David Wyatt

David Wyatt

Jun 11, 2014

Group 6 Copy 137
2

Onward to Toucan Ridge Field Station

Getting ready to load up on calories.

Taking a moment to catch up on journals - in particular the data on the bats we caught last night.

What is called a "Belizean Breakfast" at Mama Noots. Fry Jacks - awesome fried goodness!, eggs, fresh fruit, refried beans, and the crowning achievement...the stewed chicken (an amazingly good dish!!!! - my mouth waters just seeing this pic).

Dan paying his respects to Whiskey, the four-footed owner of Mama Noots...remember, cats don't have owners, they have staff.

Fran all smiles as she pins her catch of the night.

Some of the big insects from last night - except for the big black wasp that is on top of George's head (that is a day collection).

Here is a closer view of that wasp. This is a Pompilid wasp - otherwise known as a Tarantula Hawk. Has one of the most impressively painful stings in the known universe (basically throwing yourself down on the ground screaming and writhing in pain - all happening for about 20 minutes, then going away with no residual side effects other than never wanting to get stung by one of these ever again). Like I said, impressive manipulation of behavior of something so many times more massive than itself. Krystal caught it but has a disconcertingly small jar to put it into...thus was reluctant to put her hand into the net. Fearless Dan was not full of paralyzing fear and managed to get it into the jar without getting stung - yes, we were all disappointed since we wanted to see the contortions of a post-sting. By the way, this is called a Tarantula Hawk because they go after large spiders - paralyzing them with a sting, yep, they are still alive, just unable to move - and then laying an egg on the spider which hatches and proceeds to consume the tarantula while it is still alive. It takes great care to not eat essential organs thus keeping the spider alive. A true life Alien movie scene!

Bravely Krystal got talked into putting the now dead T-Hawk on her face. Doesn't she look happy here???

Anyhow, here is what we were doing on the porch...actually pinning the catches.

Intrepid lizard hunters returning after a successful catch - the rejoicing around the campfire was enthusiastic as we knew now that we would not starve during the long, cold, winter...not really. We took pictures then released this very beautiful young green iguana.

Krystal actually caught the iguana...not Justin as he implies in the previous photograph.

Again, not an insect but sure is pretty anyhow.

A nice Mantid but also check out the leafhopper in the upper left corner. Super colorful!

This little bee hive was really cool at the base of a large tree. These bees are only about a quarter-inch in length. The tube is their access into the hive and was guarded by bees along the inner margins.

These red-eyed flies were a neat find. They would dance around on these large leaves - one fly per leaf. It was very Carmen Miranda reminiscent (minus the fruit garnish on the head).

Dan commented that the houseplants we buy at the store are just growing wild out here. So true!

Mama Noots is famous for having the longest zip-line in Belize at nearly one-half mile in length...it takes a time commitment of 1.5 hours. Pretty spectacular from my understanding. Nope haven't done it...yet. That was 1.5 hours of collecting after all!

Yep, we're still packed in even after dropping stuff off at TREES on the way to Mama Noots.

Fran likes to be prepared in case something big flies through the closed windows or the windshield (notice the net) -

Vanessa and Matt from TREES - really, really awesome people!!!

A selfie of us at dinner - which was served very shortly after we arrived. Awesome food too! I honestly don't know what Dan is doing....

Pinning Central at TREES. 

Our haul just from going to the lights in the garage. The lights were a great source for insects. We hadn't planned on setting up lights, and didn't have to with the lights at TREES producing big-time for us!

One of the massive wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae) that we collected at the porch/garage lights. Awesome!

Forest of pins associated with keeping the legs and antennae in the right positions to dry.

Almost choked when I saw this one - love it!

And, one of my favorite catches - this is a tortoise-shell beetle. Wow such an cool beetle!!!

2 comments

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  • Rebecca Searles
    Rebecca Searles
    Wow, Dave these are some of the best lab notes we've seen!
    Jun 12, 2014
  • Susan Roper
    Susan RoperBacker
    Wow.. terrific pictures! Take care of that finger Dave!
    Jun 11, 2014

About This Project

This project intends to create a major entomology collection housed in Belize and to conduct bat inventories while in Belize. The Maya Mountains of Belize are a biological hotspot located in one of the fastest growing regions of our planet (Central America). Yet, even with this growth, Belize has chosen to protect over one-quarter of their country as parks and preserves! Biological inventories help to better understand these protected areas.
Blast off!

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