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"No More Honey" | Flower Crab Spider & European Honeybee | Misumena Vatia | Apis Mellifera | Switzerland
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
You find a selection of my 80 BEST PHOTOS (mostly not yet on Flickr) here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
ABOUT THIS PHOTO:
My garden may look like a peaceful green paradise to humans, but for the little creatures living in it it's a place where death may lurk behind every corner.
From time to time when I'm working in the garden or I'm just reading a book I hear a very distinct, loud buzzing that stands out as somewhat unusual among the many noises and sounds I hear during the day. By now I know what that sound is: it's the panicky, frantic buzzing of a European honeybee (Apis mellifera) that has fallen prey to a very distinguished predator: the flower crab spider (Misumena vatia).
The arachnid usually hides in flowers, patiently waiting for an unsuspecting insect; due to its ability to adapt its color to that of the flowers it hunts in it is almost invisible - and all the more deadly to its prey. This photo here is actually somewhat unusual because this crab spider didn't hunt in a flower but in the leaves of the vines that make up the roof of my veranda.
Once it had caught the bee it let itself fall into the empty space below, safely secured by two threads, to enjoy its meal undisturbed (and probably also in order not to become prey itself, namely of another predator like a lizard that might have been attracted by the victim's frantic buzzing ;-)
This scene may seem cruel to us (and I'm aware that - sadly - many people don't like spiders to begin with), but this is simply nature's way (and that bee didn't suffer long; compared to what we humans do to animals, the spider's way of killing its prey actually seems rather "humane" - even if that word sounds absurd in this context).
ABOUT THE SPECIES (from Wikipedia):
Misumena vatia is a species of crab spider with a holarctic distribution. It is called the goldenrod crab spider or flower (crab) spider, as it is commonly found hunting in goldenrot sprays and milkweed plants. They are called crab spiders because of their unique ability to walk sideways as well as forwards and backwards.
Females can grow up to 10 mm (0.39 in) while males are quite small, reaching 5 mm (0.20 in) at most. Misumena vatia may be yellow or white. This ultimately depends on the flower on which they are hunting. Younger females especially, which may hunt on a variety of flowers such as daisies and sunflowers, have a strong tendency to adapt to the color of the surrounding flower. However, the color-changing process is not instant and can require up to 25 days to complete.
They have a complex visual system, with eight eyes, that they rely on for prey capture and for their color-changing abilities. Sometimes, if Misumena vatia consume colored prey, the spider itself will take on that color.Misumena vatia feed on common insects, often consuming prey much larger than themselves. They use venom to immobilize their prey, though they are harmless to humans. They face threats due to parasites and larger insects.
For Misumena vatia, survival depends on the choice of hunting site. The spiders closely monitor multiple sites to see if others nearby are frequented by greater numbers of potential prey. Females are stationary and choose a flower to settle on while males cover great distances searching for mates. Females do not emit pheromones, rather, they leave "draglines" of silk behind them as they move, which males follow. Females live longer than males, on average. After mating, females guard their nests until the young have hatched, after which they die.
I don't want this text to get even longer, so I'll skip the info about the Eurpean honeybee (Apis Mellifera), but I encourage everyone to look it up or watch the documentary 'More Than Honey' from 2012; bees may seem a very familiar and common sight to us, but they are among the most important and fascinating creatures on the planet.
As I mentioned before, if people like these photos and are interested in other flora and fauna from my private jungle, I'll upload an insect or spider every once in a while between lizards, so let me know in the comments if you're interested in seeing more of these or if I should stick to just reptiles ;-)
As always, thank you so much for your interest and feedback, stay safe - and have a great week everyone!
Lacerta
Relations Are Like Electric Currants. Wrong Connection Will Give You Shocks Throughout Your Life, But The Rights One Will Light Up Your Life.
I spotted this Great Blue Heron hitting the surface of the water with its beak, but was shocked to see what it had found. I had no idea that we had snakes this size at the wetlands! I watched for 15 minutes before the heron had worn it out and ate it - even as it was still moving, albeit slower!
Pareidolia "for this theme, you are to look for and photograph faces in everyday objects or in your surroundings."
It looks like this lighthouse actually lights up. How would you like to be delivering mail In the rain to this person. You stick your wet hand too far into the mailbox and someone turns on the switch ... shocking!
I have seen all kinds of decorative uses for lighthouses in the yard around here. Surprisingly, this is the first mailbox lighthouse I have seen. I suppose a boat mailbox will be next.
Had to make cover under the deck canopy while the rain got heavier. The result was shooting this scene further back than I normally would, and like this perspective from the deck.
The lightning display was terrific.
Middle River, Maryland
Masked Flowerpiercer for a perfect Blue Monday!
Masked Flowerpiercer is a common constituent of the Andean avifauna. It ranges from the coastal mountains of northern Venezuela south to northern Bolivia, principally at elevations above 2000 m, and it is generally found in humid montane forest and its borders, including those close to treeline. It is a sociable species, often being found in monospecific groups, sometimes up to 30 strong, but also within mixed-species flocks, e.g. with other flowerpiercers, tanagers, warblers, and others. Masked Flowerpiercer is a striking and easily recognized bird, characterized by its largely ultramarine plumage with a contrasting and rather large black facial mask and bright red irides. Masked Flowerpiercer usually is considered to be resident, but there are suggestions that it makes seasonal altitudinal movements or migrations, at least in parts of its range. This species is omnivorous, consuming fruit, nectar, and insects. Despite being widespread and common, shockingly little is known about the breeding biology of Masked Flowerpiercer.
Thanks a lot for your visits, comments, faves, invites, etc. Very much appreciated!
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Another from the lightning series along Middle River. These bolts were at least farther off, and not so close like some of them were overhead ... getting to close to comfort!
I find the dark leaves of this dahlia the perfect foil for the vibrant colour of its flowers.
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© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.
Previously unpublished shot from August 2019. Enjoy!
Nature is awesome, but sometimes the nature of nature is shockingly harsh. This GBHE was stalking a field next to my car, when I looked away, I heard a mammal scream and this was my first glimpse of what defines heron success. To quote FB friend Berni Nyberg, "They are such Velociraptors!"
I drew the curtains, saw puddles on the ground, rain coming down and the only colour my neighbour's Christmas lights twinkling away in the quiet of the morning - and chose the brightest shot I could find to post.
🌷many thanks everyone for visits🌷🌷
Shocking to see that the time is only 05.50 and you are awake for hours. Just because you want to see the mist!
Macro Mondays Contraption
Induction Coil
I asked my husband if he had anything resembling a contraption as I was struggling with this task! He was in his element rummaging through the garage and brought out so many things. I decided on this one in the end as it had a bit of colour to it and looked most like a contraption, although the majority of his items in the garage look like contraptions to me!! Apparently you wire the terminals to a battery and hold the handles to get an electric shock!!!!....................... HMM
posting for:
Mittwochsmakro - Wednesday Macro
Octubre Rosa / Pink October
many thanks for all your visits to my photostream
A rare early evening thunderstorm provided an opportunity to visit to my go-to spot for lighting photos, Coot Lake in North Boulder. The core of the storm is approaching with a sheet of rain illuminated by the lightning. The lightning also illuminated hunting bats over the water- one is visible as a spot just a bit to the right of the center near the top of the frame.
Oregon sure was putting on one hell of a show in the skies tonight! While out capturing HDR shots of the clouds, I by chance, caught a nice lightning show :)
There are several motivations to this post. First and foremost is the existence of the lightning which has been remarkably absent in our area this year. While we would certainly welcome the rain associated with thunderstorms the lack of a common ignition source for forest and grass fires is appreciated.
Shocking also is the high court of the land displaying its increasing political nature by enhancing the potential for gun violence while a polarized Senate exhibits rare bipartisanship in taking baby steps to enhance gun safety.
Finally, there is the gathering energy of snow in the mountains of Colorado ready to smother the lightning moving in from the southeast (sigh...Avs in 6 !?!)
Note the "smudge" in the upper mid-right portion of the photo, which is actually a bat illuminated by the lightning flash.
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Pink that is:) This romper from Glitzz at the Fameshed event, rigged for Bombshell and other popular sizes.
Several of these colorful beauties were darting around Fort Morgan yesterday...I usually see them there through the Fall and then again in Spring...
I'll never forget when the first male Roseate Skimmer landed near me at the edge of a pond, many years ago...the unexpected color was so shocking that I almost fell in the pond! LOL Thankfully, I regained my grip on reality and got a shot of it!
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