Creature Feature #104: Cicada

There are numerous species of Cicada, spread throughout the world and present on every continent except Antarctica. They are characterized by their relatively large size, general shape and noisy nature. It is only the male that sings, and he does this to attract a mate. The sound is produced from part of his exoskeleton: known as a "tymbal". This is modified, forming a complex membrane with thinner portions that vibrate rapidly, resonating down his, mostly hollow, body. He can reach a volume of over 100 db. Both males and females have hearing organs, called tympana, but the male is able to disable his while singing. After mating, the female lays her eggs inside the bark of a tree. When they hatch, the nymphs tumble to the ground and burrow beneath. Here they spend the majority of their life, before taking on their final nymphal instar, crawling out and shedding their skin before calling, mating and dying.

ALSO: I am hosting a competition on Twitter and Tumblr! for further details: follow this link: goo.gl/Gsrf2y

Creature Feature #63: Bombardier Beetle

There are more than 500 species of Bombardier Beetle, which are named for their powerful defense mechanisms. If threatened, they spray a hot and noxious chemical mixture from their abdomen. The chemistry behind this small, controlled explosion is intriguing - inside the abdomen are two different sacs: one of hydroquinone, the other of hydrogen peroxide. These are mixed in a third chamber with water and catalystic enzymes and the reaction sets the water to boiling point and releases a gas that results in the ejected spray. This can kill small predators, and is painful to larger ones. This novel defense mechanism is sometimes cited as evidence of “intelligent design”.

Creature Feature #33: Army Ant

There are over 200 species of ants known as “Army Ants” spread over seven genera and inhabitating both the Old and New Worlds. They are all characterised by their nomadic, often destructive, wandering behaviour.

Army Ants do not inhabit a regular territory, instead they roam in huge columns - sometimes as much as 20m wide and 100m long. They begin at dawn and end at dusk. As most Army Ants are blind, they follow trails of pheromones which they use to navigate the hoard and limit collisions with other ants during the march. In one day, the army can devour up to 500,000 different prey animals, mostly comprising of invertebrates, eggs, seeds and sometimes small vertebrates as well. In some cases, dead vertebrates are left behind, as the mandibles of the ant, whilst most formidable, are not capable of dealing with this prey. Some species march underground, others scale into the trees, where they will overwhelm any birds sitting on their nest.

During their march, they are often accompanied by foraging birds, such as the antpitta, thrushes, wrens and antbirds.

Creature Feature #28: Atlas Moth

The Atlas Moth of South East Asia is the largest moth in the world, with a wingspan measuring up to 25cm (10 inches) wide. The female is larger than the male. To attract a mate, the female releases pheremones to lure the males towards her, using chemoreceptors in their fuzzy antennae. They can detect this up to several kilometres away, which is good because as large and heavy as she is, the female is an unsteady flier and will not move far from her chrysalis.

In India, the Atlas Moth chrysalis has been used to make silk and their cocoons are occasionally used as purses in Taiwan.

A bunch of bugs

Since I have illustrated the majority of New Zealand's native birds, I have moved on now to some of the less loveable creatures that share their islands with us. Here's the first selection - and I imagine there shall be more to come!

I believe these species are all endemic to our country, although some look rather similar to those found elsewhere.

Helm's Stag beetle and Flower Longhorn


Manuka Beetle


3-lined Hoverfly and Stick Insect

Black-headed Jumping Spider and Square-ended Crab Spider


Praying Mantis and Seashore Earwig


Mole Cricket and New Zealand Grasshopper

Flutterbys of New Zealand

Long-tailed Blue Butterfly on South Island Broom

There are several species of blue butterfly in New Zealand, and it is one of our most common, although rarely noticed next to the more fanciful Monarch and the pest species, the White Butterfly. This particular species is known as the "long-tailed" and was first noted in New Zealand in 1956. It is thought that it has self-introduced from Australia. A cosmopolitan species, it is also found in Europe, Hawaii, Africa and Asia along with the Pacific Islands.

Forest Ringlet with Native Foxglove

This attractive butterfly is also one of our most vulnerable to extinction. Its population has been in steady decline - probably due to wasp predation. The life cycle takes one year, although recent research shows that two year cycles may occur in highland areas.

Copper Butterfly with Alpine Daisy

This diminutive and pretty little butterfly is widespread across the country, and includes at least 40 different spcies, all that look similar and are referred to under the same name. They occupy a number of niches - including the alpine reaches. Related species also occur in the cloud forests of New Guinea and in the Northern hemisphere. Copper larvae are particular feeders, and only eat plants of the dock family.

Monarch Butterfly

Probably the most familiar of the New Zealand butterflies, the Monarch is large and prevalent in urban areas. It can be encouraged to the garden by planting milkweed (the "swan plant") which is the favoured food of the caterpillar. The male - on the left - has a black spot on his wings.

Mini-Maxicard: Flax Weevil

Flax Weevil
This nocturnal Beetle makes its home on New Zealand flax bushes, hiding near the gruond diring the day and climbing into the leaf-blades to forage at night. Because of its large size and flightless, it is prone to predation especially by the Maori rat - the Kiore, and thus can now only be found on isolated predator free islands.

Original Postage stamp art by Dave Gunson.

Mini-Maxicards

What is a Maxicard?
A maxi card is a postcard with a postage stamp placed on the picture side of the card where the stamp and card match or are in concordance.

These are mini-maxicards because they are ATC sized. All images were scanned prior to the stamps being applied so I could include them in my NZ Naturally art book. The Huhu beetle you can see in the post below.

Original stamps were designed and drawn by my artistic idol, Dave Gunson. He's a very talented New Zealand artist who not only has a similar style to mine but also responded to my message in his Guestbook AND encouraged me to start on my portfolio. You can see his art here.

The critters featured are:
Chorus cicada - The males of these small insects perch high in the tree canopy and sing loudly to attract the ladies (who remain mute). Their Maori name is "kihikihi wawa" which means "cicada" and "roaring sound of heavy rain" and rather describes the racket they are prone to making. They are one of the heralds of summer. This noise is made by vibrating organs in the abdomen (called tymbals) which are amplified by reasonating chambers. The insects also drum their wings against the tree trunk to add percussive clicks. This song proves irresistable to the females who come in swarms to mate with the singer.

Huhu beetle - description in the post below

Katipo Spider - this wee black fellow has recently made the headlines for two reasons - one is for biting a nude male bather in his delicates and causing him much pain and embarrasment and the second is for making the Endangered Species list. This means it is ILLEGAL to kill them. They are the most venomous native spider in New Zealand and make their home in sand dunes where they weave their webs in rotten logs, native dune grasses or in and under litter. So, be careful where you tread/sit/nude sunbathe or you might cause yourself unnecessary pain AND get fined for the slaughter of an endangered species. However, Katipo prefer to eat small invertebrates and only the female is capable of biting. Although the venom can be fatal, an antivenom has been developed and noone has perished of it since.

Handful of NZ Fauna

Welcome Swallow

Like the Australasian Coot and the tiny Silvereye, the Welcome Swallow brought itself to New Zealand and decided to make its home. Before the 1950s they were occasional vagrants, and then some started breeding and they are now distributed across the country and a common sight. They favour open grasslands and above water, where they dart and flicker in pursuit of their insectile prey. There is something almost magical in their flitting dance for food. Courtship involves hovering, fluttering and chasing one another through the air and when the pairing is cemented, the nest is build. These are often under bridges, eaves or inside the mouths of caves. They are built of reguigitated mud and resemble an upside-down igloo. Inside they are lined with soft down, wool and grass. They are short-lived, fast breeding birds - which explains their swift spread across the country. They typically lay more than four eggs and can hatch and raise three sets of offspring a year. The longest lived known swallow was six years old.

Mountain Stone Weta

Sturdier and more thckest than its cousins, the Mountain Stone Weta makes its home in the drier part of the South Island's high country. It is quite verastile, equally happy in shrubland, alpine grassland, scrub and scree. Groups are often found clustered together under loose slabs of schist. As the alpine area is prone to freezing temperatures, the MS Weta has some amazing adaptations. It can withstand being frozen solid to temeratures cloes to -10 degrees celsius and can thaw out and become active again. It is the largest insect to do this. These are long-lived critters too - taking 3-4 years to reach maturity and then living through up to 4 breeding seasons. Eggs are laid in autumn and hatch in spring.

Huhu Beetle or Tunga rere

The bulkiest and heaviest of the New Zealand beetles, the huhu is easily recongnisable and frequently seen. It usually makes itself at home in forests - ranging from the wet podocarp forests to the drier woodlands and is quite an active flier. Bright lights lure it in, and often sends them crashing into windows. And be careful if you get one in your hair or clothes - they can deliver a nasty nip! The grubs are a great source of protein and were often eaten by the native Maori and by more adventurous visitors at the Hokitika Wild Foods festivals. They are said to taste nutty. Thick and white and creamy, they do not look particularly savoury and they hatch from eggs laid in decaying dead wood. They are an important part of the ecosystem, as they break down the wood so that decomposition can advance. Once they have pupated and become adult beetles, they no longer need to eat, but can live up to two weeks - mating and laying their eggs for the next generation.

Magpie Moth or Mokarokara

This pretty pied moth is diurnal - meaning it comes out during the day. It is endemic to New Zealand and widespread throughout coastal and lowland areas across both the main islands. The butterfly can be seen flitting around gardens from September to June and lays its eggs on the underside of groundsel, ragwort and cineraria. The fuzzy black caterpillar is often referred to as a "woolly bear" and they are voracious eaters, being known to defoliate one plant and have to crawl off in search of another. This makes them unpopular with gardeners, but does act as a good weed control on the wild pests! After they're good and fat, the caterpillar leaves its food plant and wanders off to spin its cocoon - usually in ground litter or crevices in wood. After 7-7 weeks, the butterfly hatches out. The diet of the caterpillar and moth make it taste bitter and foul and thus they are not considered a food source by hungry birds or lizards.

Yellow Admiral - Kahukowhai

The other commonly sighted native New Zealand butterfly. The Yellow Admiral is not endemic - it is also found in Australia and some of the islands. Its Maori name translates as "yellow cloak". It is a fast flier, thought to have been blown across the Tasman Sea. In behaviour it is not disimilar to the Red Admiral although it is not quite as long lived, lasting only a few months in its adult form. The larvae look similar and also live on nettle leaves. They feed at night, curling a leaf about them during the daylight hours.

Red Admiral - Kahukura

This delicate and pretty wee butterfly is a common sight around New Zealand gardens. It looks rather similar to the Yellow Admiral, but lacks the yellow patches (although the yellow still has red on its wings). The Maori name translates as "red cloak". When at rest, these colours are folded away, behind well camouflaged, mottled brown underwings. The adults feed on nectar and are quite long-lived, surviving for up to 9 months if they overwinter (although they end up quite bedraggled after this time). The eggs are laid on a nettle leaf and go through 5 instars, or growth stages, developing more defined spikes and stripes as they grow. Their favourite food is Ongaonga, an endemic nettle. This protects them somewhat during the day as they roll it over themselves, forming a sort of "tent". When they reach around 36 mm, they go into the pupae stage.

This one is going to be making a very long flight. She's destined for Finland.

Stylised Butterfly

And this fellow will be winging his way to Romania! He is a stylised Tussock Buttefly, one of several tussock butterfly species endemic to New Zealand. Hence the tussock grass. He's a postcard.

I contemplated an April Fool's joke but couldn't think of anything clever. Also, one of my online correspondent friends is currently in hospital suffering a terrible decline through kidney failure. The prognosis doesn't sound good. So frivolity and immature behaviour does not seem particularly fitting.

If your Totem is the Dragonfly...

You balance between two worlds - the emotional and passionate through your younger days (the influence of water) and then with maturity rises a greater clarity and control (the influence of air). You must see through the illustions and change the habits that need changing, awakening to your true vision.

If your Totem is the Scarab...

You are strong and dedicated, with a direct purpose in life. You are also a symbol of resurection and regeneration, able to bounce back after negative events avail you.

A Colourful Cast of Crazy Characters

I've been sitting on these for a while now, well, two of them anyhow, waiting until I had completed the third. Three quirky and funky characters, all for the Winter PAT.

First, the Mad Hatter attempts to awaken the dormouse:

Secondly, the Pied Piper leads the cockroaches away from his village:


And thirdly, it's John Lennon of the Beetles!

Yellow Submarine Style.

hope you enjoy this colourful cast!

Pain and Passion

I'm doing another Pick-a-Theme and this one is really giving me issues. I am having trouble finding motivation to work on the pieces... I thought I would tackle the most awkward theme first - "Pain and Passion".

My initial thought for this one, was to do a hand clasping a razor blade (black inkwork) with the only colour being the red of the spilt blood. But that seemed just a little too dark and depressing for me.

So I looked at Frida Kahlo's work, as she had been suggested as a link to the theme.

No motivation there.

Finally, I decided to draw this:



It's an Earwig (pain) on a Passionflower.

I do hope she likes it!

An Eclectic Natural Selection

Swallowtail butterfly on Gaillardia aristata flower. For Juany.


Narwhal spears the sun. For Pixiepoo.


Giant Panda's Banquet. Also for Pixiepoo.

Slim pickings

Still not especially motivated for art, but I've too much on my plate to let an evening arting slip away.

First offering tonight is the last card for Kre. It features a Puriri moth. This is the largest NZ moth and it is found only on the North Island. The eggs are laid on bracket fungus and the caterpillars hatch out and feed on the "wound tissue" of the tree. The bigger caterpillars gnaw out a refuge tunnel in which they eventually pupate. The adult emerges and lives only a few days, as they have no feeding appendage and thus cannot eat.



Offering part deux is a Burning Bunny. For a further explanation on this fiery creature, pay a visit to Kim Harrison. As I am quite addicted to her "Hollows" series, I decided to send her a Random Act of Fanart. And doodled up a Burning Bunny ATC. It will be sent along with a business card and a notecard of "thanks" for being such a quirky, fun and exciting author. I hope she likes it. Not that I expect I'll ever find out.

For the Love of Creepy Crawlies

I love Creepy Crawlie Critters. All that skitters, crawls or flitters. They're fascinating. With their strange forms and often quite vivid colours, some of them look quite unreal. Here are a few I have recently created:

A pretty scorpion for a sweet wee lass in Hong Kong. Her father was actually a customer of mine, purchasing a copy of the "Insects" partworks ("contains real insects, incased in genuine plastic") for her. I believe it was in fact a scorpion, and I guess it left a lasting impression because that's what she named when asked her favourite animal. Her favourite colours are blue and green, so I've included both with the inclusion of this prickly pear cactus. A scorpion is not of course an insect, but related to the spider (count the legs!).

And now:


This chap is the Psychadelic Grasshopper, found in Madagascar. He looks almost sculptured. I cannot do him justice, but here is my vague attempt. When he takes off, it is with a vivid flash of red beneath his wings. He was photoreferenced from one of my own pictures.

Evolution of ability

Today I have finished the dragonfly inchies and whilst chatting on the phone to my mum (about an hour) sketched, coloured and completed a rather nice Titmouse illustration.


I then decided that my next book should be instead of an Avian ABC, merely an Avian collection as I have soooo many bird pieces I would like to include. This lead me to a hunt through my archives to look at my various illustrations from years gone by.

And by jove, I really have improved! The colours are messy and garish, the proportions less proportioned and the backgrounds far too cluttered for words. The best of the illustrations seem to be the portrait style pieces and the watercolours. So I thought I'd showcase some of my older, rubbishy pieces for you to laugh at.

Compare the owls, fantails and hoopoes!

2005:

2006:

2007:

2008:

2009:

My challenge to you (inspired by Sandra Willard's "I dare you..." concepts) is to display in your art blog a similar array of extracts since you started doing ATCs. OR re-draw the first ATC you ever did.

I'd be curious to see how everyone else's talents have evolved.