#Atractomorpha sinensis

[platypu]

[followray]

Bugs and Fruits of Gusang-ri (구상리)

From top to bottom and left to right.

Two female Nephila clavatas (aka Banana Spider, Jorōgumo, 무당거미). They are a member of the golden orb-web spider genus and are native to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China. You can also see the tiny male spider waiting to meet his doom in the first picture.

Next is an Atractomorpha sinensis (aka 분홍날개섬서구메뚜기) hiding among some stems. Note the grayish coloration that distinguishes it from the Atractomorpha lata. Another distinguishing feature is its pink/red wings (that you can’t see in the photo). Its Korean name highlights its pink wings. My phone camera had a pretty difficult time trying to focus on this bugger. Even at the end, it’s not perfectly focused due to the camouflage.

Then we have some Akebia quinata (어름 나무) fruits, aka chocolate vine. They are sadly considered an invasive species in the eastern US, but are native to Korea, Japan, and China. We call them mountain bananas in Korea.

Then we have some Zanthoxylum piperitum (제피, 조피, 젠피). They also go by the name of Japanese pepper, Korean pepper, sanshō, and chopi. They resemble Szechuan peppers, but are not as spicy and way more fragrant. We use them for pickling, and are a common condiment when served dried and ground like black pepper.

Next we have Actinidia arguta (aka hady kiwi; 다래나무). They taste like less sour kiwis, grown on vines, look like green cherries, and are ripe when they are squishy.

Then we have a Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) specimen that has a beautiful heart on its back. I think it is a very mature specimen, but not 100% sure I got this taxonomy right. In Korean it’s called a ‘horned shield bug’ (뿔노린재) due to the pronounced “horns” near the top of its back.

Lastly, we have a woolly bear caterpillar. I am not sure to which moth this caterpillar belongs, so any entomologists willing to figure this out for me are welcome.