Birdwing Butterfly

Ornithoptera alexandrae

For many years the large, tropical birdwing butterthes have been eagerly sought by collectors, and some bird wings now change hands for substantial sums of money, either legally or illegally. Many are now threatened, and their conservation is hindered by a lack of knowledge of their habits. Some bird wing butterflies are very large; the Queen Alexandra’s bird wing from Papua New Guinea is, in fact, the largest butterfly in the world, with a wingspan of almost 11 inches (27.5 cm). The Richmond bird wings from Australia, [Read more]

Southern Damselfly

Coenagrion mercuriale

Damselflies and their close relatives the dragonflies are familiar waterside insects that hunt their prey on the wing. The drainage of ponds and marshes for agriculture and urban development-as well as an increase in the use of pesticides-threatens to wipe out these beautiful insects. The brilliantly colored southern damselfly frequents sluggish streams in lowland areas. In Britain it is restricted to a handful of counties such as Hampshire and Dorset in the south of the country. It is more widely distributed across northwestern Europe, from France and Germany southward to the Mediterranean. Southern damselflies [Read more]

Hermit beetle

Osmoderma eremita

Hermit beetles live all their lives in decaying oak and lime trees; successive generations may continue to live in the same tree for many years. Since the beetles do not disperse well, isolated populations build up in each tree; and if the trees fail to survive, the beetles may be lost. The threat of collecting is now further reducing the stability of scarab beetle populations. Scarab beetles-members of the family Scarabaeidae display many diverse forms and habits. The family includes dung beetles, the hermit beetle, and the Egyptian sacred scarab beetle. It is thought that the Ancient Egyptians believed that the earth was [Read more]

Red Kneed Tarantula

Euathlus smithi

Although there are many species of tarantula, the dffierent forms generally share similar characteristics. Their large, hairy bodies are often strikingly marked, and some species have become popular as pets. Collection of the red-kneed tarantula has put the wild population at risk. The red-kneed tarantula is arguably the most popular of all pet tarantulas, and people have been collecting specimens since the 1970s. First discovered in 1888, the spider was soon recognized as having potential as a pet. It was also used to heighten tension in films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Such publicity encouraged [Read more]

Kauai Cave Wolf Spider

Adelocosa anops

The Kauai cave wolf spider is both rare and unusual. Found only in three caves on Kauai Island, Hawaii, the species is blind-unlike other wolf spiders that are known to hunt using their keen eyesight. Endangered from habitat de adation, it is also thought to be at risk from the pesticide residues seeping into its cave dwelling. Wolf spiders get their name from their habits as hunters. They are swift runners; instead of snaring their victims in silken webs like most other spiders, they rely on speed to chase their prey and run it down, [Read more]

Edible Sea-Urchin

Echinus esculentus

Sadly, the beautifully colored edible sea-urchin has become a familiar sight in beach souvenir shops. The animal is collected extensively because its test (shell-like internal skeleton) makes popular decorative objects and souvenirs. Sea-urchins are spiny-skinned invertebrates that are in the same phylum Echinodermata-as sea lilies, starfish, brittle stars, and sea cucumbers. Like other echinoderms, they have no head and no true brain, and their bodies have a skeleton of chalky plates. There are about 800 species of [Read more]

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