Many expats that have settled in Udon Thani live in urban communities and under these circumstances will see a range of insects that are very common, however if you are lucky enough to be able to spend time out in the open countryside you may be lucky enough to see some very unusual insects, and today was one of those days for me.
I was visiting one of my brother-in-laws in a village some 20km to the east of Udon Thani where he has a small fish rearing farm with the intention of doing a spot of fishing. The pond contains approximately 5000 small Catfish that he feeds for up to four months, then sells them on to a fish supplier for the local markets.
I was visiting one of my brother-in-laws in a village some 20km to the east of Udon Thani where he has a small fish rearing farm with the intention of doing a spot of fishing. The pond contains approximately 5000 small Catfish that he feeds for up to four months, then sells them on to a fish supplier for the local markets.
After about an hour or so, I chose to have a bit of a rest from the fishing and indulge in some of the food that was on a table behind me. As I sat their tucking in to sticky rice and barbecue beef, I notice something moving along the ground quite slowly, something that looked like a clump of dry grass. Initially I though it was just a small clump of grass that had perhaps was being blown in a very gentle breeze, although there was no breeze to be felt. I pointed it out to the wife who, to my surprise, told me it was a caterpillar although she had no idea what type or what type of butterfly it would eventually become.
Being the curious ferang I just had to pick it up for a closer inspection but as soon as I did that, the "caterpillar" retreated back in to its DIY shelter. I placed it back on the floor and waited for it to emerge once again, this time with the camera to hand.
I have recently been advised that this "Caterpillar" is actually the larva of a caddisfly. (see the comment to this post below) I really should have seen that a lot earlier but it has been many years since I last saw one that it completely slipped my mind.
Being the curious ferang I just had to pick it up for a closer inspection but as soon as I did that, the "caterpillar" retreated back in to its DIY shelter. I placed it back on the floor and waited for it to emerge once again, this time with the camera to hand.
I have recently been advised that this "Caterpillar" is actually the larva of a caddisfly. (see the comment to this post below) I really should have seen that a lot earlier but it has been many years since I last saw one that it completely slipped my mind.
If you look closely at the opening where the caddisfly larvae head pokes out, you will see something that resembles a ruff. When the head is out, the ruff is spread out around the opening and when the caddisfly larvae goes in to hiding, the ruff closes over the opening.