaptes ( greek for “sewn together” ) have only forward - facing toes that are fused together .
dry desert conditions are no threat to the namaqua sandgrouse : its thick - soled feet can withstand hot sand , and its belly feathers carry water .
rainfall and food availability as factors influencing the migration and breeding activity of namaqua . . .
introduction : namaqua sandgrouse ( pterocles namaqua ) were as the name suggests , first discovered in the region of namaqualand . typical habitats include shrubland with or without grass , areas of sandy savannah with thick vegetation and gravel desert and sandy semi - desert .
a large flock of namaqua sandgrouse seen circling a water hole in the middle of the kalahari desert . they circled a few times before landing and quickly drinking . they are regularly attacked by raptors when drinking so are very skittish .
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description : medium - sized sandgrouse with vertically streaked dark brown and buff head and upper breast .
sandgrouse mostly feed on seed and are often seen in large feeding flocks with up to 100 birds .
de juana , e . & boesman , p . ( 2018 ) . namaqua sandgrouse ( pterocles namaqua ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
spline correlograms for pin - tailed and black - bellied sandgrouse with 95 % pointwise bootstrap confidence intervals and maximum lag distance of 15 km derived for 1 ) landscape scale and 2 ) microhabitat scale . a ) pin - tailed sandgrouse ; b ) black - bellied sandgrouse . distance was measured in meters ( doc 54 kb )
c . 28 cm ; male c . 170–190 g , female c . 150–190 g . small sandgrouse ; like
though not globally threatened , certain populations of namaqua sandgrouse , including the orange free state birds , have disappeared because of severe drought and habitat destruction . but the future appears bright for the bird , due to decreased hunting and the availability of watering holes created by agricultural projects .
nest survival can , among a variety of factors , depend on nest - site complexity and concealment , and clutch crypsis . nest - site selection by namaqua sandgrouse pterocles namaqua was strongly non - random . nests were sited within a local concentration of objects , most of them less than 15 cm high and concentrated within 30 cm of the nest centre . nest - to - object orientation was random , indicating that . . . [ show full abstract ]
) is a bulky sandgrouse , measuring 30 to 40 cm in length . the male bird is larger and weighs about 400 to 550 grams . the female sandgrouse weighs 300 to 460 grams . the wingspan is 70 to 75 cm .
are reasonably common throughout the tanqua karoo , and greater kestrels frequently wander into the area . if you are lucky enough to visit after recent rain , you will see that pools forming close to the road invariably attract south african shelduck , drinking flocks of namaqua sandgrouse and irruptive seedeaters such as lark - like bunting .
the black - bellied sandgrouse inhabit terrestrial , artificial habitats like agricultural lands , dry cereal cultivation , pastoral scrubland and fallow lands .
ferns pn , hinsley sa ( 1995 ) importance of topography in the selection of drinking sites by sandgrouse . funct ecol 9 : 371–375
the iucn ( international union for conservation of nature ) has categorized and evaluated the sandgrouse species and has listed it as of
least concern
. cites ( the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora ) status is ‘not evaluated’ for the black - bellied sandgrouse (
spline correlograms for pin - tailed and black - bellied sandgrouse ( large geographical spatial scale ) with 95 % pointwise bootstrap confidence intervals and maximum lag distance of 100 km derived from 1 ) glm models ( on the left ) and 2 ) glm analyses after applying the moran eigenvector filtering function ( on the right ) . a ) pin - tailed sandgrouse ; b ) black - bellied sandgrouse . distance was measured in meters . ( doc 67 kb )
these sandgrouse species are distributed in the iberian peninsula , northwest africa , the canary islands , turkey , iran , cyprus , israel , kazakhstan , western china , northern pakistan , northern india . these black - bellied sandgrouse species are ground - dwelling birds . there are two recognized subspecies of these sandgrouses .
excavator… a namaqua sandgrouse male helps his mate form a shallow nest hollow in the very dry ground of the african desert . incubator… the sandgrouse male relieves his mate each evening at dusk and takes his turn incubating their eggs for up to 18 hours . defender… after the chicks have hatched , the male carries the egg shells away from the nest to prevent predators from locating the chicks . dispenser the male brings water back to the nest in his wet belly feathers . the young appear to nurse as they eagerly clamor for a refreshing drink .
the sandgrouse’s activities revolve around getting water ; like clockwork , flocks visit water holes to drink , and males soak their belly feathers for transport to their chicks .
the breeding season of the black - bellied sandgrouse species is from march to august in most of its breeding grounds . the nest is a bare ground scrape in stony areas . the clutch may contain two to three eggs . the egg is pale buff with gray and brown spots . both the sandgrouse parents incubate the eggs .
sandgrouse have compact bodies , but small , pigeon - like heads and necks . the different species range in length from 24 – 40 cm and weigh from 150 - 500 g .
these black - bellied sandgrouse species do not normally occur in forests . these species occur in altitudes from 0 to 100 meters . they inhabit various artificial , desert , shrubland and grassland ecosystems .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : pterocles namaqua . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
these black - bellied sandgrouse have small , pigeon - like heads and necks . the legs are covered by feathers up to the toes . but the toes are not feathered . the belly region is blackish .
de juana e ( 1997 ) family pteroclidae ( sandgrouse ) . in : del hoyo a , elliot a , sargatal j ( eds ) handbook of the birds of the world . lynx edicions , barcelona , pp 30–59
martín ca , casas f , mougeot f , garcía jt , viñuela j ( 2010b ) seasonal variations in habitat preferences of the pin - tailed sandgrouse in agrarian pseudo - steppes . ardeola 57 ( 1 ) : 191–198
these sandgrouse populations in spain , portugal and northern africa are resident and sedentary . the populations in turkey , mediterranean and the middle east are nomadic or partially migratory . the populations in central asia are migratory , wintering in northern india and pakistan .
the diet of these black - bellied sandgrouse species is mostly wild seeds . wild seeds , cereals , grains , wild legumes and cultivated legumes are their primary food . they form gregarious flocks and fly to watering holes in the mornings and the evenings .
martín ca , casas f , mougeot f et al ( 2010a ) positive interactions between vulnerable species in agrarian pseudo - steppes : habitat use by pin - tailed sandgrouse depends on its association with the little bustard . anim conserv 13 : 383–389 . doi :
the sandgrouse are distributed across northern , southern and eastern africa as well as madagascar ; the middle east , india through to central asia ; and the iberian peninsula ; where they are restricted to treeless open areas , such as plains and semi - deserts .
the black - bellied sandgrouse species are distributed in the spain , portugal , northwest africa , the canary islands , turkey , iran , cyprus , israel , kazakhstan , tajikistan , turkmenistan , uzbekistan , russia , western china , northern pakistan and northern india .
the important bird and biodiversity areas ( iba ) of the black - bellied sandgrouse species in portugal are castro verde plains , évora plains , mourão , moura e barrancos , reguengos de monsaraz , river guadiana and serra de penha garcia e campina de toulões .
) does not approach the thresholds for being vulnerable either under the range size criterion or under the population trend criterion or under the population size criterion . agricultural expansion , habitat loss and hunting are the main threats that may endanger the survival of these sandgrouse species .
the male black - bellied sandgrouse is slightly larger and has gray head , neck , and breast . the upperparts are brown and have dark markings . there is a chestnut throat patch in males . the female is pale brown with fine dark markings on upperparts , head and breast .
sandgrouse are monogamous ( form life - long pair bonds ) . they make their nest on a slight depression in the ground . the average clutch consists of 2 eggs , occasionally up to 4 . the male and female share the incubation duties ; with the male incubating during the night and early mornings , and the female taking over during the day .
some of the iba of the black - bellied sandgrouse in spain are obruk plateau , hodulbaba mountain , villafáfila , ballobar - candasnos , bardenas reales , belchite - mediana , brozas - membrío , campo de montiel , campo visiedo , hoya de guadix , la serena , layna high moors , lerida steppes , peninsula of jandía and pétrola - almansa - yecla .
) is estimated to be around 130 , 000 - 260 , 000 mature individual birds . the overall population size of these sandgrouse species is considered to be decreasing . throughout its range it is reported to be rare to nearly common . the generation length is 5 . 6 years . their distribution size is about 17 , 400 , 000 sq . km .
namaqua sandgrouses can breed all year round . they are monogamous , solitary nesters , nesting in a simple scrape in the ground , often lined with grit and typically placed next to a small scrub or grass tuft . there the female lays 2 - 3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 3 weeks . the chicks leave the nest within a day of hatching and are able to feed themselves , but rely on the male for water and protection for several weeks . during this period the male flies to watering holes and soaks his belly feathers which the young drink from .
near - endemic to southern africa , occurring from south - western angola through namibia to patches of botswana , the northern cape and adjacent provinces . it generally prefers gravel desert , sandy semi - desert , open dwarf shrubland and sandy savanna , while especially common in the nama karoo and southern kalahari .
it mainly eats seeds , especially of protein - rich legumes , supplemented with flowers , small fruits and fresh leaves . it does most of its foraging in the day with its head held low , rapidly pecking the ground and flicking away soil with its beak . the following food items have been recorded in its diet :
monogamous solitary nester , it is not territorial , with both sexes selecting the nest site .
the nest is a simple scrape in the ground , often lined with grit that builds up over time and typically placed adjacent to a small shrub or grass tuft .
egg - laying season is year - round , peaking from january - may in northern namibia , april - july in the namib desert ( namibia ) , june - november in the kalahari , august - january in the nama karoo and september - february in the western cape .
it lays 2 - 3 eggs , which are incubated by both sexes for about three weeks , with the female taking the day shift while the male incubates at night .
the chicks are led by their parents to an area with food approximately 12 hours after the last chick hatching , and they quickly learn how to pluck seeds from the ground . the male makes daily trips to a waterhole so that he can soak his belly feathers which the young drink from , only stopping when they reach about two months old . they can fly in short burst at about 30 days old , flying strongly about 12 days later but only becoming fully independent at least a month later .
not threatened , in fact common and widespread , as it has greatly benefited from the sinking of waterholes . heavy nest predation and low productivity in the nama karoo is cause for concern however , as its south african population decreased during the second half of the 20th century .
hockey par , dean wrj and ryan pg 2005 . roberts - birds of southern africa , viith ed . the trustees of the john voelcker bird book fund , cape town .
two birds seen in the distance and heard calling in the southern karoo in early spring .
flock of 40 birds coming in to drink at a leaking cattle drinking trough . strong winds unfortunately distorting the recording .
bird heard calling in low karoo type veld in the early morning in late winter .
two birds flying by at considerable distance , going s . recording slightly filtered , and volume amplified .
calls audible at 0 : 00 . 25 , 0 : 03 . 4 , 0 : 06 . 9 , 0 : 10 . 5 and 0 : 13 . 1
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .
hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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a large flock arriving at a waterhole and drinking alongside a couple of springboks .
initially two females , one then followed until it eventually joins up with a male .
lars petersson , manakincarmelo , adam riley , roland bischoff , frans vandewalle , loutjie , trheijnen , marco valentini , w . h . schulenburg , markus lilje , holger teichmann , krzysztof blachowiak , cristiano crolle , nik borrow , fran trabalon , aleix comas , albert froneman , guy poisson , lmarce .
may be closely related to p . exustus . recent study # r suggests that these two together with p . orientalis may belong in a clade that includes also the two syrrhaptes species ; or , alternatively , that all five of these may form a group with p . gutturalis , p . personatus , p . coronatus , and possibly including also p . alchata and p . burchelli ; further study needed . birds from n part of range formerly separated as race ngami , those of s & se as furva . monotypic .
sw angola and namibia e to sw zimbabwe , and s through botswana and w & c south africa ( w limpopo and free state s to s western cape ) .
, combines long tail and dark underparts with pale underwing . male . . .
flight call a trisyllabic nasal yelping “kwel - kee - weeen” and similar variations . in group , birds . . .
sub - desert and fringes of desert , in a variety of habitats ; commoner in flat or rolling country . . .
period is extended , probably dependent on rainfall : in s africa in general , all months except mar and may , with peaks during cooler months . . .
sedentary and locally nomadic ; southern populations migratory , those breeding in karoo moving n to . . .
not globally threatened . common to locally abundant in much of range . usually occurs in pairs or small parties , but sometimes in fairly large flocks . now absent from former . . .
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this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size has not been quantified , but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
del hoyo , j . , collar , n . j . , christie , d . a . , elliott , a . and fishpool , l . d . c . 2014 . hbw and birdlife international illustrated checklist of the birds of the world . volume 1 : non - passerines . lynx edicions birdlife international , barcelona , spain and cambridge , uk .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size has not been quantified , but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
the global population size has not been quantified , but the species is reported to be common to locally abundant in much of its range ( del hoyo et al . 1997 ) . trend justification : the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats .
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distribution : common throughout namibia less for true southern namib desert . found in etosha , skeleton coast , orange river , fish river canyon and caprivi .
diet : small hard seeds and at times fresh leaves , flowers and small fruits .
breeding : usually 2 or 3 eggs are laid in an open scape in the ground , filled with grit and plant matter to assist in the incubation period of 21 days .
6 days - for those with tight time constraints this safari visits the two major destinations : sossusvlei & etosha . windhoek - windhoek
4 days - an expertly guided safari through damaraland in search of desert adapted elephant & rhino . excellent choice for anyone wanting to add a specialist activity to their time in namibia
3 or 4 days - wonderful guided hiking trip - a never to be forgotten experience .
3 days - a well guided & informative walking trip in the namib desert .
3 days - cultural safari in the eastern kalahari region . visit the san / bushman and batswana people . also included is a trip to a game farm where sightings of rhino and elephant are possible
3 days - visit the sand dunes at sossusvlei . runs from windhoek - windhoek
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as you head north from eierkop along the r355 , the landscape becomes progressively more arid until , approaching katbakkies , bushes are few and far between and the ground gleams with the mineral patina of the desert pebbles . this is classic
country : birds are most often spotted , 1015 km north of eierkop , as they flush near the road , and display their white rumps as they fly a short distance to perch again on a fence or low bush .
the commonest larks of this stretch of road are thick - billed and red - capped . spike - heeled lark is also regularly seen . it is worth keeping an eye out for pairs of superbly camouflaged karoo korhaans , although they have become scarcer here in recent years . listen for their frog - like calls at dawn , and check in the shade of the occasional roadside tree at midday . drainage lines with slightly denser scrub are good areas to search for small , restless flocks of cape penduline tit , best detected by their soft , inconspicuous call .
twenty - one kilometres from eierkop , turn left at the road signposted kagga kamma ; op - die - berg , to the small picnic spot and legendary birding site popularly known as katbakkies .
this website is maintained by birding africa . please do not use any text , images or content from this site without permission . © birding africa 1997 - 2009 info @ urltoken 4 crassula way , pinelands , 7405 , cape town , south africa
30 may 09 : a tragedy unfolds at kommetjie south of cape town as 44 beached false killer whales were shot . click here for more details and pictures . 14 march 09 : raptor watch in cape town on 14 march 09
we thank the farmers , hunting managers and gamekeepers of madrid province for allowing us to work on their properties . the study was partially financed by the servicio de protección y gestión de flora y fauna de la consejería de medio ambiente y ordenación del territorio de la comunidad de madrid . we would also like to thank john o’keeffe for his kind revision of the language of the manuscript . finally , we would like to thank the editor and two anonymous referees for providing us with comments and suggestions which help to improve the manuscript .
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santos t , suárez f ( 2005 ) biogeography and population trends of iberian steppe birds . in : bota mb , morales mb , mañosa s , camprodon j ( eds ) ecology and conservation of steppe - land birds . lynx edicions and centre tecnològic forestal de catalunya , barcelona , pp 69–102
, in the canary islands , spain . bird conserv interlarge geogr 20 : 161–175
suárez f , hervás i , heranz j , del moral jc ( 2006 ) la ganga ibérica y la ganga ortega en españa , población en 2005 y método de censo . seo / birdlife , madrid
suárez - seoane s , osborne pe , baudry j ( 2002 ) responses of birds of different biogeographic origins and habitat requirements to agricultural land abandonment in northern spain . biol conserv 105 : 333–344 . doi :
in a low - density area of the iberian peninsula . biodivers conserv 16 : 3559–3574 . doi :
tella jl , forero mg , hiraldo f , donázar ja ( 1998 ) conflicts between lesser kestrel conservation and european agricultural policies as identified by habitat use analyses . conserv biol 12 : 593–604
tews j , brose u , grimm v et al ( 2004 ) animal species diversity driven by habitat heterogeneity / diversity : the importance of keystone structures . j biogeogr 31 : 79–92 . doi :
treisman m ( 1975 ) predation and the evolution of gregariousness . i . models for concealment fan evasion . anim behav 23 : 779–800
whittingham mj , evans kl ( 2004 ) the effects of habitat structure on predation risk of birds in agricultural landscapes . ibis 146 : 210–220 . doi :
martín , b . , martín , c . a . , palacín , c . et al . eur j wildl res ( 2014 ) 60 : 625 . urltoken
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. . . at 36 ( 59 % ) of the 61 artificial nests assumed lost to predation , definite evidence of small mammal predation was found . this included whole shell remains with a bite out the side of the shell ( 27 nests ) , a characteristic of mongoose predation of relatively large eggs ( lloyd et al . 2001 ) , or smaller , chewed shell remains ( nine nests ) . at several of these depredated nests , fresh tracks and digging marks of mongooses were also found in the soft sand after recent light rain . . . .
hi tshering . i have just published a mongraph on the terresrial gamebirds and snipes of africa . i am also assisting a student complete her phd thesis on the breeeding and dispersal of souther ground - hornbills . ciao , rob
food availability and seasonal variation in nest predation pressure as factors influencing the timin . . .
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paternal care is where the father of the offspring provides most or all of the effort needed to protect , feed or raise the young until they become independent . the most well - known example of paternal care is in seahorses , where the male broods the eggs in a pouch until they are ready to hatch . primary paternal care is most common in egg - laying species and almost unheard of in mammals .
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the male midwife toad brings up the babies until he finds a suitable pond .
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they have long pointed wings and short legs that are feathered down to the toes , and members of the genus syrrhaptes also have feathered toes .
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throughout history , crows , ravens and other black birds were feared as symbols of evil or death . …
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this species is found in southern africa , from south - western angola , through namibia and botswana and into zimbabwe and western south africa .
these birds are 24 - 28 cm long and weigh 140 - 240 g .
they mainly eat small seeds from the ground , namely indigofera , lotononis , tephrosia , requernia sphaerosperma , limeum , giseckia pharnacioides , amaranthus , cleome , chenopodium , lophiocarpus burchelli and several grasses and daisies . these are complemented with flowers , small fruits and fresh leaves .
this species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be common to locally abundant in much of its range . the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats .
the central tail feathers are short giving a wedge - shape . the wings are long and pointed . the underwings are whitish . there is a thin blackish band around the lower breast . their call is a soft
chowrrr rrrr
sound .
in nature , the black - bellied sandgrouses inhabit hot deserts , semi - arid plains , semi - desert vegetation , temperate grasslands , dry tropical and subtropical shrublands and mediterranean shrub vegetations .
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the kalahari gemsbok national park is situated in the sliver of land between botswana and namibia , 320 km north of upington . it is an integral part of the kgalagadi transfrontier park , which together with neighbouring wildlife management areas in botswana form one of the largest contiguous conservation areas in the world ( 3 , 7 million ha ) .
the kgalagadi transfrontier park has a list of approximately 280 species , of which only about 92 are resident . the remainder comprises mainly nomadic ( 17 ) , migratory ( 50 ) and vagrant ( 121 ) species . it is an important area for raptors , with at least 52 species recorded , and contributes significantly to their conservation .
a total of 239 species has been reported in the kalahari gemsbok national park during the sabap1 and sabap2 projects . four vulture species are present : white - backed vulture gyps africanus , lappet - faced vulture torgos tracheliotos , white - headed vulture aegypius occipitalis and cape vulture g . coprotheres . white - backed and lappet - faced vultures show a preference for the nossob and auob riverbeds as both have large trees suitable for roosting and nesting . other threatened breeding raptors include bateleur terathopius ecaudatus , martial eagle polemaetus bellicosus and tawny eagle aquila rapax . six species of owls are protected in this iba .
kori bustard ardeotis kori is common along both the auob and nossob riverbeds , and ludwig ' s bustard neotis ludwigii occurs relatively frequently in summer . this iba is seasonally important for larks and sparrow - larks , including stark ' s lark spizocorys starki and black - eared sparrow - lark eremopterix australis , particularly after good rains .
the major biodiversity characteristic of this iba is that it is an arid ecosystem populated by large migratory and nomadic herbivores . as such it supports a fully functional large carnivore predator / prey system and is an important refuge for a large raptor community . the park has important populations of lion panthera leo , leopard p . pardus , cheetah acinonyx jubatus , brown hyaena hyaena brunnea , spotted hyaena crocuta crocuta , african wild cat felis lybica , aardwolf proteles cristatus , aardvark orycteropus afer , honey badger mellivora capensis and pangolin manis temminckii .
the characteristic tree species – camel thorn , grey camel thorn vachellia ( formerly acacia ) haematoxylon and shepherd ' s tree boscia albitrunca – are protected under the national forestry act . the camel thorn is regarded as a keystone species and the survival of many animal and plant species depend on it .
the gariep blind legless skink acontias gariepensis is almost restricted to the park . the southern african endemic dwarf beaked snake dipsina multimaculata , kalahari spade - snouted worm lizard monopeltis leonhardi , spotted desert lizard meroles suborbitalis , kalahari ground gecko colopus wahlbergii and woosnam ' s desert rat zelotomys woosnami are all common within the park .
this iba is well managed , with far fewer threats than the surrounding landscape . the major threats that do exist are climate change ; the slow pace at which the contractual land development with the local community is moving and associated land - use conflicts ; the scarcity of fresh water ; and the high petrol price , which will have an effect on visitor numbers . there is also a lack of funds for tourism management and development .
historically , poisons were used extensively in the region to control damage - causing predators , such as black - backed jackal canis mesomelas and caracal caracal caracal . poisoning incidents involving bateleurs and white - backed vultures have been recorded in this iba , and the breeding failure in 1990 of the largest white - backed vulture colony in the park was attributed to poisoning . the inadvertent poisoning of secretarybirds is also suspected . poisons may still be used in neighbouring small - livestock farming areas , but at a lower level than previously .
this iba is a formally protected national park , established in 1931 . it is an integral part of the kgalagadi transfrontier park , which was officially opened in 2000 but had been in existence since 1948 through a verbal agreement between the south african and botswanan conservation authorities . the area represents a large ecosystem relatively free of human influence .
in 1999 the khomani san community won a land claim over 25 000 ha of the park . a joint management plan between the community and sanparks exists for the ae ! hai kalahari heritage contractual park .
since the 1930s a total of 88 waterholes and a number of excavation dams on pans have been constructed within the park . the erection of permanent waterholes was motivated by the observation that increased human activity to the south and west of the park was apparently hindering the migratory movements of the indigenous ungulates ; by the later fencing of some borders ; and by the erroneous perception that the wildlife needed drinking water . historically , vultures and raptors drowned in the water reservoirs . poles or ladders were fitted into the reservoirs to enable raptors to escape from them and raptor drownings are now a rare occurrence . the monitoring of certain raptor species was reinstated by the ewt ' s birds of prey programme kalahari raptor project in 2010 .
if you have any information about the iba , such as a new threat that could impact on it , please send an e - mail to iba @ urltoken or call birdlife south africa + 27 ( 11 ) 789 1122 .
anderson md . 2000 . raptor conservation in the northern cape province , south africa . ostrich 71 : 25–32 .
anderson md , kruger r . 1995 . powerline electrocution of eighteen african white - backed vultures . vulture news 32 : 16–18 .
anderson md , maritz awa , oosthuysen e . 1999 . raptors drowning in farm reservoirs : impacts on southern african populations . ostrich 70 : 139–144 .
barnes k ( ed . ) . 1998 . the important bird areas of southern africa . johannesburg : birdlife south africa .
bgis online . 2014 . biodiversity gis , sanbi . available at www . bgis . sanbi . org . [ accessed september 2014 . ]
broekhuysen gj , broekhuysen mh , martin je , martin r , morgan hk . 1968 . observations on the bird life in the kalahari gemsbok national park . koedoe 11 : 145–160 .
cunningham sj , martin ro , hojem cl , hockey par . 2013 . temperatures in excess of critical thresholds threaten nestling growth and survival in a rapidly - warming arid savanna : a study of common fiscals .


lixus concavus , commonly called the rhubarb curculio , is a species of weevil .

rhubarb ( rheum species ) is a host , together with dock , sunflower , and thistle .

lixus concavus

abstract the mature larvae and pupae of lixus ( ortholixus ) bituberculatus smreczyåski , 1968 and lixus ( dilixellus ) neglectus fremuth , 1983 ( curculionidae : lixinae : lixini ) are described and compared with known larvae of 21 other lixus and 2 hypolixus taxa . the mature larva and pupa of lixus bituberculatus are the first immature stages described representing the subgenus ortholixus . the larva of lixus neglectus , in the subgenus dilixellus , is distinguished from the known larvae of four
lixus concavus ) also known as rhubarb curculios are commonly found throughout the eastern united states and portions of the western united states such as utah , idaho and texas . there are known populations in ontario , canada as well .
lixus bardanae , kulczanka szczawiowiec , bruine zuringsnuitkever on grean grass leaf in morning sun light . extreme macro horizontal crop
insect lixus angustatus . weevil weevil or the mallows . location : tibi . alicante . valencia . spain . europe .
in the czech republic , slovakia and romania is provided . for lixus bituberculatus , a chicory , cichorium intybus l . ( asteraceae ) , is identified as a host plant , and lixus neglectus is found on dock rumex thyrsiflorus fingerh . ( polygonaceae ) . both
thanks for contacting horticulture talk through our facebook page . to be honest , there are not a lot of insect pests that affect rhubarb — because it is acidic and because of the oxalate crystals in the leaves . however , based on your description , it sounds like you have rhubarb curculio ( lixus concavus ) .
readily distinguished by the difference in superficial bloom , bright yellow in l . concavus , whitish in l . mucidus , in which the depression at the base of pronotum & elytra is also much less marked
de waterscheerlingsnuitkever is een kenmerkende soort van moerassen , waar ze op schermbloemen te vinden is , onder andere de waterscheerling . lixus paraplecticus is a typical species of marshes , where it can be found on umbellifers .
are probably monophagous or oligophagous . adults of lixus bituberculatus often inhabit host plants growing in active , dry and sunny pastures with sparse patches without vegetation , being mostly active during the night in april / may and then again in september , when the highest activity levels are observed . adults of lixus neglectus inhabit dry grasslands on sandy soils with host plants , being active during the day from may to september , with the highest level of activity in may / june and september . the larvae of both
are borers in the stem and root of the host plant , and they pupate in root or root neck . adults leave the pupation cells at the end of summer and do not hibernate in the host plants . finally , romania is a new geographic record for lixus bituberculatus . pmid : 27551208
distribution . this native species is found throughout the eastern united states west to idaho , utah , and texas . in canada it is known from ontario . a very similar insect , lixus mucidus leconte , may be confused with rhubarb curculio , because it shares the same geographic range , host plants , and biology . it also is native to north america .
eaton and kaufman describe the 69 north american species of lixus as large , cylindrical weevils . the american insects website says that the striking , half - inch rc is “covered with both a short gray pubescence and an orange bloom” ( when the bloom is off the weevil , it looks black ) . it has club - tipped antennae and its abdomen is tapered toward the stern .
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these small , circular , brown spots are scattered over the surface of the leaf . the disease is caused by a fungus .
the leaf spot is common in connecticut , but does not do enough damage to the plant to require special control measures .
the disease is caused by soilborne fungi which cause the crown and roots to rot . the disease appears in heavy wet soils .
fungicide applications have not been shown to be effective . control can be achieved by planting in well - drained soils .
the bean aphid and green peach aphid sometimes infest rhubarb . control is not usually necessary .
european corn borer . this insect will sometimes tunnel in the stalks of rhubarb . control is not generally necessary .
the rhubarb curculio makes feeding and egg punctures in the stalks , and the sap exudes from the wounds as glistening drops of gum . the eggs laid in rhubarb do not hatch , but are killed by sap . this pest completes its life cycle in the stems of wild dock . the beetle is about half an inch in length , black , covered with yellow dust , and hibernates as an adult . it feeds upon the margins of the leaves besides puncturing the stalks . they are usually present in small numbers and can be handpicked and destroyed . removal of their other host plants , such as dock and thistle , during july when the larvae are still in them may also reduce populations .
stalk borer , papaipema nebris . the eggs of this caterpillar are laid in the fall by the moths on surrounding grasses and weeds . after hatching in the spring the borers feed on these plants and later may migrate into adjacent rhubarb where they cause injury . the caterpillars are very active . their restless habit of frequently changing from one plant stem to another increases the damage . keeping the borders of the vegetable garden well - mowed and controlling weeds may help deny these insects their breeding grounds .
yellow woollybear , spilosoma virginica . this caterpillar sometimes feeds upon rhubarb but does not regularly require control .
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the entomology department ' s extension program applies the results of research to alleviate insect problems in new york state , the us , and throughout the world . this effort reflects the ever - changing needs of the state ' s agricultural industry , its recreational resources , and its urban dwellers . a primary reason for a department devoted to the multifaceted study of insects and related arthropods is to bring our collective expertise to bear on important insect - related issues of society .
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the annual , one - day insect fair hosted by the faculty , staff and students of the department of entomology at cornell university . insectapalooza is an interactive , hands - on experience that features hundreds of live insects , spiders , and other fascinating arthropods .
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upcoming events 2018 bugguide gathering in virginia july 27 - 29 : registration and discussion photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in wisconsin , july 10 - 12 photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in virginia , june 4 - 7 . photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in arizona , july 25 - 28 photos of insects and people from the 2012 gathering in alabama photos of insects and people from the 2011 gathering in iowa photos from the 2010 workshop in grinnell , iowa photos from the 2009 gathering in washington
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weevils of south carolina ( coleoptera : nemonychidae , attelabidae , brentidae , ithyceridae , and curculionidae ) . janet c . ciegler . 2010 . clemson university , clemson , s . c . 276 pp .
annotated checklist of the weevils ( curculionidae sensu lato ) of north america , central america , and the west indies . . . o ' brien c . w . , wibmer g . j . 1982 . mem . am . ent . inst . 34 : x + 382 pp .
contributed by ron m . on 12 october , 2008 - 11 : 29pm additional contributions by mike quinn , v belov last updated 2 march , 2013 - 6 : 41pm
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i get bugs eating on my rhubarb stems each year . it looks like eggs under the leaves , but i’ve never seen any bugs to identify . what are they and what can i do ? colorado potato beetles ? sevin ?
the leaf stalks of the rhubarb may show exuding sap and partial decay from late - may through early summer , due to the feeding and egg laying punctures of the rhubarb curculio . feeding injury appears as notches in the stem and on the leaf edges . sap exudes from wounds of either type and collects as glistening drops of gum when fresh . fortunately , the eggs of this insect do not hatch when deposited in rhubarb .
the rhubarb curculio ( or rhubarb weevil ) is a large snout beetle , about 1 / 2 inch long . it is dark colored , with a yellow powdery material dusted on its back . the yellowish covering easily rubs off when the insect is handled . the head has a downwardly curved snout , at the end of which are the mandibles ( the chewing mouth parts ) . the eggs are oblong and yellow - white in color ( similar to colorado potato beetles ) . the mature larva is a legless grub about 3 / 4 inch in length , with a brown head .
the only direct method of control is to hand pick the beetles from the plants during early summer and destroy them . when the beetles first emerge they are easily picked from the vegetation on which they are resting . their large size aids in finding them and helps make them easy to handle . the removal of all wild plants in which the beetles breed ( dock , thistle , and sunflower ) growing in or near the planting during july , while the curculio larvae are still in them , will also be helpful .
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family giving connections , inc . kara joseph and her team are working on a project to help haitians sustain themselves at home after the destruction of the earthquake . they are looking for donations of seeds in an effort to promote long - term empowering change in this devestate country . 0
national junior horticulture association as a former njha - er , i definitely support the education and promotion of horticulture with today’s youth . check out the website for more great information ! 0
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nomina insecta nearctica : a check list of the insects of north america , vol . 1 : coleoptera , strepsiptera
disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
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to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
port huron sga , st . clair co . , michigan . 17 may 2009 .
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faba bean , lentil , lima bean , pea , snap bean , etc . )
acyrthosiphon pisum shinji . cowpea is plagued by cow - pea weevils , callosobruchus spp . locally , a number of other pests can be important , particularly thrips , leaf miners , leafhoppers , and flea beetles .
the lettuce is an immensely popular vegetable . among vegetables grown in the united states , it sur -
royal bc museum website featuring the non - native / alien species in the province ; includes fact sheets of selected species and a current list of all alien species found in the province , including insects .
[ cite : 593991 ] jump to : bees | wasps / ants / sawflies | diptera | lepidoptera | coleoptera | hemiptera & misc . orders | common names :
the common names committee of the entomological society of canada maintains and periodically updates a list of common names of insects . the list is available online as a searchable database , and is also downloadable as an excel file . in addition , there is an online form for the submission of a proposal for a new common name . the site includes recommendations for how to come up with a new common name .
florida dept . of agriculture and consumer services , division of plant industry . xii , 65 p . , 1989
occasional papers of the florida state collection of arthropods , vol . 6 full text
price , p . w . & m . f . willson . 1979 . abundance of herbivores on six milkweed species in illinois . american midland naturalist 101 ( 1 ) : 76–86 .
asclepias incarnata , a . sullivantii , a . syriaca , a . verticillata , a . amplexicaulis
. these species occur in this order on a moisture gradient from wet to dry soil conditions . this survey revealed that 12 species occurred at an abundance of at least one individual per 100 host stems in 1 plot - year on one host species :
oncopeltus fasciatus * , lygaeus kalmii * , aphis nerii * , labidomera clivicollis * , tetraopes tetrophthalmus * , t . femoratus , t . quinquemaculatus , rhyssomatus lineaticollis * , danaus plexippus , cycnia tenera * , euchaetias egle
are specific to milkweeds in illinois . seven of these species , marked with asterisks , were abundant enough to act as major selective forces on the life history patterns of the milkweed species , populations and clones concerned .
) in south - east michigan are correlated with differences in microhabitat , in exposure to herbivores , and in competition . components of each species ' reproductive strategy include : number of stems per plants , number of umbels per stem , number of flowers and pods per umbel , number of seeds per pod , seed weight and annual increase in reproductive potential . components of each species ' selective regime include : the herbivore load ( measured by the frequency of plants damaged by predators or animal parasites ) , competition ( measured by the proportion of non - flowering plants and by the density of competitors ) , and environmental uncertainty ( measured by annual mortality rates ) .
by dailey , p . j . , r . c . graves and j . m . kingsolver .
the coleopterists bulletin , 32 ( 3 ) : 223 - 229 . , 1978
dailey , p . j . , r . c . graves and j . m . kingsolver . 1978 . survey of coleoptera collected on the common milkweed ,
, at one site in ohio . the coleopterists bulletin , 32 ( 3 ) : 223 - 229 .
l . , were collected daily for 90 consecutive days . of the 132 species listed , 18 were considered to be common ( 50 or more collected ) while the majority of species were considered temporary visitors . the host specific milkweed beetle , [ i ] tetraopes tetr
by fall , h . f . and t . d . a . cockerell .
full text fall , h . f . and t . d . a . cockerell . 1907 . the coleoptera of new mexico . transactions of the american entomological society 33 : 145 - 272 .
full text knull , j . n . 1938 . five new species of coleoptera ( corynetidae , elateridae and buprestidae ) . ohio journal of science 38 : 97 - 100 .
beetle biodiversity response to vegetation restoration of mid - valley riparian woodland in the lrgv of southern texas .
unpublished master ' s thesis , texas a & m ; university , college station . viii + 218 pp . , 2015
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natural enemies . population regulation is poorly known in this little - studied insect . the only parasitoid known from rhubarb curculio is rhaconotus fasciatus ( ashmead ) ( hymenoptera : braconidae ) . the larvae apparently are cannibalistic , because although it is not uncommon to find several young larvae in the stalk of a host plant , it is rare to have more than one reach maturity in each plant .
life cycle and description . there is a single generation annually . the adults overwinter , emerging in april in the vicinity of washington d . c . mating and oviposition occur soon thereafter . eggs are found in april - mid - june , larvae through july or august , pupation commences in august , and adults begin emergence in september . in canada , adults do not emerge from overwintering until june , but similarly complete a new generation by september .
egg . the egg is oval in form and pale yellow , and is deposited in plant tissue at a depth of 2 - 3 mm . the eggs measure 1 . 5 - 1 . 9 mm long and 1 . 2 - 1 . 3 mm wide . they are deposited principally within the leaf petioles and flower stalk , though sometimes within the larger veins of the leaf . apparently the weevil deposits the egg within cavities made by feeding , though there are many more feeding sites than oviposition sites . duration of the egg stage is about eight days . the eggs fare poorly when deposited in rhubarb , apparently suffering from the flow of sap .
the larva is whitish , but with a brown head that usually bears an inverted y - shaped mark . the larva ' s body is curved or c - shaped , highly wrinkled , and lacks thoracic legs . larvae bore down through the stalk into the root , usually with only a single beetle surviving in each plant . duration of the larval stage is about 60 days , and then the larva creates a pupal cell in the base of the stem or in the roots .
the pupal cell is 25 - 40 mm long and 57 mm wide . it is constructed just beneath the soil surface , and the larva chews an exit hole for the adults before pupating . the pupa is whitish and measures 14 - 15 mm long . the head bears the long snout of the adult form , though the wings are twisted beneath the ventral surface of the body . the abdominal segments are marked with short spines . duration of the pupal stage is about eight days , though the adult remains in the pupal chamber for another 7 - 8 days before emerging .
the adult is 10 - 14 mm long , and black , but covered with fine gray hairs . rhubarb curculio is also dusted with yellow powder though this is lacking from l . mucidus , and can be rubbed off . the pronotum and elytra bear punctures . after emerging in september , adults feed briefly on host plants , then seek sheltered locations for overwintering . the adults pass the winter hidden beneath debris near the host plants .
the biology was described by webster ( 1889 ) , chittenden ( 1900 ) , and weiss ( 1912 ) . these species were included in the treatment of eastern beetles by downie and arnett ( 1996 ) and of canadian beetles by campbell et al . ( 1989 ) .
the adults of rhubarb curculio may nibble at the edge of leaves in the spring , but damage to rhubarb results principally from gnawing into the leaf stalks . the holes are oval or round , and up to 3 mm deep .
sticky sap secretions often exude from the wounds , collecting as glistening drops of gum . feeding occurs mostly after most rhubarb , an early season crop , has been harvested . larvae seldom develop in rhubarb . nevertheless , rhubarb curculio is considered as the most injurious of the insects attacking rhubarb—a plant notably free of insect pests .
rhubarb curculio is rarely of consequence , though application of insecticides to rhubarb foliage should protect plants from injury . because its abundance is governed mostly by the presence of favored weed hosts such as dock , elimination of such weeds will eliminate the threat of damage by weevils .
this species of weevil is one of the largest in north america , reaching up to 1 / 2 inch in length . they are black beetles covered in a fine golden dust . like many beetles when they are alarmed they will roll over and play dead often rolling off the leaf or plant that they are feeding on . this must work well for the beetle , as i ' ve had them do this and they virtually disappear once they hit the ground never to be seen again .
unusual to eat the leaves , i thought they were lethal . i have a few photos to share with you . i had sparrows hit a bluebird house and when i took out the nest i should have bagged it just to look over all the detrivores eating in there . always thinking of you , lol
i fight sparrows all the time . they take over my martin houses and my bluebirds houses here as well . they are the bane of bird life . i love that detrivores brings me to mind . . . . . lol can ' t wait to see your photos . i always enjoy seeing what you find .
i recently wrote a childrens book about butterflies and moths . it is now available for purchase on amazon . this a great way to introuduce children to one of the most popular orders of insects , the lepidoptera . there is also a section on vocabulary so they learn many scientific terms . just click the image and it will take you directly to the purchasing page .
more rain to come this afternoon this is the output from a dam . they are letting out the maximum and it really rumbles loud . hollyhocks make me smile . . . .
a canadian nonprofit alliance is trying to save a staple fish supply—via drone photography .
while doing a soil survey in our freshly mowed hay field , richard locke spotted a large spider skittering over the duff . after multiple tries we had it . . .
© valley news , urltoken the united states of america recently celebrated the 242nd anniversary of its declaration of independence from british colonialis . . .
hey ya’ll ! we’ve been doing these neat live videos with entomologists from all different backgrounds . it’s been almost a year of doing so , but they are onl . . .
* click on the pictures for a proper look … and click again was walking around the water treatment plant and noticed this white cone on a branch . could see . . .
the insect world is full of drama , one of the major attractions for entomologists and naturalists and wildlife photographers . among the more rarely - witness . . .
check your porch lights : it ' s palo verde rootborer season in tucson . the huge , up to 4 in long beetles emerge from the ground , mate at night , and lay egg . . .
by carl strang this year’s chapter in the series of annual bioblitzes organized by the indiana academy of sciences took place at eagle creek park in northe . . .
if you work in the pest control industry , and are even a little geeky about insects , you would probably like the national conference of urban entomology . . . .
it’s a killer 95 degrees on the sand prairie today , so i was ecstatic when this western # hognose snake accepted several big gulps of water from my bottle ! # . . .
back in the summer of 2015 , i made an early august trip to the white river hills region of extreme southwestern missouri . i was actually looking for one of . . .
it was over 170 years ago that wisconsin was granted statehood . while much has changed over the decades , some things haven’t—like the omnipresence of agri . . .
the other day i went out to pick some spinach for breakfast , and i noticed this fly resting on one of the leaves : this is a lauxaniid fly in the minettia o . . .
june 23 | 9am – 3pm friends of the garden proudly presents its annual free butterfly festival on saturday , june 23 from 9 : 00 a . m . to 3 : 00 p . m . in the spr . . .
image : antonio rodríguez arduengo * uroplatus ebenaui * demons get such a bad rap these days . and . . . all other days , i suppose . but look at this cutie ! surely . . .
at 10 : 15 this morning i deactivated my facebook account . i’ve had the account for over a decade . no more . i can no longer in good conscience participate in . . .
after waking from the afternoon siesta , i stepped out of the darkness into the brilliant sunshine bathing the small balcony of my room . it did not look pro . . .
this article will soon be available in spanish inspired by mike van valen ' s
the ratsnake mess for dummies
please note that the information in this article . . .
the bug chicks - a site for parents , teachers and bugdorks . bumperstickers for the holidays !
i was in scotland last weekend to lead a couple of bumblebee id training events . as i needed to bring a fair bit of kit with me , i drove , and passed throu . . .
i am so very behind on getting data from the dragonfly swarm project shared here , but i wanted to get the data from this year so far up ! here’s what i’ve . . .
hey , there peeps !
i ' m not dead ! think i ' ll go for a walk !
' nuf said ? = d * lazuli lifer * lazuli bunting appeared on the feeder ( sunday ) & i freaked out . . .
* tufted titmouse ( baeolophus bicolor ) * * out in our first snow of the winter . only about an inch of snowfall . * .
so , yeah . i guess i should update this thing every so often , before it gets hacked , or taken over , or deleted or something . i do still enjoy finding bugs . . .
last week , in the midst of my 50s , i discovered the delightful horror of allergies . when i got the sore throat , i assumed it was a cold . and then my eyes c . . .
the air potato , dioscorea bulbifera , is an invasive noxious weed in south florida . in a previous post , i described efforts at biological control using the . . .
as a nature enthusiast and bird lover i spend a lot of time outdoors and one of my favorite pastimes is feeding and watching birds . several years ago i . . .
diamondback watersnakes ( * nerodia rhombifer * ) are a large thick - bodied , defensive , often ill - tempered snake . they are common in nw missouri and are found . . .
( updated 3 / 22 / 13 ) the picture below started this post . it is a picture that shows up prominently high on a google image search for ‘fire ant . ’ it is al . . .
i am proud to be chosen as part of this list of entomology blogs . there are some great blogs and websites with a focus on insects and spiders , and to be included among them is an honor indeed . click this link to check out more great entomology blog posts .
having trouble identifying the spider that just showed up in your house , or backyard ? let eric and the other experts at spider identification help identify it . most spiders are harmless to humans and provide a great service to us by eating untold amounts of insects . for some people though , the arachnophobia runs too deep . ease your fears and learn about the spiders living around you .
the mushroom king of nw missouri has his website up and running . this is a great way to interact with fellow mushroom hunters . find out where these tasty fungi are being found . post about your own finds . share your favorite recipes . coming soon will be merchandise to purchase . lets all support the mushroom king and join this fun , informative site .
needing a good all around field guide to insects of north america ? let me recommend this awesome , comprehensive guide . it is full of wonderful full color photos making identification simple . it is easy enough to use to be beneficial to children and adults . this is my go - to guide when trying to identify all those unique insects that show up in my yard , or anywhere else .
a good friend of mine betsy betros has written a wonderful , full color field guide to kansas city butterflies . it is fast becoming my buttefly bible . this book would be beneficial to anyone who loves butterflies and gardening . these butterflies will be found beyond kansas city ' s borders . you won ' t be disappointed in this guide , i would consider it a must - have !
here are some of the most colorful , spectacular and sometimes weird examples of the world ' s butterflies and moths . from the common swallowtail to the iridescent blue morpho , thomas marent ' s stunning photographs provide a close - up view of the remarkable family of insects known as lepidoptera . the macro photography complements the enlightening text written by zoologist ronald orenstein , who explains the scientific curiosities of these amazing insects .
i feel honored to be included in the list of best blogs for 2010 .
thank you so much for the shout out and the award geek . you put a smile on my face !
recently one of my regular followers recommended me for the best blog award . thank you so much paula , for believing that this blog was worthy of such an honor .
the boll weevil ( anthonomus grandis ) is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters , which feeds on cotton buds and flowers . thought to be native to central america , it migrated into the united states from mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all u . s . cotton - growing areas by the 1920s , devastating the industry and the people working in the american south . during the late 20th century it became a serious pest in south america as well . since 1978 , the boll weevil eradication program in the u . s . allowed full - scale cultivation to resume in many regions .
boll weevils will begin to die at temperatures at or below −5 °c ( 23 °f ) . research at the university of missouri indicates they cannot survive more than an hour at −15 °c ( 5 °f ) . the insulation offered by leaf litter , crop residues , and snow may enable the beetle to survive when air temperatures drop to these levels .
other limitations on boll weevil populations include extreme heat and drought . its natural predators include fire ants , insects , spiders , birds , and a parasitic wasp , catolaccus grandis . the insects at times engage in what seems to be almost suicidal behavior by emerging from diapause before cotton buds are available .
in 1915 . by the mid 1920s it had entered all cotton growing regions in the u . s . , travelling 40 to 160 miles per year . it remains the most destructive cotton pest in
has estimated that since the boll weevil entered the united states it has cost u . s . cotton producers about $ 13 billion , and in recent times about $ 300 million per year .
the cotton boll weevil : a , adult beetle ; b , pupa ; c , larva .
the boll weevil contributed to the economic woes of southern farmers during the 1920s , a situation exacerbated by the great depression in the 1930s .
, south carolina native mose austin recalled that his employer was adamant .
he don ' t want nothin ' but cotton planted on de place ; dat he in debt and hafter raise cotton to git de money to pay wid .
austin let out a long guffaw before recounting ,
de boll weevil come . . . and , bless yo ' life , dat bug sho ' romped on things dat fall .
austin remembered that the following spring , his employer insisted on planting cotton in spite of warnings from his wife , his employees , and government agricultural experts :
de cotton come up and started to growin ' , and , suh , befo ' de middle of may i looks down one day and sees de boll weevil settin ' up dere in de top of dem little cotton stalks waitin ' for de squares to fo ' m . so all dat gewano us hauled and put down in 1922 made nuttin ' but a crop of boll weevils .
the next year , austin ' s employer tried the same ill - fated experiment . ultimately , the man lost his farm and moved with his disgruntled wife to california .
the boll weevil infestation has been credited with bringing about economic diversification in the southern us , including the expansion of peanut cropping . the citizens of enterprise , alabama erected the boll weevil monument in 1919 , perceiving that their economy had been overly dependent on cotton , and that mixed farming and manufacturing were better alternatives .
in 1983 , and it is estimated that about 90 % of the cotton farms in brazil are now infested . during the 1990s the weevil spread to
. the international cotton advisory committee ( icac ) has proposed a control program similar to that used in the u . s .
again to grow cotton as an economic crop . ddt was initially extremely effective , but us weevil populations developed resistance by the mid 1950s .
were subsequently used , but environmental and resistance concerns arose as they had with ddt and control strategies changed .
to determine feasibility of eradicating the weevil from the growing areas . based on the success of this , area - wide programs were begun in the 1980s to eradicate the insect from whole regions . these are based on cooperative effort by all growers together with the assistance of the animal and plant health inspection service ( aphis ) of the
. efforts are ongoing to eradicate the weevil from the rest of the united states . continued success is also based on prohibition of unauthorized cotton growing , outside of the program , and constant monitoring for any recurring outbreaks .
lange , fabian , alan l . olmstead , and paul w . rhode , “the impact of the boll weevil , 1892–1932 , ” journal of economic history , 69 ( sept . 2009 ) , 685–718 .
always agin it
place chapin , south carolina , john l . dove , interviewer , january 24 , 1939 . american life histories , 1936–1940
. journal of agricultural and food chemistry : 1995 , vol . 43 , no10 , pp . 2735–2739 ( 19 ref . )
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there are , however , a few pests which are known to feed on the rhubarb plant ; these , and how to control them , are discussed below .
i have rarely ( over 25 years ! ) treated my rhubarb plants for pests .
the leaves are often dotted with holes , but they are discarded when the stalks are harvested , therefore , unless there is a major infestation of rhubarb pests ( that are also affecting the stalks of the rhubarb ) , i usually do not treat the rhubarb plants .
to help prevent pests from damaging your rhubarb plants , it is advisable to care for the rhubarb plants in the best possible way to keep them healthy .
cultivate the soil around the rhubarb beginning in early spring . remove dead leaves regularly , and remove all the leaves and stalks before the winter to prevent rhubarb pests from over - wintering in them .
if you compost the rhubarb leaves , it is not advisable to put the composted leaves back onto the rhubarb garden . this will help to prevent returning rhubarb pests to your garden .
also , when beginning a rhubarb garden , consider where you will plant your rhubarb . gardening with plant companions in mind , is a great gardening concept . with careful planning , you can
help plants help each other
by choosing which garden companions to grow together .
in some cases this method of planting can help attract
helpful
bugs or repel
harmful
bugs . or , companion gardening may assist by the natural addition of nutrients into the soil , keeping plants healthy , and more resistant to pest damage .
if you detect a possible rhubarb pest problem in your rhubarb patch , observe the entire plant ( s ) affected and determine the extent of , and characteristics of the problem .
check the underside of the leaves as well as the tops , and inspect the rhubarb stalks for slugs , beetles , other insects , holes , eggs , webs , and so on .
these rhubarb leaves ( see photo above ) have been damaged by aphids , slugs , beetles , or other insects .
this ( see photo above ) rhubarb stalk ( notice the holes ) has been damaged , most likely by a rhubarb plant pest such as a rhubarb curculio beetle , or a potato stem borer .
this rhubarb stalk ( see photo above ) has
scarring
damage , most likely caused by slugs , or other rhubarb pests .
a small amount of damage like this can easily be cut off and discarded when processing your rhubarb .
if you cannot identify the source of the problem , consult a plant specialist at your local garden centre , and , if possible bring a photo of the rhubarb stalk or leaf affected .
remember , seeing the damage will make it much easier for the professional to assess what is happening in your garden .
there are also conventional chemical herbicides which can be used for rhubarb . when treating garden plants , always remember to shield your crop from the contact sprays . check with your local garden center for a recommended product .
i believe this is due to aphids ( for example , the
black bean aphid
) or other small insects . large infestations of aphids may cause the rhubarb leaves to curl or wilt .
flea beetles
may cause damage to newly planted rhubarb by their feeding on tender rhubarb leaves .
, i have not found it necessary to treat the rhubarb leaves for these holes .
slugs are rhubarb pests that are commonly found on the stalks and occasionally on the leaves .
the slug feeds at night , leaving damaged stalks and occasionally affect the leaves .
slugs may become a problem where there is poor soil drainage or heavy weed infestation .
after harvesting rhubarb dispose of the leaves immediately , do not leave them to decompose alongside the rhubarb plants . slugs thrive in wet areas and around decaying matter .