Blaine's Bug of the Day

[bmathison1972]

The gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae. When I was a beginning insect collector years ago in Arizona, this was one of the most common species in my neighborhood!

One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[bmathison1972]

White admirals in the genus Limentis.

I. The white admiral, Limentis arthemis.
One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.



II. The Eurasian white admiral, Limentis camilla.
Also a magnet figure, by Koro Koro.

[bmathison1972]

The golden-banded skipper, Autochthon cellus. Skippers are rarely made in figure form; I know of only one actual PVC figure  (a larva by Kaiyodo) other than these magnet figures.

One, a magnet figure by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[widukind]

Very nice too

[bmathison1972]

The first amphipod figure ever made, well to my knowledge, the deep-sea pram bug, Phronima sedentaria. This unique figure is made by Ikimon Co. (formerly, Kitan Club) - Nature Techni Colour (Deep Sea Creatures).

[bmathison1972]

Soft Ticks (family Argasidae).

One figure, by Play Visions (Fleas, Lice, and Ticks). This figure is marked 'chigger' but this is clearly not a chigger (besides, chiggers are only parasitic in the larval stage, which would only have 6 legs). The morphology is generic (and many members of this family look similar), but probably represents Ornithodoros or Carios.

[bmathison1972]

The dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae.

One figure, and what must be the ONLY figure of a dust mite, by Play Visions (Fleas, Lice, and Ticks). Kind of cartoony but interesting.

[bmathison1972]

Black fly (family Simuliidae). Another fairly generic fly by Funrise Toys (World of Nature Insect Collection), but marketed specifically as a lack flyb.

[widukind]

Congrats also here

[bmathison1972]

I have about 15 new species to add, so time to update 'Bug of the Day' with new species.

First up, the Arran brown, Erebia ligea.

One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[bmathison1972]

Blues in the genus Plebejus.

I. Lupine blue, Plebejus lupini.
One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.



II. Melissa blue, Plebejus melissa.
One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[bmathison1972]

The batwing coral crab, Carpilius corallinus.

One figure, by K&M International (Coral Reef Nature Tube). This is an ID of mine, based on the morphology and the association with coral reefs.

[bmathison1972]

The checkered white, Pontia protodice.

One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[bmathison1972]

The blue admiral, Kaniska canace.

One figure, a magnet by Koro Koro.

[bmathison1972]

Another butterfly (about half of the new species are lepidopterans), the holly blue, Celastrina argiolus.

One figure, a magnet by Koro Koro.

[bmathison1972]

The Polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus.

One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[bmathison1972]

The virescent green metallic bee, Agapostemon virescens. This is, to my knowledge, the only figure of a sweat bee (family Halictidae).

One figure, by Play Visions (Bees, Wasps, and Hornets).

[bmathison1972]

Desert scorpions in the genus, Hadrurus.

I. Arizona hairy scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis.
One figure, a model kit by AMT/Ertl (Gigantics).



II. Desert scorpions, Hadrurus spp..
Two figures, both by Safari LTD (and both probably modeled after H. arizonensis, above).
1. Desert TOOB
2. Hidden Kingdom Insects

[bmathison1972]

The giant deep-sea ostracod, Gigantocypris agassizii.

Two figures, both by Ikimon - Nature Techni Colour (Deep Sea Creatures, 1 and 2). These two figures, both new this year from 2017, are to my knowledge the only figures of Ostracoda! However, I think the prototype set for Safari LTD's Deep Sea TOOB contained this species; early images of the figures in the tube showed a round orange object, reminiscent of Gigantocypris. Whatever it was, it did not make it to the final product. The orange figure was in the first set, followed up by the clear figure in the second set.

[bmathison1972]

The Madagascan sunset moth, Chrysiridia rhipheus.

One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio. I am surprised this species has not been represented previously in toy/model form.