Tag Archives: outdoors

Armoured Ground Crickets

12 Replies

Family Hetrodinae

There aren’t very many creatures in Africa that gives me nightmares, but this is undeniably one of the exceptions! Built like tanks complete with an armoured exoskeleton, formidable mandibles with which they can inflict a painful bite, and intimidating spikes on their legs and 5cm-long bodies (without including their legs in the measurement), just the thought of one of them finding its way onto my neck is almost enough to make me faint…

South Africa has about 30 species of Armoured Ground Crickets, also known locally as Corn Crickets, occurring throughout the country. They are omnivores, often regarded as an agricultural pest and capable even of killing and eating chicks in their nests, and will even cannibalise dead of their own kind! Not much will try and prey on Armoured Ground Crickets as they have the habit of spraying noxious “blood” from their bodies to ward of attackers, though they are eaten by bat-eared foxes and kori bustards.

Corn Cricket
Armoured Ground Cricket
There seemed to be armoured crickets everywhere you looked! This one was feasting on a trampled comrade in Satara’s parking area…
Armoured ground crickets abound in the mopaneveld in the north of the Park
Armoured Ground Cricket

Acacia Pied Barbet

14 Replies

Tricholaema leucomelas

Originally a denizen of savanna habitats, the distribution range of the Acacia Pied Barbet expanded tremendously during the 20th century into previously unsuitable habitats thanks to the provisioning of water, planting of exotic trees and the establishment of well-wooded parks and gardens in previously unoccupied parts of the country. They follow a varied diet of invertebrates, fruit, flowers and nectar, and are usually seen alone or in pairs.

Acacia Pied Barbets form monogamous pairs that nest in cavities they excavate together in the underside of branches of soft-wooded trees during spring and summer. Both partners share the duty of incubating the clutch of 2-4 eggs that hatch within 3 weeks of laying. Both also provide food to the chicks until they leave the nest at about 5 weeks of age. Adults are about 18cm long and weigh around 30g.

The Acacia Pied Barbet is widely distributed in South Africa, being absent only from the erstwhile Transkei and bordering districts of Kwazulu-Natal. They’re also found in all our neighbouring states and Angola, and is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN.

Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet

Yellow Canary

7 Replies

Crithagra flaviventris

The Yellow Canary inhabits heathland, arid scrubland and dry grasslands and savannas, where it feeds mainly on seeds and, to a lesser extent, small invertebrates, nectar and flowers. During periods of drought they may be quite nomadic. They’re social birds found in sizable flocks and often in association with other species of seed-eating birds. In South Africa, the Yellow Canary occurs mainly in the drier western and central parts of the country and is absent from most of Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal. Beyond our borders they’re also found in Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and small pockets of Angola and have been introduced to the island of St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.

Yellow Canaries may breed at anytime of year, peaking during periods of highest rainfall. They form monogamous pairs, with the dull-coloured female responsible for the building of the cup-shaped nest in a shrub or small tree while the bright male defends the nesting territory. She is also solely responsible for incubating the clutch of 2-5 eggs, which takes about two weeks. Both parents provide food to the growing chicks, which leave the nest about a fortnight after hatching. Fully grown they weigh around 17g and measure approximately 13cm in length.

The IUCN considers the Yellow Canary to be of least concern.

Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary (Male)
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary (male)
Female Yellow Canary
Female Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary (photo by Joubert)
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canary
Yellow Canaries
Yellow Canaries

Common Carp

9 Replies

Cyprinus carpio

The Common Carp, also known as the European or Eurasian Carp, is native to freshwater in Europe and Central Asia, and was introduced to South Africa in the 1700’s. It is valued in aquaculture and recreational angling but is considered to be one of the 100 worst invading species in the world and now occurs in almost all rivers and impoundments in our country. Common Carp negatively impacts local aquatic ecosystems due to their indelicate feeding habits; uprooting plants and churning up the sediment making the water unsuitable for indigenous species.

Common Carp can adapt to almost any water conditions but prefer slow-flowing rivers and standing water, such as in ponds, dams and lakes. They are also quite catholic in their omnivorous diet, consuming anything it finds while poking around the soft silt. European Carp has been cultivated as food for humans since Roman times.

Common Carp breed in spring and summer, and large females may lay more than 300,000 eggs at a time and more than a million in a breeding season. The fry hatch within a week and grow rapidly. They can grow to over a meter in length and more than 30kg in weight – the world angling record stands at over 45kg! Common Carp can live for up to 20 years in the wild.

Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp
Common Carp

Forest Num-num

14 Replies

Carissa bispinosa

Despite its name, the Forest Num-num occurs in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from savannas and woodlands to forests. It grows mostly as an evergreen shrub, usually multi-stemmed and often scrambling in growth form, or rarely a small tree of up to 5m tall, covered by sharp, forked spines. The Forest Num-num flowers in Spring and Summer and the berries ripen on the tree from March to October.

The fruit of the Forest Num-num is eaten by humans (even as a jam), primates and birds, and the root is used in traditional medicine as a treatment for toothache. It is a beautiful addition to a garden in frost-free areas, attracting lots of insects and birds, and can be used as a hedge.

In South Africa, the Forest Num-num grows from Cape Town all along the southern coast of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, throughout Kwazulu-Natal and the eastern Free State, over most of  Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Beyond our borders the Forest Num-num grows as far north as Kenya.

Forest Num-num
Forest Num-num
Forest Num-num
Forest Num-num
Forest Num-num

Karoo Num-num

11 Replies

Carissa haematocarpa

The Karoo Num-num is an evergreen, multi-stemmed and densely branched shrub or small tree growing up to 2m high, covered by multitudes of pronged spines that may be up to 4-5cm long, growing in the Little and Great Karoo and along the lower reaches of the Orange River and its tributaries. The tiny flowers, borne in Spring and Summer, are carried in clusters at the end of the branches. The fruit are similarly tiny – about 5mm in diameter – and are purple to black when ripe (while edible, they will stain your teeth the same colour!).

The Karoo Num-num is used as a fodder plant by game and livestock, especially during periods of drought. Though a slow grower, the plant is a good addition to a water-wise garden due to its drought resistance, and it attracts birds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.

Some authorities consider the Karoo Num-num to be the same species as the Forest Num-num, which we’ll be showcasing in the next post on DeWetsWild.

Karoo Num-num flowers
Karoo Num-num blooms
Karoo Num-num fruit
Karoo Num-num thorns
African Small White butterfly on Karoo Num-num flowers
African Small White butterfly on Karoo Num-num flowers
African Small White butterfly on Karoo Num-num flowers
Karoo Num-num
Karoo Num-num

Eyed Pansy Butterfly

12 Replies

Junonia orithya

The Eyed Pansy is a widespread butterfly occurring from South Africa (Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, northern Free State, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo), through most of Africa, southern and south-east Asia all the way to Australia. They inhabit grassland and thorny savanna habitats. Adults may be seen at anytime of year, usually in open areas where they fly low and fast, often settling on the same bare patches – its Afrikaans name of “Padwagtertjie” stems from its habit of sitting on road surfaces. The males are territorial and defend their patch vigorously. The sexes are similar in appearance and adults have a wingspan of 4-5cm. The larvae is sustained on a diverse selection of plants.

Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy
Eyed Pansy

Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

6 Replies

Eremopterix verticalis

The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark occurs from Angola and Zambia to South Africa. In our country they’re mostly found in the drier western reaches (Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, Free State and North West Province) but being highly nomadic, following the rains and resultant grass growth, often appears in other parts of the country as well. They prefer arid open, even bare, plains with scattered vegetation and are frequently seen in recently burnt places and fallow fields. Grey-backed Sparrow-Larks feed mainly on seeds and occasionally small invertebrates, like termites and locust nymphs.

Grey-backed Sparrow-Larks are social birds – they may be encountered in flocks numbering several thousand, though usually much smaller – but form monogamous pairs when breeding. There appears to be no set breeding season in this species and it seems they’re rather opportunistic breeders during periods of good grass growth following good rains. Using dry plant material the female builds a cup-shaped nest on the ground, usually at the base of a shady shrub. Both parents incubate the clutch of 1-5 eggs – which hatch within 11 days – and bring food to the chicks at the nest. The chicks leave the nest at around 10 days of age, although it takes about double that before they can fly. Fully grown they weigh around 17g and measure about 13cm in length.

The IUCN considers the Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark to be of least concern.

Grey-backed Sparrow Lark (male and chick)
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark Female
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (photo by Joubert)
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark (photo by Erlo van Aswegen)
Male Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark
Grey-backed Sparrowlark
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

9 Replies

Eremopterix leucotis

The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is a nomadic bird that inhabits open savannas with short grass and bare patches (especially recently burnt). They feed mainly on seeds, though insects and other invertebrates also feature in their diet and especially so in the breeding season. Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks are social and is usually seen in flocks numbering from 5 to 50 and sometimes several hundred individuals. They drink regularly when water is available but also occur far from water.

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks form monogamous pairs in the breeding season, which may be at anytime of year following good rainfall. They build the nest together, using a shallow depression next to a tuft of grass or rock in which to place the cup-shaped nest built with soft plant material. The clutch of 1-3 eggs are incubated by both parents and hatch in less than 2 weeks. The chicks leave the nest when they’re only 2 weeks old and before they’re fully capable of flying. Fully grown they weigh around 22g and measure 13cm in length.

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks occur in northern South Africa (from the Free State and Kwazulu-Natal northwards) and patchily throughout Africa’s savanna regions. The IUCN considers the species to be of least concern.

Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlarks
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark

Incognito Thread Snake

28 Replies

Leptotyphlops incognitus

Joubert and I have just returned from a “Dads & Lads” weekend with good friends at the Kudu Private Nature Reserve outside Lydenburg in the Mpumalanga Province. While looking for crickets to use as fishing bait I came across this tiny Incognito Thread Snake underneath a rock.

The Incognito Thread Snake is a harmless and tiny reptile that lives almost exclusively underground, sometimes emerging on the surface during wet weather and then easily confused with an earthworm. They feed on invertebrates, especially termites.

Incognito Thread Snakes grow to about 15cm in length and are thinner than a matchstick. Females lay 3-4 rice-sized eggs that hatch in late summer.

In South Africa the Incognito Thread Snake occurs in Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province, and beyond our borders as far as Zambia, Malawi and southern Mozambique. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern.