WOV’s Insectarium: Pale Grass Blue Butterfly

RURAL BLISS |

Every inch of life is indispensable…

[Dry Season Brood: The pink-tinged light brown butterfly adorning the grass-covered area of an Ilocos rustic house.]

DESCRIPTION

They have built their realm in Northern Luzon; they have invaded the greensward in the community. Appearing like a dried leaf in the ground, you may ignore them; resembling like a nice petal, you may touch them. They are the petite but endearing butterflies emerging in the grasses of Asia which come in light-pink-to-light-yellow-to-light-brown-colored wings, black-and-white-striped antennae and physique comparable to a letter “C” 72-font-size.

CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lebidoptera

Family: Lycaenidae

Genus: Pseudozizeeria

Species: Pseudozizeeria maha

Brood: Dry Season

Appreciate small things and receive big things!

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WOV’s Insectarium: Red Dragonfly

WILDLIFE REVERIE

Launching a new section in my blog…

Regal Advent: An auburn dragonfly alighted on a branch of a young rambutan tree.

DESCRIPTION

Spreading about 70 millimeter wings, 45-millimeter length Neurothemis ramburii uninhibitedly soar Asia, taking their way across South Eastern region which includes the farms, ponds, orchards and lowland forests of the Philippines. These dark-red-to-brown-to-orange-winged dragonflies, belonging in the largest family of skimmers, are known as great predators of mosquitoes. Their species are difficult-to-get-close-to, unless weak and immature, along with Neurothemis terminata, their closest relatives.

CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata

Suborder: Anisoptera

Family: Libellulidae

Genus: Neurothemis

Species: Neurothemis ramburii

You don't need it but you would love it. But with the surprises in life you have experienced it. Life is tough. Life is fair. Life is sweet.

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The Life Cycle Of A Lime Butterfly: Photographing, Documenting, Observing, Learning

WILDLIFE REVERIE

Metamorphosis 101 has never been this fun…

Week-Old Butterfly: This worn-out butterfly landed in a mandarin fruit leaf on a cloudy afternoon waiting its desertion to the world.

Life’s a journey. We travel in length and time. But no matter what the numbers tell us, it is still the experiences that count. Wait… numbers can’t be counted anymore? They are supposed to be reliable, right? Now, they are mere pretty facts!  So what’s the whole point of this?  In this world that we live in, numbers (kilometers, hours, pesos, etc.) are of little importance – they only make us cram, give us stress, create problems and cause a more complicated life. You’re lucky if you can handle them well. Wow! All praise to you, f–e–w, successful men! But again, I don’t think they are making any sense – like – Ninoy and Marcos should have just embraced each other then instead of wasting time and money. Because, it is absurdly ridiculous having them now, their insubstantial apparitions, watching us, after they have made names years ago! And after all, Philippines is still Philippines. Where I am coming from now is… what if we don’t have clocks, moneys, years or any idea of amounts, quantities… what if we only have air to breathe, food to eat and environment to reside… what if we’re butterflies living in a colorful, unprotected, erratic world… THINK my friend, RELAX your numbers and ENJOY life!

The Life Cycle Of A Butterfly

Laying Eggs¹. A butterfly begins its life as an egg. Butterfly eggs differ in size and shape. Hatching Caterpillar². A caterpillar arises within the egg and comes out of the shell. 


Molting Caterpillar³. A caterpillar spends all its time eating, grows through time and molts to reveal new skin. Emerging Chrysalis⁴. The caterpillar twists and turns to detach its old skin, showing off their new skin, chrysalis, where it will stay for some time and transform to an adult butterfly.

     

Becoming Adult⁵. When the change completes, the butterfly splits the chrysalis. Blood is gradually supplied to its immature wings until the butterfly starts to fly. Mating Butterflies⁶. The male and female butterflies join the tips of their abdomens together when they are ready to copulate.

 

10 Things To Know About Butterflies

Butterflies use their antennae for smelling.

Butterflies use their little hairs on their feet for tasting.

Butterflies use their tongue for sucking.

Butterflies have colorful wings for them to find each other.

Butterflies have spots on their wings that look like big eyes to scare predators.

Butterflies harm plants during their caterpillar days.

Butterflies help plants when they carry pollen grains that serve as fertilizers.

Butterflies hibernate (sleep deeply) during the coldest months.

Butterflies fly if and only if their body temperature is higher than 30⁰ Celsius.

Butterflies have sex (stay in the act) for several hours.

They have worn the sexiest colors. They have landed on the most comfortable leaf. They have tasted the sweetest nectar. They have experienced the greatest pleasure. You may want that too (naughty smile).

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Awe-Stuffed Afternoon at La Union

WANDER TRANCE

Strolling the San Fernando stretch…

Laid-Back: The still and quiet San Fernando stretch in a mind-numbing afternoon.

A relief for some, a respite for many – that was how the NLE thing stirred us after its windup. But at the end of the day, this only means, suggests, and calls… party, party!

The swimming pool seemed like a rice field partied by rumbling giant frogs while the grubby beach looked as if a canal reveled by young indiscriminate children. Pretty much, they were all enjoying the scene and I was just watching here – envious – of the fun brimming over the picture.

So what can I do now? I knew I cannot jump over the crowded pool and plunge in the dirty beach!

I, tired and impatient, encouraged my friend then – who belittled the shoreline too on our first day at the resort – to go with me for a stroll. She stared me with disgust, saying, “That beach! What’s with that beach?”

“I don’t know. But we’ll see. Come on, it’s our fourth day here and we haven’t seen the San Fernando sunset,” I answered.

 

 

Clockwise from Top Left: The calm shoreline of San Fernando. Huge and colorful clams collected by the folks. On our way to the grotto.

At first, we were disappointed - the muddy shore, the wastes and the smell. But later, we were mesmerized - the clams, the grotto and the magnificent sunset.

Last Surprise: The dull moment was followed with a powerful orange-radiating sky scene.

In life, it is ok to say something as long as it is not fabricated, it does not involve character humiliation and most importantly, it will not keep the arrogance in you (just in case you realize you're wrong) later.

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