https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ykqh8ir5tkmi52/2.JPG


What is it?

What is it sitting on?

Is it male or female?

For extra credit: what are the stalks on its behind for?

Prizes will be awarded for the best answers

David

David Hare-Scott wrote:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ykqh8ir5tkmi52/2.JPG


What is it?

aphid.


What is it sitting on?

not sure, very red sap.


Is it male or female?

not sure, likely female.


For extra credit: what are the stalks on its behind for?

emitting defensive substances.

but i like thinking they are jets.


Prizes will be awarded for the best answers


songbird

On Tue, 2 Jul 2013 00:49:35 -0400, songbird
wrote:

David Hare-Scott wrote:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ykqh8ir5tkmi52/2.JPG


What is it?

aphid.


What is it sitting on?

not sure, very red sap.


Is it male or female?

not sure, likely female.


For extra credit: what are the stalks on its behind for?

emitting defensive substances.

but i like thinking they are jets.


Prizes will be awarded for the best answers


songbird

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid
http://insected.arizona.edu/gg/resource/external.html

On 7/1/13 5:14 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ykqh8ir5tkmi52/2.JPG


What is it?

What is it sitting on?

Is it male or female?

For extra credit: what are the stalks on its behind for?

Prizes will be awarded for the best answers

David


Songbird is correct: It is an aphid.

The stalks on its rear emit a fluid rich in sugars, which ants eat.
Ants will actually stroke the stalks to cause an increase in the fluid.
Ants will also defend aphids agains predators such as ladybugs. In
some cases, ants have even been known to move aphids to locations more
optimal for the aphid to feed.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ykqh8ir5tkmi52/2.JPG


What is it?

aphid.



Correct. A rose aphid to be specific. There are many kinds of many
colours.

What is it sitting on?

not sure, very red sap.


A rose stem. Until I started macro photography I never knew roses had those
red knobs on their stems. Now that I think about it if you run your
fingertip over a rose stem, avoiding the thorns, it feels rough. I am
thinking that roughness is due to these knobs which are not visible to the
naked eye, not to my eye anyway. Does anybody know their purpose?



Is it male or female?

not sure, likely female.

I surely cannot tell by looks! As it is winter here I would expect them to
be in asexual reproduction mode and thus female. The white 'ghosts' are
discarded exoskeletons from bugs that have outgrown their skin.



For extra credit: what are the stalks on its behind for?

emitting defensive substances.

I think that is correct. Although there are many kinds of aphids I think
they all have this in common. The honeydew is not from these stalks but
from their behind.


but i like thinking they are jets.


Jet-powered aphids! Scary!


Prizes will be awarded for the best answers



Bird has another doll to add to his collection.

I wonder if the poor response to this challenge indicates lack of knowledge
or interest in bugs. I would think this is something gardeners ought to
take an interest in.

David

David Hare-Scott wrote:
....
Bird has another doll to add to his collection.

yippee!


I wonder if the poor response to this challenge indicates lack of knowledge
or interest in bugs. I would think this is something gardeners ought to
take an interest in.

i think many people are on vacation.


songbird