WhatSpeciesConnect with Nature
Emerald Moth
Prasinocyma pictifimbria
Small, beautiful moth with pale teal coloured wings ...
WhatSpecies Team 9 months ago
Spotted African Slug-caterpillar Moth
Chrysopoloma pallens
Medium-sized moth with white spot on wings. Comb-like antennae ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa capitata
Large, black, hairy carpenter bee. Probably male. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Spotted Tortoise Beetle
Conchyloctenia punctata
Medium-sized beetle with head hidden below pronotum. Oval-shaped, pinkish-red with several black spots. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Stone Grasshopper
Trachypetrella sp.
Amazing little creature, blending in perfectly with its surroundings. A stone Grasshopper living in the Namib Desert. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
White Darkling Beetle
Cauricara eburnea
White Darkling Beetle spotted in the Namib Desert. Their white wing covers regulate temperature by reflecting the hot sunlight. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Cape Owlfly
Proctarrelabis capensis
Beautiful medium-sized owlfly. Wingspan is approximately 55mm. The body is grey, mottled in cream and brown. The thorax is covered in dense, white hairs. The antennae are clubbed and banded in black and grey. When it rests, it holds its abdomen ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Black-ringed Ladybeetle
Oenopia cinctella
Small, smooth, orange-yellow ladybird with black margins. The head is black with pale yellow markings. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Striped Ladybeetle
Cheilomenes propinqua
Small, smooth ladybird. Head and pronotum black with pale yellow markings. The elytra is orange-yellow with 6 black stripes. The adults and larvae are important in biological pest control. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Harlequin Ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin beetle spotted on the same tree as a number of other ladybird species. The Harlequin ladybird originates from Asia and has spread rapidly across the country. It can easily be identified by an “M” or “W” on their heads. These predatory ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Longhorn Beetle
Erioderus hirtus
Large brown longhorn beetle chasing after bright light at night. Furry underside and pronotum. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Giant Forest Cicada
Pycna seniclara
Large cicada with green head and thorax and black markings. Very loud, continuous call. ...
Observer 11 months ago
Cape Spittlebug
Rhinaulax analis
Small yellow and red insect with black head and markings at wing tips. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Spotted Sugar Ant
Camponotus maculatus
Yellow to reddish-brown with slender head and thorax. Abdomen is darker. Apparently they forage at night and sometimes enter houses... like this one. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Black-winged Rotting Fly
Suillia picta
Black body, brown-red eyes, black wings with whitish wing tips. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Citrus Swallow tail
Papilio demodocus demodocus
Spotted at the butterfly garden near the Sudwala Caves. ...
Adventurer 1 year ago
Blue Emperor
Anax imperator
Found it on the wall of a house in Table View, South Africa ...
Observer 2 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Blue Emperor
Scientific name: Anax imperator
Palm-tree Night-fighter
Zophopetes dysmephila
Beautiful little butterfly with white streak along length of vein on wing. Antennae is white only at the club. Fly at dusk or in dull, cloudy weather. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Brown Spot Temnora
Temnora plagiata plagiata
Large hawk moth with distinctive wing shape. Forewing upperside has a conspicuous strongly curved brown antemedian band, a discal spot and a dark brown ring with a pale centre. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Eight-spot Tussock Moth
Laelia octophora octophora
Medium-sized moth. Wings white with black crescent markings. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Longhorn Beetle
Erioderus pallens
Rather large insect, about 55 mm with exceptionally long antennae. Some kind of longhorn beetle. ...
Observer 2 years ago
Rain Spider Wasp
Tachypompilus (Afropompilus) ignitus
Spider-hunting wasp with large, black body, red antennae and red legs. Wings also red with dark tip and black base. Spotted it running across the lawn. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Common Opal
Chrysoritis thysbe
Opal butterfly with variegated hind wing. Spotted in the Cederberg Wilderness Area. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Silver-bottom Brown
Pseudonympha magus
Silver-bottom Brown with rather tattered wings. Pale silver-grey hind wings, with eyespot above brown band. Flies lazily, settling frequently on flowers or grass. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Dotted Border
Mylothris sp.
Beautiful butterfly with black spots on wing edges. Perhaps a Common Dotted Border (Mylothris agathina agathina). ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Zig-zag Emperor Moth
Imbrasia tyrrhea tyrrhea
Beautiful, large Emperor moth. Wingspan about 120mm. Large eyespots surrounded by two zig-zag bands. Pinkish hind wings. ...
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Mayfly
Ephemeroptera
Spotted this mayfly on the bark of a Canadian oak tree in my garden. I am not confident enough to identify this one beyond order level though - it had no particular distinguishing features in my opinion... About 2.5cm in size ...
Observer 3 years ago
Cave Weta
Gymnoplectron acanthocera
Cave at Whatipu, Waitakere Ranges, West Auckland ...
Explorer 4 years ago
Red-Veined Dropwing
Trithemis arteriosa
Bright red abdomen with distinctive black markings on terminal segments. Purplish eyes and thorax and a narrow waist distinguishes it from other red-coloured dropwings. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Broad Scarlet
Crocothemis erythraea
Brilliant red colour, rather broad abdomen. Thin black dorsal line visible in second image. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Owl Fly
Proctarrelabis capensis
Prominent clubbed antennae, banded in grey and black. Beautiful veined wings. Thorax densely covered in long white hairs. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Bagworm moth
Psychidae
A fascinating find which caused huge excitement with the pre-schoolers who found it! From a distance this looks like dead grass – until it starts moving! The caterpillar larvae of the bagworm (Psychidae) constructs its case from silk and environmental materials such ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Fool’s Gold Beetle
Aspidimorpha quadriremis
Beautiful beetle with bright gold, tortoise-shaped marking and transparent and expanded pronotum and elytra. The head is hidden below the pronotum. Spotted in our garden. ...
Observer 4 years ago
Equine Maiden Moth
Thyretes hippotes hippotes
Beautiful Equine Maiden moth with stout body and branched antennae. Forewings narrow and grey with white markings. Thorax covered in thick grey and white hairs. The abdomen has a row of orange dots. The sides of the thorax has white markings. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Lily Borer Caterpillar
Brithys crini crini
We found these caterpillars on our tomato plant. I have not seen these in my garden before, as I have never had a tomato plant before. I would like to know what kind of butterfly it will become. ...
Fledgling 4 years ago
Marié commented:
Thank you for sharing Isabel! :-) This is a Lily Borer Caterpillar and unfortunately a terrible garden pest. They damage the stems and leaves of lilies, especially lilies of the family Amaryllidaceae, for example Clivias, Crinums, Narcissus, Belladonna Lilies and many other species.
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Lily Borer Caterpillar
Scientific name: Brithys crini crini
Notes: Garden pest
African Monarch
Danaus chrysippus aegyptius
African Monarch larva feeding on Orbea variegata (Carrion flower). ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Ribbon-wing Lacewing
Semirhynchia brincki
Ribbon-wing Lacewings joining us for supper in the Tankwa Karoo National Park. Abundant at night – attracted by our lanterns. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Guineafowl Butterfly
Hamanumida daedalus daedalus
Fairly common butterfly that prefers low-lying areas. When it’s wings are open it’s spotted pattern resembles that of a guinea fowl. Females are slightly larger than males with a wingspan of about 60-78mm compared to 55-65mm. ...
Fledgling 5 years ago
Bladder Grasshopper
Bullacris intermedia
Spotted in the Tankwa Karoo where we had no electricity. These “bloated” grasshoppers were quite abundant at night, seemingly attracted to any light source. Best not to put light source next to your dinner plate – they loved making a ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Table Mountain Cockroach
Aptera fusca
Male Table Mountain Cockroach. Reddish head; body brown to black; body segments with yellow edges. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Red-Veined Dropwing
Trithemis arteriosa
Beautiful Red-veined Dropwing rescued from the pool, albeit too late. The pattern of black markings on the terminal segments of the abdomen is diagnostic. One of the most frequent encountered dragonflies in South Africa. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Cape Black-eye
Leptomyrina lara lara
Bright bronze-brown upper side; dull underside. First time I’ve noticed this species. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Lacewing Nymph
Chrysoperla sp.
This tiny (3mm) “bread crumb” can walk! It moves rather quickly and it bites – I assume with those nasty looking pincers 😉 I am not 100% certain, but I think it is a lacewing larvae, perhaps green lacewing. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Twin Dotted Border
Mylothris rueppellii haemus
Attractive butterfly with black spots on the wing edges. Deep orange visible on basal forewing. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Cape Autumn Widow
Dira clytus clytus
Cape Autumn Widow being “chased” by a bee from flower to flower. The bee seemed to wait and see where the butterfly settled, and then “chased” it away to get to the nectar. I watched this behaviour for about 5 minutes. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Fork-horned Rhino Beetle
Cyphonistes vallatus
Large (about 30mm body length) black insect with shiny pronotum. Forked horn on head. Dashed into the house at night and didn’t want to leave. We helped it along the following morning. My first sighting of this species. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Owl Fly
Proctarrelabis capensis
This beautiful insect was a guest in our house for a few minutes before it found the open window. I am not sure, but I think it is a kind of owl fly? Unfortunately this is the only photo I managed ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Long-legged Fly
Condylostylus sp.
Beautiful metallic-green fly with slender body and long legs. Wings smoky black. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Black-ringed Ladybird
Oenopia cuneata
Tiny ladybird (about 5mm) discovered in the garden by the kids. Our first sighting of this species! ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Dok Tor suggested a new ID:
Common name: Blackring Lady Beetle
Scientific name: Oenopia cuneata
Notes: "Oenopia cinctella" is a junior synonym of Oenopie cuneata, and therefore an invalid name. You may use a pen when you correct your field guide.
Common Leopard
Lachnoptera sp.
Bright orangy-yellow butterfly with black spots. ...
Adventurer 5 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Leopards
Scientific name: Lachnoptera sp.
Notes: My guess is African Leopard (Common Leopard)
Common Diadem
Hypolimnas misippus misippus
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Common Diadem
Scientific name: Hypolimnas misippus
Notes: Female
Citrus Swallowtail
Papilio demodocus
Huge excitement as the children and I succesafully reared this Citrus Swallowtail from caterpillar stage. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Bee Fly
BOMBYLIIDAE
My guess is that this is some kind of bee fly. Spotted at low tide in some rock pools. It seemed to love the seaweeds. About 20mm body length. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Carpenter bee robber fly
Hyperechia marshalli
This is a robber fly imitating a carpenter bee. Here seen eating a flying ant ...
Observer 5 years ago
Black Mealy Bug Predator
Exochomus sp.
Tiny ladybird, about 3mm. Round, shiny and black. Pale yellow patch on each side of pronotum. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Leopard Tiger Beetle
Lophyra sp.
The kids rescued this Leopard Tiger Beetle (Genus Lophyra) from a swimming pool. Beautiful black markings on yellowish elytra. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Gardenbane Weavil
Ellimenistes laesicollis
Tiny weavil, about 8mm. Well-rounded abdomen with grey and brown markings. Perhaps a seed weavil. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Marié commented:
Thank you for the ID Dok Tor.
Dok Tor commented:
Not Protostrophus (tribe Cneorhinini), but in fact a member of the tribe Embrithini.
Dok Tor suggested a new ID:
Common name: Gardenbane Weevil
Scientific name: Ellimenistes laesicollis
Notes: http://www.ispotnature.org/species-dictionaries/sanbi/Ellimenistes%20laesicollis
Pearl Spangled
Antiophlebia bracteata
Most fascinating and unusual moth I’ve come across. From a distance it could easily be mistaken for a dead leaf. I had to position the camera lens lower than the table’s surface to get a shot of the eyes. Beautiful little creature. About 20mm ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Banded Groundling
Brachythemis leucosticta
Marié commented:
Beautiful picture! ? Banded Groundlings remain inconspicuous while settled on the ground. When people or animals pass by, they spring into action, preying on insects disturbed in the process.
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Banded Groundling (English), Gebande Gronwagtertjie
Scientific name: Brachythemis leucosticta
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Happy to spot this pretty Painted Lady in our garden on a scented pelargonium. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Cabbage White caterpillar
Pieris brassicae
Green and black , hundreds of them in my garden preference for nasturtiums and veggies . Lays yellow eggs . Hundred scrawling over the wall from vacant plot , eating a tall yellow flower weeds, stripping plants right down. Even coming ...
Fledgling 5 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Cabbage White (English), Koolwitjie (Afrikaans)
Scientific name: Pieris brassicae
Notes: Not 100% sure.
Marié commented:
Welcome to WhatSpecies Kim and thank you for sharing your observation. A close-up picture will make a positive ID more likely - it is a bit difficult to tell from this distance. But from the description it sounds like it could be the caterpillar of Pieris brassicae, a butterfly also known as Cabbage White. Large holes in the leaves of brassica crops and nasturtiums are usually the work of cabbage white caterpillars. Pieris brassicae is an alien butterfly in South Africa, and expanding its range at an alarming rate. If you'd like to see what the butterfly looks like, you can look here: Cabbage White
Cape Spittle Bug
Rhinaulax sp.
Dok Tor commented:
Sorry for typo: should be Rhinaulax. May be yellow form of Rhinaulax analis, as in PGW2004: 154.3.
Dok Tor suggested a new ID:
Common name: Cape spittlebug
Scientific name: Rinaulax
Notes: http://www.ispotnature.org/search/node/rhinaulax
Dok Tor commented:
Not Cicadellidae (leafhopper), but Cercopidae (round-eye spittlebug).
Cotton Stainer Nymph
Pyrrhocoridae
Bright red nymph spotted between some rocks in Namakwaland. ...
WhatSpecies Team 5 years ago
Dok Tor commented:
Not Ectrichodia crux. Perhaps not even Reduviidae. What about Pyrrhocoridae?
Beautiful Demoiselle
Calopteryx virgo
The most beautiful damselflies I have ever seen, aptly called Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo). Metallic blue-green bodies and blue-green eyes. They have a fascinating fluttering flight – almost like a butterfly. In fact, at first glance in flight I thought it ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Peacock Butterfly
Aglais io
At first it seemed like the butterfly is black, because it sat on the ground, hardly moving. And then it opened its wings- wow! What a beautiful butterfly! The wings are a rusty red and each wing tip bears a distinctive ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Firebug
Pyrrhocoris apterus
Firebugs belong to the family Pyrrhocoridae and are fairly common in Europe. Strong contrasting colours of red and black warn predators that they are not a tasty treat. They mainly feed on seeds and are often found on the sunny side ...
Observer 6 years ago
Seven-spot Ladybird
Coccinella septempunctata
Amber body. Seven spots, of which one spot is split at the junction of the wings. White mark on both sides of pronotum. ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Thunberg’s Stick Insect
Macynia labiata
Stick insect nymph. Tiny – about 10mm. Not 100% sure about the ID. Perhaps Thunberg’s Stick Insect (Macynia labiata)? ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Silver-striped Hawk Moth
Hippotion celerio
Yet another beauty emerged from its cocoon. Our poor vines… ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Rhus Flea Beetle
Blepharida sp.
First time I’ve noticed this kind of insect. Small, about 8mm body length. Head and pronotum olive green/brown. Wings (elytra) creamy white with rows of small brown holes and brown patches. This specimen made a crash landing on our stoep – ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Silver-striped Hawk Moth
Hippotion celerio
Beautiful moth who, in larva form, enjoyed much of our grape vine. Finally emerged from its cocoon! Medium-sized, light brown moth with stripes on body and wings. The hind wings have a pinkish base. ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Grassveld Sylph
Metisella malgacha
Beautiful little butterfly spotted at the local nursery on a tray of lettuce. Small, yellow spotted, dark brown Skipper. First time I’ve seen one of these. ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
Harlequin Ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
The Harlequin Ladybird feeds on larvae from other beneficial indigenous ladybird beetles, decimating their population and disrupting the ecosystem’s balance. They also feed on pollen and fruit. They will even eat larvae of their own species if they cannot find enough food. ...
WhatSpecies Team 6 years ago
African Veined White
Belenois gidica abyssinica
White veined butterfly, top of wings are white with brown veins while it seems to be yellow underneath. ...
Observer 6 years ago