Tags:   Galanthus nivalis Galanthus Perce-neige bokeh botanique Canon close up explore explored fleur fleurs flower flowers France jardin jardin botanique macro macrophotographie macrophotography nature nft outside paix peace printemps in explore on explore blanc blanche fleur blanche fleurs blanches white white flower white flowers

© All Rights Reserved

Another throwback, as I just got home from running errands, a thing that can eat up a whole day and get a person home late when one lives in the sticks! This little oddball is an ant mimic jumping spider, which even tapped its front pair of legs around like an ant's antennae. I was super excited to find these at a park in Cape May on a visit with bug-loving friends. They are very small and convincingly ant-like in form and movement.

12 Arachtober 2024

Ant-mimic jumping spider, Synemosyna formica
Cape May, NJ
26 September 2017

Tags:   60mmOMZD Arachnida Arthropods CapeMay E-M5II NJ Salticidae animals autumn mimic nature spiders trip New Jersey United States US bug bugs spider animal Animalia Arthropod Arthropoda chelicerate chelicerates Chelicerata Arachnid Arachnids Araneae Araneomorphae Entelegynes Jumping Spider Jumping Spiders Salticid Synemosyna Synemosyna formica ant mimic taxonomy:binomial=Synemosyna formica P9260815

© All Rights Reserved

I could tell the fuzzy bump on a plant hanger was some sort of jumping spider, so I grabbed a cup and snagged it to bring in for a shoot. When I deposited him on the black glass and saw who it was, I was thrilled! I've seen photos of these striking jumpers for years; the orange forelegs were quite obvious. He was not the most cooperative subject, but I got a few decent photos before releasing him. Hopefully where there’s one, there will be more!

Jumping spiders perform elaborate courtship dances during which the male vibrates his legs and abdomen, creating buzzing that the female can pick up. The males of this species have a special structure in their pedipalps to assist in their noise making. In looking for information about them, I ran across a paper written by GB Edwards which says these males “produce sound by means of a palpal stridulatory mechanism as an integral part of their courtship. This is the first known case of a salticid producing sound with this type of mechanism”. Apparently this airborne sound can even be detected by the human ear, unlike the substrate-borne drumming vibrations of other species. I will have to keep an ear out!

13 Arachtober 2024

Jumping Spider, Phidippus mystaceus
Tellico Plains, TN • 13 October 2024

Tags:   60mmOMZD Arachnida Arthropods OnBlack Rivendell Salticidae TN TellicoPlains animals e-m5III macro nature spiders Tennessee United States PA136727 phidippus Phidippus mystaceus

© All Rights Reserved

The same pair as the next photo, different view.

Jōro Spiders, Trichonephila clavata
Hixson, TN • 10 October 2024

Tags:   60mmOMZD Arachnida Arthropods Chattanooga TN animals e-m5III invasive macro nature spiders Hixson Tennessee United States PA106650

© All Rights Reserved

For a trio of nature nerds, tramping around the wilds of eastern Maryland was an excellent way to spend the 4th of July, far from crowds and noise. Judy Gallagher was good company, and we enjoyed discovering all kinds of wild things.

When I processed this photo just now, I also enjoyed discovering that this is an arachnid two-fer. When I was zoomed in checking detail, I noticed that some of the bits of debris on the underside of the leaf had legs. Huh. Mites. I could see the debris and discoloration as well. The front of my brain began receiving the signals the back was sending up –

I'm all too familiar with the spider mites that appear from nowhere every autumn when I bring the Brugmansias inside for the winter. A few years ago I finally remembered to start systemic treatment BEFORE I bring them in, and then the mites don't appear. After realizing that this looks like spider mite damage, I then noticed the webbing stretching across below the leaf vein. When I asked iNaturalist's AI what it thought, it agreed.

The spider species is always a treat to encounter, one or two a year for me, if any at all, and this one is particularly striking with red tips. I don't think any I've found before have been so colorful.

22 Arachtober 2024

Starbellied Orbweaver, Acanthepeira stellata
+ Two-spotted or Red Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae
Sassafras NRMA, Kent Co, MD • 4 July 2024

Tags:   60mmOMZD Arachnida Arthropods MD animals e-m5III macro nature spiders Kennedyville Maryland United States Kent Co Starbellied Orbweaver orbweaver orbweavers Acanthepeira stellata P7044977

© All Rights Reserved