Creatures around my home

This little spider is a Common House Spider. She's nestled against my Blue Bird nesting box that's hanging under my deck. Next to her is her egg sac, which she will guard until the tiny eggs hatch.

This is a Soldier Beetle. I found him on my rose bushes and learned that they eat pollen and other insects. You can see the tiny grains of pollen covering him as he forages along with the bees. To get an idea of his size, that's a rosebud he's climbing.

Here's a tiny fly I was able to capture as he flew about a Victoria Salvia leaf. He was very small, no more than one-eighth of an inch in length.

Here's a close-up of him showing beautiful iridescence wings, a copper body and amber eyes. I did not see these lovely colors by eyesight but only after I zoomed in on the image.

These two were a little larger and were buzzing around and landing on Blue Queen Salvia.

I believe they are all Long-legged flies but there are many species and it would take a specialist to ID them.

It makes me happy to see all of these small creatures delighting in my yard. 

All are welcome and all are safe here.

A Sun Halo

This Sun halo was caught on a Spring afternoon when there were wispy clouds above. These high clouds are made of ice crystals and due to the sunlight reflecting off of them cause this optical phenomena.

Some halos are white in color. What is particularly nice about this halo is you can see almost all the colors of a rainbow.

Wild Bleeding-heart

I'm intending on adding more native plants to my gardens. My regret, when I moved into my home, is that I did not. Planting native species is a good way to go because, over time, they are the least expensive to maintain plus, it just makes sense and restores the local ecosystem.

It's good for the plants and the insects and animals that depend on them. And it's good for us.

Below is one that I planted this spring. It's Dicentra Eximia also known as Wild Bleeding-heart or Fringed Bleeding-heart. It is a beautiful plant native to the lower Northeast and South.

Here are the wonderful blooms I've been rewarded with.

To shine with color such as this, Dicentra Eximea is truly in its element.

**Plant native**      **Plant native**      **Plant native**

Puddling

These Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies were caught in my vegetable bed massing together.

Curious as to the behavior, I discovered the males of the species congregate to extract ions and amino acids from the damp soil, which aids in reproduction.

The behavior is called 'puddling,' which is sort of a puddle party or butterfly bachelor party.

Thank You Earth

“I turned to the teeming small creatures that can be held between the thumb and forefinger: the little things that compose the foundation of our ecosystems, the little things, as I like to say, who run the world.” 

~ E. O. Wilson 

 

What would we be without the little things? 

Thank you. Thank you Earth for the little things.

Earth Day, 2013

How many turtles?

After being scared off from an area of a pond, I followed this Blue Heron to where he landed. I quietly watched for awhile and, after awhile, I realized it was not a log in front of him but a line of turtles basking in the sun.

Amazed by the number and sensing there'd be more, I scanned the water behind him and found another line.

Here's a full view of the area that includes the turtles behind the Blue Heron, the turtles in front of him and more in the foreground.

How many turtles do you see?

I observed at least seventy that day.

They are Yellow-bellied sliders and the most common turtle found in the Southeastern United States.

I learned they need to bask in the sun so the bottom of the shell (the plastron) can dry reducing the chances of shell rot. At night, the turtles return to the water to sleep.

So the wise old turtle is both aquatic and terrestrial needing both the land and the water to survive.

Light pollution

Although a stunning image of the artifical lights created by humans to light the night, all of the light streaming off into space blinds our view of the stars. But, it does more than that.

Turning night into day is having adverse effects on many species on Earth - mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, plants and even us. For billions of years, the dark of night has been ingrained into the DNA of species regulating hunting, mating, sleeping and eating. Our light pollution is interfering with these basic functions, which will result in many more endangered species.

One well known insect of the night, the firefly or lightening bug, is in decline and it's suspected that light pollution is the cause. The insect uses bio-luminescence to attract mates but because of  night lights simulating daylight they become disoriented.

There's a citizen science project that you can take part in, that's happening right now, to help scientists assess the extent and impact of light pollution. It's simple and fun and something the whole family can do.

GLOBE at Night asks you to measure the brightness of your night sky and submit your observations on line. You can report now until April 9 or April 29 - May 8.

I'll be submitting my report tonight.

I want to help fellow species and I'd like to to continue to view the magnificence of the starry night.