mthew

A fabulous jumping spider, identity to be determined, seen this weekend.

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A black willow (Salix nigra) leaf knocked down in one of our recent deluges. Is this discoloration caused by fungal or bacterial agents?

On July 18, I found it sealed off. It is presumably stuffed with paralyzed spiders and a wasp egg. Or two: a kleptoparasite may have gotten in there. As is often the case with these scales, I didn’t notice the webbing and small spider, much smaller than the type hunted by these wasps, until I…

All the rain we’ve been having has resulted in a host of fungal fruiting-bodies. The enormous ones above (my boot is a literal foot, 12″ long) have been IDed as Green-spored Parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites). Also known as the “vomiter.” Don’t eat. Another enormous specimen. A bolete this time. The pen is 3.75″ or 9.5cm long.The next…

On Thursday, I saw this Swamp Darner planting eggs in this sodden piece of old wood in the Vale of Cashmere. I’d seen the same thing happening… eight years ago (!) At that time, the darner was attacked by a Catbird once she’d finished her ovipositing, or at least some of it. The Catbird won.…

Update: as a couple of comments below note, these knobby parts are actually the bird’s ankle-equivalents. I was imagining the bee’s knees when I came up with this post…