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Labyrinth Spider | Agelena Labyrinthica | June 2021 | Monteggio, Switzerland
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My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
ABOUT THE PHOTO:
This beautiful labyrinth spider did me the courtesy of positioning itself in a ray of sunlight coming through the leaves of the plants in my garden where it had built its sophisticated (and judging from the remains of prey that were visible as lovely "home decorations" everywhere: highly effective) web.
I know, most people don't like spiders, and I must admit for the better part of my life I wasn't exactly too comfortable around them either. But what I love most about macro photography is that it's rapidly changing my perception of the tiniest creatures in my garden: viewed up close, they suddenly have a face - literally - which made me aware of them as expressive beings with a "personality" in a way I wasn't before.
Before, even though I've always been a "nature nerd", with regards to the tiniest insects and spiders in my garden I was a typical Homo Sapiens sapiens I guess. While it's easy for our species to sympathize with bigger animals whose biology more resembles our own and whose expressive faces remind us of our own emotions, we at best behave like ignorant, indifferent giants towards the smallest creatures that share our world, and at worst we see nothing in them but pests or scary, alien-looking monsters we try to extinguish wherever we find them.
Let's face it: we are a highly irrational species. We pay money to go on safaris and are - rightly - fascinated by large predators such as a pack of lions lurking in the high grass; we call those the "kings of the animals" and hold our breath in sheer excitement when we see the pack suddenly attack and gorily devour an antelope (which is nasty business: it's not uncommon that the prey already gets its belly torn open while it's still alive); yet the micro equivalents of those lions hunting prey in our gardens we view with disdain or are repulsed by.
So, to anyone viewing this photo whose first immediate reaction is disgust, I say: try to replace your fear or repulsion with a little fascination for the "micro lions" in your own backyard. Then get a macro lens and go on a garden safari; chances are you'll find a world of hidden beauty that is every bit as fascinating and rewarding for a photographer as any tropical jungle or African savannah ;-)
ABOUT THE SPECIES (from Wikipedia, slightly abbreviated by me):
Range And Habitat
Agelena labyrinthica build flat plate surface webs connected to funnel-shaped retreats similar to labyrinths, which are typically constructed between low lying grass and vegetation. These spiders are fairly common in Europe and Central Europe, and are typically concentrated in areas near forests and low lying vegetation, as well as in dry grassland.
Description
Agelena labyrinthica has a body length of up to 18 mm (0.71 in). It has approximately 25 trichobothria per walking leg. These hairs help the spider detect prey that has been caught in its web, or even prey that is near enough to cause vibrations in its web. The trichobothria hairs essentially act as a long-distance sensory system for A. labyrinthica that helps them detect prey with great accuracy and speed.
Spatial Perception
Having to travel between its sheet web and its funnel shaped retreat, A. labyrinthica have shown signs of detour compensation that allow the spider to orient itself and navigate even in complete darkness. Using its eyes to quickly navigate its web, A. labyrinthica is able to detect the plane of polarized light present, and position itself relative to it in order to maintain its orientation. A. labyrinthica also relies on its idiothetic orientation, as well as directional cues such as gravity, to gain its bearings no matter where it is.
Been outdoors for some shooting and stumbled across this litlle blossom. I took a closup image and the light behind the blossom did the job very well. I`ve been once again impressed about the nature of mother earth!
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Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
This fox grew up next door. Its daily path became predictable.We were hidden in the garage to get a closeup and she heard us breathing, stopped, and looked over. Then we snapped this shot. This turned out to be about the last time she appeared in daylight, hunting in nighttime now nightly.
McLean, Virginia
After so many days of dense fog, cold wind and then again fog and then again fog... With no sun, no snow... I just had to post something bright and sunny.
One from last year with Andy Harris. haven't posted one for awhile and thought my photostream could do with some colour.
Dragonflies are usually found around water such as lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as 'nymphs', are aquatic.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II © 2021 Klaus Ficker. Photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Pictures can not be used without explicit permission by the creator.
Anthurium andraeanum is a flowering plant species in the family Araceae that is native to Colombia and Ecuador. Gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit; it is one of the plants listed in the NASA Clean Air Study as effective in removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from the air. Common names for plants in the genus Anthurium include tail flower, painter's palette, flamingo flower, and lace leaf. Its name comes from the Greek words anthos, meaning flower, and oura, meaning a tail, referring to the spadix.