We have recently been donated two beautiful juvenile veiled chameleons
Chamaeleo calyptratus by a local breeder, we have named these fascinating
lizards Micky and Mallory. They are now settling in well in our reptile section
and are feeding gluttonously on small locusts and flies.
We have had an emergence of humming bird hawk-moths Macroglossum
stellatarum that can now be found (with some patience) fluttering around the
flight area. These magnificent moths can be seen emerging from pupae or free
flying - definitely of interest to the Lepidopterist!
Last Tuesday (Aug 20th) FYFFES plc - Coventry ripening site, brought in
another deadly wandering spider Phoneutria sp. Soon we are planning a
trip to the site to investigate how this deadly genus survives so regularly
while other so called "banana spiders" are often killed by the pesticides used
there. We shall also collect any species we find - encountered species also
usually include Widow spiders Latrodectus mactans., Huntsman spiders
Heteropoda sp., Cuban tree frogs Osteopilus septentrionalis and
many centipede species (class Chilopoda). Unfortunately, as can be seen in the
illustration, this most recent Phoneutria has lost one of its rear limbs
in transit but, like other inverts, can luckily renew the lost limb after a few
successful moults.
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