Photos / Sounds

What

Chevron Shore Spider (Amaurobioides africana)

Observer

kayleywagner

Date

January 28, 2024 12:30 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

setapion

Date

March 30, 2009 06:16 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Inimia nat

Observer

glendawalter

Date

January 21, 2023 04:50 PM AEST

Description

About 25 mm long. Matthew, I have emailed you re these.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

leejones

Date

January 25, 2016 04:48 PM SAST

Description

I think it is family Pyralidae but am not sure. The behaviour of this moth - observed several times on different flower species - is that of a hunter (predator) rather than a nectar-feeder.

Photos / Sounds

What

Migrant Hover Fly (Eupeodes corollae)

Observer

leejones

Date

September 19, 2010

Description

hoverfly


roughly 9mm body length

Photos / Sounds

What

Variegated Fungus-eating Lady Beetle (Psyllobora variegata)

Observer

leejones

Date

April 28, 2019 05:35 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Variegated Fungus-eating Lady Beetle (Psyllobora variegata)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 12, 2019 09:37 AM SAST

Description

Nymph, feeding on powdery mildew on Leonotis leonurus

On the same plant as the adult:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21902936

Both adult and nymph observed feeding

Powdery mildew possibly Erysiphe galeopsidis?

Photos / Sounds

What

Variegated Fungus-eating Lady Beetle (Psyllobora variegata)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 12, 2019 09:32 AM SAST

Description

Feeding on powdery mildew on Leonotis leonurus

Photos / Sounds

What

Adonis Ladybird Beetle (Hippodamia variegata)

Observer

leejones

Date

October 9, 2016 02:59 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Sulfurous Lady Beetle (Cheilomenes sulphurea)

Observer

leejones

Date

February 9, 2019

Description

Feasting on aphids, which in turn were feasting on Aloe cooperi, with ants defending the aphids. Usual stories of life, death and the underbelly of the beast. Harmonia axyridis also present, just to complicate matters

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Dodger (Afrogegenes letterstedti)

Observer

leejones

Date

December 3, 2014 10:35 AM SAST

Description

On Scabiosa africana (planted)

Photos / Sounds

What

Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus ssp. demodocus)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 23, 2019 01:45 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

African Leopard (Phalanta phalantha ssp. aethiopica)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 24, 2019 11:22 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Water Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus fracta ssp. fracta)

Observer

leejones

Date

April 28, 2019 02:05 PM SAST

Description

I think

Photos / Sounds

What

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Observer

leejones

Date

February 20, 2016 12:08 PM SAST

Description

On Felicia (planted)

Photos / Sounds

What

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Observer

leejones

Date

December 12, 2016 08:51 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Observer

leejones

Date

November 28, 2015 11:33 AM SAST

Description

Cabbage white on Scabiosa incisa
LJinteraction

Photos / Sounds

What

Cape Black-Eye (Leptomyrina lara)

Observer

leejones

Date

April 8, 2018 01:44 PM SAST

Description

Feeding on Crassula nectar in a garden

Photos / Sounds

What

African Migrant (Catopsilia florella)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 22, 2011

Description

African vagrant


This one was hanging on the plant (Hamellia chrysantha) - seemingly waiting for the sun to warm it. Did not appear to be feeding.

Sexually dimorphic. Possibly male. Females are yellow (sometimes white), males are white.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 21, 2010

Description

Cabbage white


Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Bush Blue (Cacyreus lingeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

January 22, 2012

Description

Cacyreus


body roughly 15mm - maybe smaller
Best description of this species EVER to be found at this observation by Richard
EDIT: Link to Richard^s observation now fixed

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Natal White-barred Charaxes (Charaxes brutus ssp. natalensis)

Observer

leejones

Date

January 19, 2010

Description

Charaxes brutus subsp. natalensis


Did not manage to get a photo of dorsal view but definitely white-barred. Drinking sap from a cut Searsia pendulina

Photos / Sounds

Observer

leejones

Date

June 15, 2013

Description

Tephritid fly


Roughly 4mm to 5mm total length - might be same as http://www.ispot.org.za/node/205116 - probably Euaresta sp. have not yet tried to key it. Key to Euaresta species - provided in linked observation

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Flower Crab Spiders (Genus Thomisus)

Observer

leejones

Date

October 31, 2009

Description

Thomisus pink


Body length roughly 8mm. On Helichrysum with prey. Spotted by my (then) 4 year old son.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Flower Crab Spiders (Genus Thomisus)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 5, 2016 03:44 PM SAST

Description

With Apis mellifera capensis

Photos / Sounds

What

Bees (Epifamily Anthophila)

Observer

leejones

Date

May 15, 2010

Description

Cape honeybee getting noshed by a mantid


Photos / Sounds

What

Malachite Beetles (Subfamily Malachiinae)

Observer

leejones

Date

October 2, 2009

Description

small red-necked pollen-eater - Malachiinae


EDIT: More photos uploaded at this (http://www.ispot.org.za/node/204065) observation

Small beetle, roughly 3-4mm. Can fly. Metallic (or is that iridescent?) green, pitted elytra, which do NOT appear to be striated (although I could be SO wrong). Bright orange / red smooth (unflanged) pronotum - which appears almost bulbous. Pollen feeder. Seen to be active on roses as well as on Asteraceae, but mostly seen on Arctotheca calendula.

Have hunted for a source for this beetle ID and have narrowed it down to possibly being Cleridae OR Meloidae OR Melyridae OR Malachiidae - but it may well be something completely different.

All I have proved to myself is 1) that the taxonomy for the Coleoptera is due for a HUGE shakedown and 2) that beetle diversity is quite incredible. Have taken a flyer here on family...

The closest photo I have yet found (for South Africa) Was this one by Colin - for a species he names as Spilocephalus viridipennis but I am fairly sure that this is not the species here

Photos / Sounds

What

Flower Crab Spiders (Genus Thomisus)

Observer

leejones

Date

September 29, 2009

Description

Thomisus - yellow crab spider


Bright lemon yellow crab spider on Arctotheca calendula, with fly species.

Photos / Sounds

What

Spider Monkey Beetle (Lepithrix pseudolineata)

Observer

leejones

Date

October 13, 2009

Description

Monkey beetle sex wars


Two monkey beetles making more (MBs) on a planted vygie, when a third tried to muscle in on some action. Hover your mouse over the photos for a bit of a description - this dispute carried on for around 3 minutes (judging from the times on the photos)

Photos / Sounds

Observer

leejones

Date

June 2, 2010

Description

IMG_2465_fly on chrysanthemoides


nectar-feeding fly on Chrysanthemoides monilifera. Fly roughly 9-10mm in body length. Long legs - made me think it might be a mosquito for a long time.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lance Flies (Family Lonchaeidae)

Observer

leejones

Date

August 14, 2016 05:03 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Migrant Hover Fly (Eupeodes corollae)

Observer

leejones

Date

June 5, 2016 04:03 PM SAST

Description

On Osteospermum moniliferum

Photos / Sounds

What

Parasite Flies (Family Tachinidae)

Observer

leejones

Date

November 5, 2016 09:55 AM SAST

Description

Large (roughly 10 mm body length), with a very bristly bottom

Photos / Sounds

What

Muscoid Flies (Superfamily Muscoidea)

Observer

leejones

Date

September 23, 2016 05:20 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

leejones

Date

September 4, 2016 02:27 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Calyptrate Flies (Zoosubsection Calyptratae)

Observer

leejones

Date

August 14, 2016 05:06 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Dance Flies, Long-legged Flies, and Allies (Superfamily Empidoidea)

Observer

leejones

Date

June 25, 2016 11:56 AM SAST

Description

On Euryops pectinatus

Photos / Sounds

Observer

leejones

Date

June 11, 2016 01:45 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

leejones

Date

December 2021

Description

One of a number of Xylocopa individuals nesting in Phragmites stems. The stem in question was roughly 15-18mm diameter (at most). The Carpenter Bee is not much larger than a Cape Honeybee - probably about 1 and a third times a honeybee's size. I have a suspicion that it might be Xylocopa scioensis because there was a population of these critters in the Phragmites stand (but also because of the GISS).

It may well be a different Xylocopa. Seriously cute little things - X. caffra mini-me

X. caffrariae is a synonym of X. scioensis (see nesting info in:

[J. enl. Soc. sth. Afr. 1974
Vol. 37, No.2, pp. 261-281
Biology and behaviour of Carpenter
bees in southern Africa
by R. H.WATMOUGH]

Photos / Sounds

Observer

m_d

Date

May 21, 2023 11:33 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

jane_trembath

Date

February 6, 2018 08:21 AM SAST

Description

About 5mm. This species consistently seen on or near Persicaria hydropiper, an alien wetland plant.

Photos / Sounds

What

Sand Crickets (Genus Maxentius)

Observer

trudigie

Date

February 9, 2023 06:47 PM SAST

Description

Found dead in drain.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

muonmo

Date

January 23, 2021 03:47 PM SAST

Description

Under Milk Wood!

Seen here on the arm and finger of Rob Anderson, who co-authored this article with Mike Picker, and instantly identified it. The location is a grove of milkwood trees.
http://pza.sanbi.org/sites/default/files/info_library/milkwood_moths.pdf

Photos / Sounds

Observer

muonmo

Date

February 27, 2021 01:39 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

kristal-maze

Date

November 7, 2021 08:20 PM EET

Photos / Sounds

What

Dumpy Ant-living Dung Beetle (Haroldius lyleae)

Observer

lucanus

Date

September 2, 2006

Description

Haroldius sp.


Body size 2,3mm

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Voodoo Shieldbug (Deroplax silphoides)

Observer

cameronm2020

Date

April 26, 2020 12:55 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Hunchback Amphipod (Iphimedia gibba)

Observer

diveinn_capetown

Date

October 22, 2021 09:10 AM HST

Photos / Sounds

What

Olive Hardleaf (Phylica oleifolia)

Date

September 10, 2021 12:37 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

magrietb

Date

July 17, 2013

Description

Kleinmond vygie


Tags

Photos / Sounds

Observer

afriqueds

Date

December 2, 2020 03:05 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Emperor (Anax imperator)

Observer

karoopixie

Date

December 14, 2018 06:41 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Splitgill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune)

Observer

martli

Date

May 16, 2015

Description

Silver tuft


Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Spotty Conehead Mantid (Empusa binotata)

Observer

carongie

Date

November 13, 2020 03:26 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

hamishrobertson

Date

August 29, 2018 09:32 AM SAST

Description

Still(s) from video. Eating pollen on spadix of Zantedeschia aethiopica inflorescence. Standing on snail curled up in the base of the inflorescence.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

surfinbird

Date

August 23, 2020 11:55 AM CAT

Photos / Sounds

What

Pineleaf Septemberbush (Polygala myrtifolia var. pinifolia)

Observer

jacquesmerwe923

Date

October 22, 2012

Description

Skoenlapperbos - Polygala pinifolia


Spent the weekend in Prins Albert, rained almost the whole time, only got out into the veld for about two hours.

Photos / Sounds

Date

August 2020

Description

Found on the front dunes of Blombos (near the cave), uncommonly large flowers for Heliophila

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

January 31, 2015

Description

Sunbird visiting Erica verticillata


Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

September 26, 2015 12:32 PM SAST

Description

On planted Leucospermum cordifolium or similar?

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

April 27, 2019 04:43 PM SAST

Description

apologies for the silhouette - it was against the light. Regular robbers of nectar from the neighbour's Hibiscus hedge

Photos / Sounds

What

Orange-breasted Sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea)

Observer

leejones

Date

January 9, 2016 09:10 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

January 23, 2016 01:19 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

January 31, 2016 09:06 AM SAST

Description

Hibiscus highwaybird

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

February 6, 2016 02:13 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Whorl Heath (Erica verticillata)

Observer

leejones

Date

February 6, 2016 10:43 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

February 17, 2016 05:49 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

February 20, 2016 10:54 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Cape Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris ssp. collaris)

Observer

leejones

Date

March 4, 2016 08:20 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Fynbos Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus ssp. chalybeus)

Observer

leejones

Date

April 2, 2016 03:39 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Cape Owlfly (Nephoneura capensis)

Observer

sallyslak

Date

March 7, 2011

Place

Garden (Google, OSM)

Description

Owl-fly


These fly into the house occasionally.

Tags

Photos / Sounds

Observer

robkoch

Date

May 3, 2020 12:45 PM UTC

Photos / Sounds

Observer

renatem

Date

April 26, 2020 10:16 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Suring Moth (Klugeana philoxalis)

Observer

michdagforcioli

Date

August 1, 2013

Description

monarch-like catterpillar


I looked the monarch up, but those have black antennae, which this one does not have.
Here beigey bands across the body, alternating with black ones, each of the latter carryiing a white double-dot.
Orangey-red head.
No antennae or other appendages.

Photos / Sounds

What

Jumping-bean Gallers (Genus Scyrotis)

Observer

sallyslak

Date

July 20, 2016

Description

Fierce-faced gall inhabitant - Searsia


Photos / Sounds

Observer

nicky

Date

December 4, 2012

Place

Brenton (Google, OSM)

Description

Geometridae (Measuring Worm)


Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Plant-eating Lady Beetles (Tribe Epilachnini)

Date

October 6, 2019 08:32 AM SAST

Description

A day later, and the "ladybird" is still on the same plant. It has however changed its position, and when I passed it a second time, it was crawling forward. I'm recording it every few days.

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris ssp. rufiventris)

Observer

colin25

Date

June 18, 2015

Place

Bergville (Google, OSM)

Description

New Bergville Inmate


Photos / Sounds

What

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Observer

field_daze

Date

September 27, 2019 03:33 PM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Cape Flightless Dung Beetle (Circellium bacchus)

Observer

sallyslak

Date

October 8, 2019 02:53 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

jeanstephenson

Date

October 6, 2019 08:51 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue Paintpetal (Codonorhiza corymbosa)

Observer

vynbos

Date

December 2, 2018 12:10 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Giant African Hyacinth (Ledebouria zebrina)

Observer

frankgaude

Date

October 3, 2019 10:51 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Magnificent Satinflowers (Section Engysiphon)

Observer

janeennichols

Date

October 8, 2014

Description

Geissorhiza tenella


Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Jumping-bean Gallers (Genus Scyrotis)

Observer

sallyslak

Date

September 19, 2019 08:55 AM SAST

Description

On Searsia.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

richardgill

Photos / Sounds

What

Crisp Tulp (Moraea gawleri)

Observer

jaynemcd

Date

September 13, 2018 11:09 AM SAST

Description

In a burnt area, seemed to be only one.

Photos / Sounds

What

Grootvadersbosch Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion venustum)

Observer

tyroneping

Date

July 2018

Description

[NEW SPECIES]

Bradypodion venustum - Grootvasdersbosch Dwarf Chameleon. From Grootvasdersbosch Forest, Western Cape. https://www.tyroneping.co.za/chameleons/bradypodion-venustum-grootvasdersbosch-dwarf-chameleon/

Insects

Photos / Sounds

What

Insects (Class Insecta)

Observer

alexanderr

Date

September 30, 2018 02:28 PM SAST

Description

Gall

Photos / Sounds

What

Assassin Bugs (Family Reduviidae)

Observer

linkie

Date

July 27, 2019 10:56 AM SAST

Description

found on Erica irbyana.

Photos / Sounds

What

Stone-nest Spiders (Genus Nemoscolus)

Observer

magrietb

Date

June 2, 2019 03:15 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Fungus Gnats (Family Mycetophilidae)

Observer

magrietb

Date

July 14, 2019 10:30 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Overberg Velvetworm (Peripatopsis overbergiensis)

Observer

vynbos

Date

July 14, 2019 10:47 AM SAST

Description

Lifer
20mm
two of them found in the same gully, 5metres apart.
Better pics here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28822353
Gif of it shooting its slime in the typical spiral. normal speed and then slowed down

Photos / Sounds

What

Mountain Reedpipe (Tritoniopsis caffra)

Observer

magrietb

Date

July 13, 2019 12:12 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Overberg Velvetworm (Peripatopsis overbergiensis)

Observer

magrietb

Date

July 14, 2019 10:43 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Typical Cobweb Spiders (Genus Theridion)

Observer

wildmouse3

Date

July 12, 2019 03:09 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Klug's Sugar Ant (Camponotus klugii)

Observer

flippie1971

Date

June 9, 2019 11:30 AM SAST

Description

Black sugar ant found foraging on a rotten log.

Photos / Sounds

What

Southern and Eastern African Caracal (Caracal caracal ssp. caracal)

Observer

shauns

Date

July 10, 2019 12:22 PM SAST

Description

Hermes

Photos / Sounds

Observer

seastung

Date

June 26, 2019 01:25 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Cloak-and-Dagger Bees (Genus Thyreus)

Observer

flippie1971

Date

June 15, 2019

Description

Thyreus bee sleeping in lavender.