Novice Butterfly

Amauris ochlea

The Novice is a foul-tasting butterfly that flies slowly and settles often on flowers and wilting plants. It inhabits forests and dense woodlands and the edges of these. Adults have a wingspan of 7cm and are on the wing throughout the year. In South Africa it is common along the Kwazulu-Natal coast and adjacent interior as well as in the Lowveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The Deceptive Diadem (Hypolimnas deceptor) mimics the Novice in appearance and thus avoids predators.

Novice (Amauris ochlea)

Novice butterfly

Novice butterflies

Novice butterfly

Novice butterflies

Novice butterfly

Novice butterfly (photo by Joubert)

Novice butterflies (photo by Joubert)

Novice butterfly

Novice butterfly (photo by Joubert)

Novice Butterfly

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

21 Replies

Merops persicus

The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater visits South Africa during our summer months after migrating from their breeding grounds stretching from North Africa to central Asia, arriving from October and departing again by April, some stay as late as May. Locally, most Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters head for the north-coast of Kwazulu-Natal and locations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, but individuals occasionally pop-up in other parts of the country as well.

While here these insectivorous birds (they have a preference for dragonflies caught in flight) inhabit moist savannas, wooded grasslands and swamps. They’re quite gregarious and usually encountered in small flocks of around 20 with individuals roosting tightly together. Adults weigh around 50g and measure approximately 30cm in length.

The IUCN considers the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater to be of least concern.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Eastern Coastal Skink

16 Replies

Trachylepis depressa

Largely endemic to southern Mozambique, the distribution of the Eastern Coastal Skink extends only marginally into South Africa, where it is found in the Pafuri region of the Kruger National Park and the north coast of Kwazulu-Natal, being commonly seen in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The IUCN hasn’t yet evaluated this species’ conservation status, and little is known of its biology, except that it inhabits dense vegetation on sandy soils and will actually hide from danger by digging itself into the sand. Adults measure around 8cm in length, excluding their tails.

Eastern Coastal Skink

African Pygmy Kingfisher

36 Replies

Ispidina picta

The African Pygmy Kingfisher is the smallest of the family occurring in South Africa – adults weigh only 15g! Despite their family name, Pygmy Kingfishers live mainly on insects, spiders and small reptiles and inhabit forests, woodland, savanna and thickets, often far removed from open water. They are shy, secretive and easily go unnoticed despite their colourful plumage.

During the breeding season, which spans the spring and summer months here in South Africa but may be year round in Africa’s equatorial zone, Pygmy Kingfishers form monogamous pairs, and both parents help to excavate the nesting chamber, up to 60cm deep, in vertical soil walls, termite mounds or the inside of animal burrows. Clutches consist of 3-6 eggs and are incubated by both parents for almost three weeks. The chicks grow quickly, leaving the nest when they’re between two and three weeks old and becoming independent soon afterwards.

These tiny winged jewels are summer visitors to our country, arriving from equatorial Africa around September and leaving again by March. While here they can be found along the eastern coast and adjacent interior and in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Their distribution range covers most of sub-Saharan Africa. The IUCN considers the species to be of least concern.

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Green-banded Swallowtail Butterfly

18 Replies

Papilio nireus

The Green-banded Swallowtail, also known as the Black Velvet, is a large and strikingly coloured butterfly with a wingspan of almost 10cm. Adults can be seen throughout the year, though much more commonly in the summer months. About equal in size, females can be distinguished by the greenish sheen to the bands on their wings while that boasted by males are bluer in colour. They fly fast and direct, and often hover over flowers, mud puddles and fresh droppings. The larvae feed on a wide variety of food plants, including citrus.

In South Africa the Green-banded Swallowtail occurs from the Garden Route through most of Kwazulu-Natal and into Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng, inhabiting forests, woodland, savannas and well planted suburban gardens and parks, with its distribution further extending over most of the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Butterflies abound in Ntshondwe’s gardens. This is a Green-banded Swallowtail

Green-banded Swallowtail

Green-banded Swallowtail butterflies

Green-banded Swallowtail

Terrestrial Brownbul

17 Replies

Phyllastrephus terrestris

The Terrestrial Brownbul is a shy inhabitant of forests and thickets, skulking in the undergrowth where it turns over the leaf litter looking for insects and other invertebrates, small reptiles, fruit and seeds.

Outside of the breeding season they form small groups of up to six individuals, but during the breeding season, which spans the spring and summer months, Terrestrial Brownbuls form monogamous, territorial pairs. Both parents build the flimsy cup-shaped nest in which a clutch of two or three eggs are incubated over a two week period. The chicks become independent very soon after fledging. Adult Terrestrial Brownbuls measure around 21cm in length and weigh approximately 36 grams.

The Terrestrial Brownbul is found over much of southern and eastern Africa, with an isolated population in southern Angola. In South Africa they’re found in suitable habitat from the Garden Route, along the Eastern Cape coast into Kwazulu-Natal, the Lowveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo and into the Waterberg region. We’ve had our best encounters with this otherwise secretive bird at Jack’s picnic spot in the Addo Elephant National Park. The IUCN lists the Terrestrial Brownbul as being of least concern.

Terrestrial Brownbul

Terrestrial Brownbul (photo by Joubert)

Terrestrial Brownbul

Yellowwood Trees

27 Replies

Podocarpus-species

Even though South Africa is not rich in indigenous coniferous trees, arguably some of our most impressive trees fall into this category. Colloquially known as Yellowwoods, four species are found in South Africa and they are all protected in legislation.

1. The Outeniqua Yellowwood, Podocarpus (Afrocarpus) falcatus, is our tallest indigenous tree, growing to 60m and even taller in height – these enormous specimens are estimated to be more than a thousand years old! Sadly the majority of these most impressive trees were lost in rampant logging during the 1800’s. It is also known as the Bastard Yellowwood in the other African countries where it occurs. The IUCN lists it as being of least concern.

2. Henkel’s Yellowwood, Podocarpus henkelii, and also known as the Natal and Drooping-leaf Yellowwood, has a more restricted distribution and is mainly found in the forests of the Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal. It can grow up to 30m tall and has a very recognisable pyramid-shaped growth form. The IUCN considers it to be an endangered species.

3. The Real Yellowwood or Broad-leaved Yellowwood, Podocarpus latifolius, is our officially designated national tree, and is considered to be of least concern by the IUCN. The Real Yellowwood grows to 35m tall.

4. The Breede River Yellowwood, Podocarpus elongatus, is the smallest of the four species found in South Africa and often appears more a multi-stemmed shrub than a tree, growing as wide as it does in height. It seldom grows taller than 6m, though some sheltered specimens have been measured at around 20m in height. It too is not considered to be in any danger in the opinion of the IUCN, though it occurs only in a relative small corner of the country in the winter rainfall region of the Western Cape province.

Occurring in coastal, riverine and montane forests, our Yellowwoods are slow-growing, evergreen trees that grow naturally in the moist south and east of the country. Yellowwoods are dioecious, which means there are separate male and female trees. You probably figured out that the wood is yellowish in colour, with that of the Outeniqua and Real Yellowwoods prized for making high-quality furniture, floors and ceilings. The Yellowwoods are also beautiful border or specimen plants in gardens, though they never attain their full potential size outside their native forests (which might be a good thing, come to think of it!). Various kinds of birds and animals consume the ripe fruit.

Yellowwoods are ancient trees, having been endemic to the super continent of Gondwana before it broke up into Africa, India, South America, Australia and their associated islands.

Moss growing on the trunk of a Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius) tree in the forest at Thendele

Leaves and female cones of the Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)

Leaves of the Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)

Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius) along the Mahai stream at Royal Natal

Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)

Henkel’s Yellowwood (Podocarpus henkelii) in Royal Natal National Park

Female cones of the Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)

The King Edward VII Tree is an impressive specimen of the Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus)

Woodville Forest’s giant Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus)

Outeniqua Yellowwoods (Podocarpus falcatus) towering over the road near Nature’s Valley

Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus) leaves

Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus) leaves and branches

Majestic Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus)

Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus) leaves

The “Big Tree” of the Tsitsikamma Forest – Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus)

Marilize and Joubert (age 9 months) at “The Big Tree” of the Tsitsikamma Forest – Outenique Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus)

The “Big Tree” of the Tsitsikamma Forest – Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus)

Forest Buzzard

16 Replies

Buteo trizonatus

As its name suggests, the Forest Buzzard is an inhabitant of temperate forests and, of late, exotic plantations, where it hunts inside and on the edges of the forest and in clearings for small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, often swooping down from a favourite perch.

Forest Buzzards are usually seen singly or in pairs. Pairs form monogamous bonds and defend a territory against other adults of their kind. Their nests are large stick platforms constructed high above the ground in tall trees. The female lays two eggs in the spring, with the first hatched chick often severely bullying the second, frequently leading to the death of the second through malnutrition. The chick takes its first flight when about 7 weeks old but usually stays with the parents for another 4 months or so before becoming independent. Adults weigh around half a kilogram, with the female being slightly bigger than the male.

The Forest Buzzard is endemic to South Africa. It’s natural distribution is confined to mountainous forests from Cape Town in the west, along the southern coast and adjacent interior through the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces into Kwazulu Natal, and then along the Drakensberg range into Mpumalanga and Limpopo as far north as the Soutpansberg. It would appear that it visits the more northern reaches of this range mainly outside the breeding season. Due to its limited distribution, dependence on threatened habitats and low population (estimated at no higher than 6,700 mature individuals in total) the IUCN lists the Forest Buzzard as being near-threatened. In our experience, the various sections of the Garden Route National Park is the best place to find these beautiful but elusive raptors.

Forest Buzzard

Forest Buzzard circling over the Groot River

Forest Buzzard

Rain Spiders and Rain Spider Wasps

28 Replies

Rain Spiders (Palystes-species)

When first confronted with the monstrously-sized Rain Spider I don’t think any person could be blamed for flinching. These arachnids can attain a leg span of up to 11cm, with their bodies alone growing to 4cm in length, and unusually for spiders both sexes are about equal in size. Their sizable fangs easily pierce human skin, but while a bite is painful and could cause a bit of swelling and itching it is not venomous.

Rain Spiders are nocturnally active predators that by nature hide and hunt in vegetation but often enters into huts and houses to prey on insects attracted by lights. It’s believed, though not conclusively proven, that finding Rain Spiders indoors is a good omen for rainfall in the days ahead. Being such formidable hunters they not only prey on other invertebrates but will even catch reptiles and amphibians.

Females may lay up to 300 eggs in large egg sacs, roughly the size of a tennis ball or even larger and constructed from leaves, twigs and silk, during the summer months. The female protects both the egg sac and newly emerged spiderlings, which hatch around three weeks after laying, and as a result it is usually gardeners that fall foul of the protective mother’s fangs when they’re out enjoying their hobby. Rain Spiders usually live for about two years.

Spiders of the genus Palystes are found in Africa, Asia and Australia. We have twelve distinct species in South Africa, of which P. superciliosus and P. castaneus are the most commonly encountered (though not easily distinguished by an untrained eye like mine).

Rain Spider, the size of a cake plate!

Rain Spider escaping the Tupperware at Bontebok National Park

Rain Spider trying to hide among dead aloe leaves at Bontebok National Park

Large Rain Spider on a dustbin at Mission Rocks

A nasty surprise hiding in the bathroom at the uMthoma Aerial Boardwalk

Rain Spider egg sac

Rain Spider curled up in self-defense

Rain Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ignitus)

The Rain Spider Wasp is a specialist hunter of Rain Spiders occurring in South Africa and Zimbabwe. When hunting, the female wasp paralyses the spider with a sting and then carries it’s victim to its nest where an egg is laid on the spider before the nest is sealed up. When the wasp larvae hatches it feeds on the still living spider, keeping the vital organs for last so that the spider can be a source of fresh food as long as possible. Once its larder is used up, the larvae pupates and emerges as an adult wasp – which feeds innocently on nectar. Rain Spider Wasps themselves are quite large and adults measure almost 5cm in length.

Rain Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ignitus)

Rain Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ignitus) photographed by Joubert

Rain Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ignitus)

Red-throated Wryneck

14 Replies

Jynx ruficollis

A member of the woodpecker family, the Red-throated Wryneck is a specialist species tied closely to moist grasslands with a meagre scattering of trees. They feed mainly on the ground, dining exclusively on ants and termites, licking them up with an exceptionally long and sticky tongue.

Red-throated Wrynecks are usually encountered singly or in pairs. The breed in cavities in trees (either natural or crafted by barbets and woodpeckers) through the spring and summer seasons. Both parents take turns to incubate the clutch of 1-6 eggs over a two week period, with the chicks remaining in the nest for about a month after hatching and then becoming independent soon after fledging.

The Red-throated Wryneck has a very patchy distribution over sub-Saharan Africa. The IUCN considers the species to be of least concern, siting a growing population, especially in South Africa where exotic trees planted in the grassland biomes have created opportunity for expansion of both its range and numbers. In our country they are found over most of the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal, extending marginally into the Limpopo Province.