Herbal Ecosystem
Tiny, bright orange hatchling spiders appeared today on the flower blossoming tip of one of my garden rue plants. This wee family is of a group of spiders called dysdera crocata, woodlouse hunters. They seek and prey on sowbugs, also known as pillbugs, which are little grey isopods, armored insects who roll up into tiny balls when threatened.
On the left side of the photo may be seen two ova, eggs, of the black swallowtail butterfly which will soon develop into small black and white caterpillars. A higher larval stage instar, or caterpillar, is partially hidden at far upper right behind the stem of one of the rue blossoms.
Herbal Ecosystem
Tiny, bright orange hatchling spiders appeared today on the flower blossoming tip of one of my garden rue plants. This wee family is of a group of spiders called dysdera crocata, woodlouse hunters. They seek and prey on sowbugs, also known as pillbugs, which are little grey isopods, armored insects who roll up into tiny balls when threatened.
On the left side of the photo may be seen two ova, eggs, of the black swallowtail butterfly which will soon develop into small black and white caterpillars. A higher larval stage instar, or caterpillar, is partially hidden at far upper right behind the stem of one of the rue blossoms.