More insects

This has been an interesting week for insect spotting.

Photo description: Texas Ironclad beetle (Zopherus nodulosus ssp. haldemani)

This is the eighth Texas Ironclad Beetle I have found on our property and the first in four years. This is by far the best picture. This one was definitely alive (it is hard to tell with Ironclads sometimes), and I left it to cruise along outside the chicken coop.

Photo description: Twice-Struck Lady Beetle (Axion plagiatum)

I have seen pictures of a black lady beetle with two red dots, but have never seen one in person until this week. Very neat find.

Photo description: Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida)

This wolf spider was easily 3 inches from front toe to back toe and I found it in the garage after I disturbed its hiding place by picking up a bag and then it ran down my leg. (Yes I screamed, but I didn’t panic.) I tried to get a photo with a reference, but the spider said no.

Texas ironclad beetle study initiation

Ok, so I’m becoming a bit obsessed about these little guys. Since little is known about them, and we seem to have an active population nearby, I’ve decided to catalogue all the individuals I encounter. Unfortunately, I mostly see them around the house where the exterminator has been, but when moved out to the lichen encrusted woodpile, they either recover, or are otherwise spirited away. They seem to be quite hardy, and I’ve read that they play dead. Fascinating. So this is the start of my catalog. I’ve documented four individuals over three years, two of which were found in the last week. I say individuals because they all have a different carapace pattern. The next question: do they change pattern when they molt? I’m hoping that answer is no, but I will add it to my study questions.

Beginning catalogue of Texas Ironclad beetles found on our property