The Nature Photography Thread

[kibakiba]

You are such a downer.

[RedSidedSPR]

What can i say? There's like, a million radixes out there!!

[guidofatherof5]

A million hungry radixes:D

[kibakiba]

Frogs can jump, snakes cant. For the most part. Maybe someone should tell Snap she's not a frog.

[RedSidedSPR]

Ive never seen a frog escape being snake food, have you? Doesn't stand a chance.

[guidofatherof5]

Ive never seen a frog escape being snake food, have you? Doesn't stand a chance.

If that were true there would be no frogs.:D

[RedSidedSPR]

....

[kibakiba]

Frogger escaped Mama. Mama was sitting in the grass and she started chasing him and striking at him. He just hopped away, and then my mom caught him. :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah... Well he wasn't outnumbered 1,000,000 - 1

[guidofatherof5]

My youngest daughter found this Dragonfly in the front yard.
I think it's a Darner but not sure.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/dragonfly3.jpg

[katach]

Beautiful!! I saw a really cool dragonfly the other day, I wish I would have had a chance to snap a pic. It had dark wings and a black and white striped body. It was stunning, as is yours!

[Hornets23]

Gorgeous steve!

[RedSidedSPR]

Nice

I find those a lot in my yard too

[RedSidedSPR]

Northern water snake. I love these guys.

he was only, like, 2 feet, but man was he mean! :D

Didn't have my camera, so the pics are bad
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/croppednerodia.jpg

LOVE this picture!!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattackPNG2.png

I got a video of him striking at the camera, and then froze it, so i have this "picture"
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattack9.png
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattack.png

Nice
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/nerodiaattack8bite.jpg

[Hornets23]

Beautiful water snake! Where did you find it?

[guidofatherof5]

They can be a biting machine.
Mine have been nice but a friend gets tagged all the time by his.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, he probably but me 20 times... I love it!

I found him in this hiking/picnic trail, behind the library... Found it one day, saw a couple water snakes duck under rocks, lots of skins... So I had to go back. This was the 4th time, and I finally caught one. There are lots more. Big ones.

It's just a small creek, with a pipe pouring put water from a lake. Lots of rocks, leading to a more open, kinda deep part, with loooots of fish of every size.

Perfect place for some water snakes.

Found lots of turtles, frogs, toads, skinks... Ive found my new herp site :D

[Mommy2many]

Guess he wanted to tag you bad!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I love the pics. Awesome.

[ConcinusMan]

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

About 10 minutes ago, in my backyard. Portland, Oregon metro area. Sunny, very light breeze, 72.5 degrees F. Camera: Nikon Coolpix s6000.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/2318/butterfly014large.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1874/butterfly013large.jpg

I also shot some really nice quality video that clearly shows the butterfly feeding and fluttering about. It's going to take some time to upload to youtube. Should be available for viewing late tonight or tomorrow. I've been waiting for this opportunity, for this particular species, for over 3 years now. I am very satisfied after such a long wait. It was a good encounter and I got very good footage/pics. The butterfly was very cooperative. :) This is the largest butterfly species around here in summer. They're huge!

[RedSidedSPR]

I'll check your channel. I'm your cameras biggest fan!! You're OK too i guess.

[ConcinusMan]

You're OK too i guess.

Now don't get carried away.:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

I'll try to restrain myself

[ConcinusMan]

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

About 10 minutes ago, in my backyard. Portland, Oregon metro area. Sunny, very light breeze, 72.5 degrees F. Camera: Nikon Coolpix s6000.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/2318/butterfly014large.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1874/butterfly013large.jpg

I also shot some really nice quality video that clearly shows the butterfly feeding and fluttering about. It's going to take some time to upload to youtube. Should be available for viewing late tonight or tomorrow. I've been waiting for this opportunity, for this particular species, for over 3 years now. I am very satisfied after such a long wait. It was a good encounter and I got very good footage/pics. The butterfly was very cooperative. This is the largest butterfly species around here in summer. They're huge!

OK, scratch that part in red. Going through the same bullspit I go through quite often with uploading to youtube. Gets to 29 percent and "failed due to unknown error" Just not going to happen until it decides to start working again. I do not know when that will be. Sorry. It's really good video and you can even hear the wings flapping! Just can't upload a 2 minute video. it's not even a big file. *sigh* Youtube sucks in this regard. "congratulations, your account has been approved for videos longer than 15 minutes" Good luck with that. Can't even upload two minutes.:cool:

Here's some more pics for now:

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/6059/butterfly001large.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4196/butterfly015largesx.jpg

Does anyone know if this is a male or female swallowtail? I am told there is a way to tell but I'll be darned if I can see the difference.

[kibakiba]

I think that's a male. The way their wings are coloured and shaped are different for males and females. Females also have a curve on their body, near their butt.

[ConcinusMan]

LBI9x_xwA4Y

[snakehill]

Damn! That sucker is HUGE!!!:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Nice video man!

[ConcinusMan]

Damn! That sucker is HUGE!!!:D

Bigger than the hummingbirds around here.:rolleyes: If you think that's big, I had one of these visit my yard once. Giant moth | Photo (http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/2983084)

It was way bigger than that butterfly. Birds were attempting to take it down but weren't having any luck!

http://www.travelblog.org/pix/shim.gif

[snakehill]

Woof!!!:D

[J@50n]

I don't know how old this thread is or if people are still posting in it but I have a couple nature pics to share :D

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3808/081ah.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/081ah.jpg/)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/3541/129oy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/129oy.jpg/)

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/6484/dscf5800z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/dscf5800z.jpg/)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3075/dscf5802a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/687/dscf5802a.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4660/dscf5861q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/3/dscf5861q.jpg/)

[J@50n]

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7302/dscf5914m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/dscf5914m.jpg/)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9132/dscf5924j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/dscf5924j.jpg/)

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/1230/dscf5808v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/dscf5808v.jpg/)

[RedSidedSPR]

Those are really cool shots!! Loved the video!

Hey, and be sure to change that water every day.

FYI this is a thread that gets posted whenever. It's never old. It's meant to be used whenever.

[katach]

Great photos!

[jitami]

Great pics Richard & Jason!

[guidofatherof5]

Nice gators.;)

[J@50n]

Those are really cool shots!! Loved the video!

Hey, and be sure to change that water every day.

FYI this is a thread that gets posted whenever. It's never old. It's meant to be used whenever.

That is now transformed into his food dish for his disgusting mix of toad and worm... I have gotten him a much larger pool of water that will one day be home to feeder guppies :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Ok, as long as he gets fresh water every day or two.

Your snake reminds me a lot of my adult, he looks alot like him! Except mines a redsided.

[katach]

More stuff :D

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice.
Good photography.

[RedSidedSPR]

Dunno what the heck that is in that last one, but it's awesome.

[kibakiba]

Looks like a komodo.

[katach]

Thanks! It's a hobby of mine. I like nature photography because nature doesn't complain about what they look like in pictures! :)
Yes that's a komodo. That was at one of our local zoos.

[RedSidedSPR]

pfft, what else is there to photograph? :p

[katach]

That's what I think! :D

[ConcinusMan]

Nice pics from around the Puget Sound.

[guidofatherof5]

This Orb-Weaver spider lives right outside our back door. Every night it builds a web across the top of the sliding patio door.
Funny thing is it never anchors any of the web to the door itself, only the frame. This allows us to let the dogs in and out without disturbing the web.
Good design.;)
I believe it is chowing down on another spider. Not sure if this was the after mating dinner party or just dinner.:D
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/spider4.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

"Honey I'm home, what's for dinner?" :D

[Didymus20X6]

"We'll eat you and leave a skin hanging in a tree!"

[drache]

wow - took me a while to catch up with all those great photos

does anyone know what these are specifically?
and whether they are edible
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6136/5989833463_e4a396c643_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5989833459_d77b0a4d03_b.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Dunno, but I wouldnt eat 'em :p

[guidofatherof5]

This guy says you can email him a photo and he'll ID it for you.
You might checkout his website to see what he wants a photo of, parts that is.
To contact David Fischer, send an e-mail to…
http://americanmushrooms.com/graphics/email.gif (mycology@aol.com)
The BASICS of MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION - AmericanMushrooms.com (http://americanmushrooms.com/id.htm)

[drache]

thanks Steve - I emailed him the photos I have, which may not be enough info, but we'll see
I suspect they're some kind on amanita, just because of the way the bumps look, but I am next to clueless about fungi

[snakehill]

They are too pretty to eat!!!:)

[RedSidedSPR]

My dog crushes all of ours :D But then they grow back overnight, and he does it again.

[katach]

looks like Amanita thiersii.

[snakehill]

I knew that!:rolleyes:

[drache]

looks like Amanita thiersii.
it does, they do
I don't think the animals are interested in them, so that shouldn't be a problem
they are pretty

[jitami]

They really are pretty.

[katach]

They are very pretty. They look like they have a dusting of snow on top of them.

[ConcinusMan]

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5199/macro006large.jpg

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5356/macro009large.jpg

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/1707/macro005large.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

OK, REALLY?! that's the s6000?!? Was there any cropping? Or was that a real Macro shot?! You can get that close with that thing!? I NEED MONEY, cause I need that camera!!

[snakehill]

At least you have a camera! I have a Polaroid Spectra (instant camera) that I got back in the eighties! Very hard to find film for!!! :rolleyes:

[ConcinusMan]

that's the s6000?!? Was there any cropping? Or was that a real Macro shot?! You can get that close with that thing!?

Yes, no, yes, and the distance from the lens was around 3 inches.

[RedSidedSPR]

Snakehill, You've had over 20 years to get another, if you needed one that had, you'd of had it by now.:p

[RedSidedSPR]

Yes, no, yes, and the distance from the lens was around 3 inches.

Jeez. I want it. Bad.

[snakehill]

I wouldn't know how to post the pictures if I did get a new one! ;)

[ConcinusMan]

Looks like you can get it for around $180 these days. Around $80 used. (but I don't trust those, I've had too many problems with used/refurbs)

[RedSidedSPR]

I don't buy used electronics. Maybe that's why i'm lacking in that deparment:rolleyes:

[ConcinusMan]

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7883/spiderlarge.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Nice! (both photo and spider!)

[guidofatherof5]

My youngest daughter Hailee is the keeper of the Mammoth Sunflowers.
This is her dirt project for the year. We don't harvest them but let the birds enjoy them.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k501/guidofatherof5/sunflower.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

We used to have some that were like 10 feet high!

[kibakiba]

My grandma had some sunflowers when I was a kid. I always remember them being taller than my grandma, almost as tall as my grandpa (who was 6'5) and the flowers were bigger than our heads. :D I loved them, even though I always had an allergic reaction to the pollen.

[katach]

When I was younger we have about 20 sunflowers all around our yard! It was so cool! I loved to watch the birds and squirrels feed on them!

[katach]

This is one of my favorite shots. It's taken from my thinking spot.

[d_virginiana]

Here are a bunch of pictures from my beach trip and around my house. I've been meaning to upload them for forever, and am just now getting around to it..

This is a yellow warbler I saved from the cats. It flew away after about 10 minutes

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/295182_10150340034603035_639838034_9673141_3344852 _n.jpg

Here's a baby skink my dog Bear found for me. He rode around on my hand for almost a mile through the woods so I kept him for a few days. He's back in the wild now.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184128_10150340034998035_639838034_9673151_455356_ n.jpg

At the beach.. If anyone wants to identify these guys for me, feel free to. lol

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281662_10150340034748035_639838034_9673144_5737942 _n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/292586_10150340034823035_639838034_9673146_1610977 _n.jpg

He's standing on a sign that says "Do not feed or harass the wildlife"... :rolleyes:

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254638_10150340034958035_639838034_9673150_7993986 _n.jpg

[katach]

Very nice shots! I love that neon blue tail on the skink.

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome!

Those turtles are great, I don't know what they are...

[guidofatherof5]

On the turtles I'm guessing :
Florida Cooter(Pseudemys floridana )

[Hornets23]

Does anyone know what these are?

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//650/medium/resizedinsects.jpg

[snakehill]

Scary!!!!:D

[RedSidedSPR]

No, but they're everywhere here!

[kibakiba]

I know what they are....... Gross. Extremely gross.

Extremus Grossus :D

[snakehill]

We don't have those in New England! Thankfully!;)

[RedSidedSPR]

They're cool. Interesting to watch. A lot like ants, but spidery.

[kibakiba]

Spiderants.

[RedSidedSPR]

I cant find them anywhere. I doubt theyre actually spiders.

[kibakiba]

I just said spiderants because it was an enemy in a game I used to play. It seemed appropriate. Besides, spiders have 8 legs, not 6.

[snakehill]

Probably not since they don't have eight legs!!!!:rolleyes:Will those of you members with fast computers give us give us "slowpokes" a chance to post!!!!:p Thank you!

[RedSidedSPR]

Right. I know. Not spiders, never thought they were.

I've been googling cant find ANYTHING!!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

awww! those appear to be juvenile assassin bugs.

[snakehill]

Right. I know. Not spiders, never thought they were.

I've been googling cant find ANYTHING!! I think you need a googling lesson!!!!:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

This coming from somone who can't copy/paste? :D what the heck?! You try, without the words ASSASSIN BUGS (thanks Shannon)

Assassin bugs. Of course, i knew they looked familiar!

[snakehill]

At least I can GOOGLE!!!!:rolleyes: And how is it that you are familiar with assassin bugs!!:rolleyes:

[RedSidedSPR]

At least I can GOOGLE!!!!:rolleyes: And how is it that you are familiar with assassin bugs!!:rolleyes:

I can googl. Better than you i'm sure. :D I had no idea what to look for. seriously, find those bugs, without the words "assassin bugs"

I am familiar, because i've seen them and know what they are... duh:p
and i like them.

[snakehill]

I can googl. Better than you i'm sure. :D I had no idea what to look for. seriously, find those bugs, without the words "assassin bugs"

I am familiar, because i've seen them and know what they are... duh:p
and i like them.And why could you not find any pictures of easterns on google yesterday I believe it was!;)

[RedSidedSPR]

I found thousands. You were asking me to find a picture that resembled YOUR snake that i've NEVER SEEN. I had no idea what to look for in the midst of all those easterns.

[snakehill]

AHHHH....... That's OK then!!!!;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Now, i can find one if you want, but i need to know what to look for. I don't at the moment.

[Hornets23]

They ARE really cool! I thought about hanging on to a few but I think they are gone now..

[guidofatherof5]

Must be near Fall here in Iowa.
The Monarch Butterfly(Danaus plexippus) caterpillars are showing up on our milkweed vines and milkweed plants.
We love these little pigs. They are eating machines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_(butterfly)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/monarch1.jpg

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Love Monarchs there my favorite butterflies. We have a butterfly out her that looks like them but they are pretenders but I dont remember the name. but beautiful in the same way. I love nature.

[guidofatherof5]

Are you talking about the Painted Lady Butterfly?
They are awesome also.
Painted Lady - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Lady)

[ConcinusMan]

That's all we have in the Northwest that comes close. But they're much smaller. Painted ladies. Also happens to be the only butterfly that's legal to import eggs/caterpillars for class studies. We have milkweed here. It's just that nothing eats it. No monarchs.:( Painted ladies are colored like monarchs, but they're much smaller. They're native but don't really visit backyards much. I find them mostly in meadows with plenty of native flowers.

I haven't seen a monarch since I was a kid. We raised them up in class in California. We don't have them in the Northwest.:(

But we have Tiger Swallowtails which are huge and quite spectacular.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg84/scaled.php?server=84&filename=butterfly013large.jpg&res=medium

Finding the larvae though is very rare. They live high up in trees. I've only found them when they fell to the ground and birds were picking at them.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIG-_UzNNBhEgkLPZvqFANMRR89DZeSu09hC22jndhgdJE9AvNrQ

[RedSidedSPR]

I've seen a few Monarchs here. They are cool..

[kibakiba]

I've seen monarchs around here. They're few and far between, but they do come here.

[ConcinusMan]

"The monarch butterfly can be found in North America south of Hudson Bay down to South America. It is not found in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. It has been established in Hawaii and Australia."

You're probably seeing Painted Lady Butterflies Chantel. They look similar to a monarch, only smaller.

http://www.genehanson.com/photos/butterfly/butterfly_painted_lady_022605_11.jpg

I remember when I lived in San Diego, just two miles from the Mexican border, millions of monarch butterflies would spend Jan and Feb in certain trees. They would completely cover the trees and just sit there for a couple of months until the weather warmed up. It was really something to see when it was time for them to leave.

[kibakiba]

I dunno, they're huge, yellow and have monarch-like markings. They don't look like a painted lady or a swallow tail. You don't see them often, it's like one or two every few years. There were tons of them when I was in Oregon, too.

[RedSidedSPR]

They can't be monarchs.

[kibakiba]

Well, they look exactly like them, to a T.

[d_virginiana]

Could they be Viceroys? We have both those and monarchs around here, but I think Viceroys can be found in the Pacific Northwest too. They're only a tiny bit smaller than Monarchs, and they're almost impossible to tell apart. I guess you could always eat one and find out, since they're not poisonous :D

[kibakiba]

I guess it could be. I've never seen a viceroy caterpillar, though... But I have seen a monarch caterpillar here before. Or, are there any other caterpillars that look like a monarch caterpillar that would be in the PNW?

[d_virginiana]

Hm.. idk about caterpillars. I've never seen a caterpillar of either type around my house, even though there used to be hundreds of monarchs around because we had a giant bed of milkweed right behind our house. To be fair, I'm a bit afraid of caterpillars, so I didn't actually go LOOKING for them. :rolleyes:

[kibakiba]

We had a really weird caterpillar in my house once, when I lived in Everett.It was like a big green cocoon sort of... and when I poked it, two brown horns came out of its head. A very stinky defense mechanism.

[d_virginiana]

That sounds terrifying. I got stung a couple times by the poisonous ones as a kid, had some really bad reactions to it, and now just avoid all of them like the plague.

[kibakiba]

It wasn't scary, it was a swallowtail larva I guess. They use that just to scare the predators. I guess it works on you. :D

[ConcinusMan]

I guess it could be. I've never seen a viceroy caterpillar, though...

Looks like bird poop and only feeds on trees. Willows, poplar, and cottonwood to be exact. Not something you're going to just stumble onto unless you spend a lot time up in those specific trees looking for bird poop.:p I've only seen a swallowtail caterpillar once or twice. Not because they aren't around but because they're high up in trees and rarely fall.

Viceroy's are not commonly encountered in WA and according to range maps, only the extreme SE corner of the state. Still, it's more likely you saw one of those instead of a monarch.

The milkweed plants that monarch larvae require are rarely found in WA. They're here, just extremely hard to find and definitely not widespread. The growing season is just too cool and short. It's usually found in the eastern deserts too.

[guidofatherof5]

My Gabby found the smallest monarch caterpillar I've ever seen.
The larger one she's been raising for a week now. The younger one can't be more then a couple days old.
Sweet little bugs.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/monarch11.jpg

[katach]

Awwww!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Ive never seen anything that small. Sooo cute.

[CelestiHel]

Awww, you know, I have always lived around monarchs but even as a kid I never found caterpillars no matter how much milkweed I looked under. I would fret about whether they were gone every year till I was old enough to realize that just because I couldn't find them didn't mean they weren't there somewhere. And then they're everywhere. It's pretty magical.

[ConcinusMan]

See the white cross? this is why they are called The European Cross spider, which is an orb weaver. This introduced spider thrives in the Pacific Northwest.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4803/spider004large.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3020/spider003large.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Sweet! Those are cool!

I love spiders, wish I could take pics of them, but can't get close enough.
Which reminds me how bad I need a camera.:D

I'm thinkin' Nikon coolpix S8100...

I need to buy one SOON.

[CelestiHel]

Just a couple adorable things I've snapped on my iPhone while out on my walks lately. Also, it blows my mind how well modern phones do with this kind of thing!

I have always loved newts since I was wee, I can't help but check them out when I see them. I ushered this guy off the road right after this, of course.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h3u_gFV1pPc/TlaJTPnCK1I/AAAAAAAAD94/f83Xg2nShLA/s512/photo.JPG

I don't think I've ever seen this caterpillar before, so I'm eager to go look him up. Also rescued from the road.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xp0brRzEdUc/TlaJTJn_cPI/AAAAAAAAD98/1iTXJowznBY/s512/photo%252520%2525281%252529.JPG

[RedSidedSPR]

Love newts too! That is one weird little caterpillar....

[guidofatherof5]

I don't think I've ever seen this caterpillar before, so I'm eager to go look him up. Also rescued from the road.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xp0brRzEdUc/TlaJTJn_cPI/AAAAAAAAD98/1iTXJowznBY/s512/photo%252520%2525281%252529.JPG

I think.

DEFINITE TUSSOCK MOTH (Orgyia definita)

Species Orgyia definita - Definite Tussock Moth - Hodges#8314 - BugGuide.Net (http://bugguide.net/node/view/434)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xp0brRzEdUc/TlaJTJn_cPI/AAAAAAAAD98/1iTXJowznBY/s512/photo%252520%2525281%252529.JPG

I think the catipiller is so cool looking . I have never seen anything like this.

[CelestiHel]

Definitely you are right and definitely the source I went to when I went to look, also! Evidently they're quite common up here but in 25 years I've never seen one. There's always so much out there to discover.


I think.

DEFINITE TUSSOCK MOTH (Orgyia definita)

Species Orgyia definita - Definite Tussock Moth - Hodges#8314 - BugGuide.Net (http://bugguide.net/node/view/434)

[CelestiHel]

Totally, though from years and years of caterpillar mishaps, I am always suspicious of picking one up with spiny bits. I let this guy walk onto me and then walk right off into the grass. Sure enough, you go grabbing them and they'll drop those hairs, which stick in your skin like fiberglass.



I think the catipiller is so cool looking . I have never seen anything like this.

[RedSidedSPR]

Trust me i know.:D

"No one suspects the butterfly.":eek:

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I used to work with Fiber glass and I know how that feels and that isnt pleasant at all. If I dee a catipiller that I had never seen I usally pick it up with a left or something to get a better look at it. you know unless its out in the open enough where I can look at it good and take pics of course.

[ConcinusMan]

These are welcome in and around my house any day. Don't know what species it is, I just know they're welcome. You should have seen her. When I got too close to the web, instead of disappearing like they usually do, she went straight for her egg sack and grabbed on tight. It's not a good spot though, the eggs will freeze here. I'll probably move it into the garage later so that won't happen.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7393/spiders007large.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Really? It went and grabbed the sack?

Awesome...

[ConcinusMan]

Yes. It grabbed me by the... no wait.

[RedSidedSPR]

lol, I considered rephrasing that.:rolleyes::D

That's awesome... I wanna know what species!

[RedSidedSPR]

Could it be the Sac Spider? (seriously)

[ConcinusMan]

Well, I know the almost black one that lived in the corner of my pantry for several generations was a Steatoda grossa or "false black widow". This spider is nearly identical except that its a different color. I'm not sure if this is the same family or not.

[RedSidedSPR]

This? Nah...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Steatoda.grossa.jpg/310px-Steatoda.grossa.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Not even close. Not to change the subject but where I'm going (the San Joaquin Valley) the frickin' black widows are enormous and there's a lot of them. I've even found albino ones a couple of times. They're really neat.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah I've seen pics...

FYI, that's a picture of the spider you mentioned above, with the Latin name... At least, that's what came up.

[ConcinusMan]

That's funny, this is what I came up with, and it's what I had in my pantry:

http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/inverts/images/stea-gro2_jberrian.jpg

At first glance, the web style, the dark shiny body, it looks like a widow but it's not.

[RedSidedSPR]

But you know it's a Steatoda grossa?

[CelestiHel]

It looks to me like an American House Spider. I get them all over my house and the color and egg sac look right to me. The picture in this link shows the Black Widow-like body shape (they are close cousins, but the AHS is totally harmless) but the one pictured is much darker than the coloring we get in New England. Ours are more of a reddish brown like the one you snapped.

eNature: FieldGuides: Species Detail (http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=IS0105)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Not even close. Not to change the subject but where I'm going (the San Joaquin Valley) the frickin' black widows are enormous and there's a lot of them. I've even found albino ones a couple of times. They're really neat.

I would love to have an albino black widow that would be awesome.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, they're freaky looking. I used to keep black widows as pets. They're really quite docile and reluctant to bite or get aggressive as long as they don't have an egg sack. Keep them at high humidity and very low light and they're perfectly happy.

Now on my list to find... an albino blacksheep. loL.

[brain]

Not even close. Not to change the subject but where I'm going (the San Joaquin Valley) the frickin' black widows are enormous and there's a lot of them.

Yes, Richard they run ramped down there. Most of my brothers and a sister still live in Lodi. Summer temperature is in the 90’s or better all summer.
I moved my mother to Georgia in 2007 and her garage was a nightmare with Black Widows. Still gives me the creeps.

[ConcinusMan]

I think they're beautiful spiders. At one of my herping spots in Atwater, CA there's a culvert tube where I found the remains of small lizards in their webs.:eek:

[RedSidedSPR]

They are.

[brain]

I guess ... untill one bites you ???

[RedSidedSPR]

What about copperheads? Cobras? Mambas? They are beautiful.

Until they bite you? Come on. That changes nothing.

[brain]

LOL yea right

[ConcinusMan]

They get a bad rap. Black widows (and copperheads) don't want to bite you and are generally not aggressive.

[brain]

Generally

[RedSidedSPR]

What, you disagree that venemous snakes are beautiful?

[ConcinusMan]

Nobody has died from a black widow bite in many, many years. Even among those who have been bitten, which, is rare enough. Taking a shower at home is more dangerous.

[brain]

First IMO, Copperhead great amber color, Cobra a plain Jane (oh yet the monocle of the back of the hood), Mamba green with a black mouth not attractive to me.
Now the Gabon now that is a color to behold.
Nevertheless, my bottom line … if it can poison me to the point of death …well that is not for me.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sure, you wont keep it, but it's still purty.:D

[ConcinusMan]

I've kept widows before and I would do it again. There's really no danger. Just don't handle it or allow it to escape. I would say the same thing about many docile but venomous snakes.

Heck, I might just get me a rattler and keep it once I get down to Cali. I've had them before, they get used to you just like a garter would and in my experience, they also do not want to bite you and most strikes are warnings, and bites are often dry. You really gotta piss them off to get an injection of venom.

[brain]

Sure, you wont keep it, but it's still purty.:D

:D:D

[RedSidedSPR]

Same with snakes.:D (not)

Poisonous/venomous does not make it not beautiful.

How about this guy?
http://www.venomous.com/Photos/Tt.raise.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Wow. Purdy.

[RedSidedSPR]

And highly venomous.

[brain]

Good looker but thats where I draw the line..keeping them or Black Widows in my home, I personaly think you have a wire loose to have them. Again MO.
They just scream :eek: don't touch me. So I don't

[RedSidedSPR]

Well we arennt talking about touching. Were talking about good lookerness.:D

I'd keep venomous snakes. (and spiders)

[RedSidedSPR]

Dont like cobras? How about this one?:eek:

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/496/copyofredknight.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Wow. Didn't know erythristic cobras existed

[RedSidedSPR]

I've seen afew like that... crazy-awesome.:D

Not many pics out there, and I've only found one video.

qv8nuvUBj04&gl

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Today my hubby was leaving to go to a car show and from outside he called me and wanted me to see something. This is what we saw on the window outside our house. I dont know what kind it is so if you know please tell me please. I took it and let it go behind my shed.I thought it was kinda creepy and cool at the same time. But I didnt kill it.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Far_away_pic_of_spider.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/Close_up_of_spider.jpg

[Hornets23]

Gorgeous! Glad you didnt kill it. Maybe some kind of Orb weaver but not sure!

[ConcinusMan]

Today my hubby was leaving to go to a car show and from outside he called me and wanted me to see something. This is what we saw on the window outside our house. I dont know what kind it is so if you know please tell me please. I took it and let it go behind my shed.I thought it was kinda creepy and cool at the same time. But I didnt kill it.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/../thamphotos/data//500/medium/Far_away_pic_of_spider.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/../thamphotos/data//500/Close_up_of_spider.jpg


You don't have to go far back in this thread to see a post I created, showing the same spider species and it's identity. And yes, it's an orb weaver. They're very cool. You can handle them gently too, they don't bite as a general rule and are docile. If bitten, it's itchy but no more serious than a mosquito bite.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/176691-post3623.html

European garden spider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_garden_spider)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

it was huge too. I didnt wanna ever kill it no matter how creepy something looks I will let it go. I dont like to kill nothing. I was thinking an orb spider too but theres so many different kinds.

[guidofatherof5]

Must just be a good year for them here. I've got Orb Weavers everywhere in my backyard.
Glad to see them as their webs are filled with dead mosquitoes in the morning.
It been a banner year for the mosquitoes also. Maybe all the standing water in the area has something to do with that:D
I'll take spiders over mosquitoes any day.

[ConcinusMan]

It been a banner year for the mosquitoes also. Maybe all the standing water in the area has something to do with that:D

Naaahh:cool:

Some years this spider (the females) get pretty darn huge too by late August. Not this year though. Spring was too cold and wet for them to hatch out early enough. They were a month or two late coming out of their egg sacks. There's plenty of food for them though and if the weather trend keeps up, they'll have another warm month to grow.

[Hazeldarc]

I saw this outside my house in a tree... we get a lot of humming birds

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice. Love those humming birds.

[ConcinusMan]

I saw this outside my house in a tree... we get a lot of humming birds

Yeah, me too. I grow foxgloves (a native wildflower "designed" especially to be pollinated by hummingbirds) and multiple fuchsia's and that really draws them in. We only have Anna's hummers here though. I've even seen them in the dead of winter with a foot of snow on the ground. Not sure how they survive that, but they do.

[guidofatherof5]

My Gabby is so excited as her hard work has paid off.
About a week ago her monarch Caterpillar went into its chrysalis.
This morning that normally green chrysalis was clear and you could see the treasure inside.
Just moments ago a monarch butterfly was born.

Her wings are complete and she's drying. We placed her on the butterfly bush so she can eat as soon as she wants to.
We located 6 more caterpillars out front this morning so we have many more butterflies to come.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mon.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mon2.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mon1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mon3.jpg

[snakehill]

Awesome!!!!:D

[katach]

That is awesome! What a treat to be able to capture that!

[guidofatherof5]

These monarchs are a real blessing to my family.
Teaches so much. It's a great experience for all of us.

[ConcinusMan]

Wow, neat! I wish we could have them here even if they had to be shipped, but we can't. Dept. of Agriculture would have a fit.

[guidofatherof5]

She's been feeding and getting ready for her Southern flight.
This is a female.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mon4.jpg

This is a male Monarch. Notice the two dark dots on the back wings.
Notice the female in the second photo is without those wing dots.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/mmonarch.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/fmonarch.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

She's beautiful

[Mommy2many]

I miss having them. We used to have so many of them here, that you couldn't keep count. That was 40 years ago. Now, I can't find any or seldom do come across even one. I see the butterflies but not en-masse.

I used to love watching them hatch and "drip dry". They are really a beautiful creature to raise and set free. And to think, they travel all the way to Mexico. Amazing.

[ConcinusMan]

And to think, they travel all the way to Mexico.

Not all of them. I used to see this every winter in coastal CA. Even as far north as Monterey. San Diego county is another really good spot to see this. Plenty of Eucalyptus trees for them to roost in. Of course, that darn near is Mexico. There they would stay all winter long until spring and then wow, what a show when they start to fly around.

http://monarchguide.com/images/ch1/th-monarch.jpg

x0m_rK_WpjQ

[RedSidedSPR]

wow.:eek:

[kibakiba]

Great job Gabby! :)

Those monarchs are really cool butterflies.
My mom said she saw a blue monarch once when she wasn't living in WA. Do you think she's telling the truth?

[ConcinusMan]

You mean like this one? Blue Monarch | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/amuse_atelier/72080814/)

Another extremely rare color is greyish white where orange should be. I've seen them so pale before (they stand out in those groups of overwintering ones) that it was dang near colorless but I've never seen a blue one.

[kibakiba]

Hah. No, she said it was blue where the orange should be, with a little bit of orange flecking. I'm not sure I believe her anyways, because around the time she wasn't in WA, she was... I guess a hippy doing typical things like drugs. So, I'm not sure if it was the drugs or anything real.

[ConcinusMan]

Sometimes people mistake a blue swalllowtail for a blue monarch. They look similar but the monarch doesn't have the little "tails" on the wings.

Still, this blue mutation of the monarch does exist.

[guidofatherof5]

Here's a couple other visitors to the backyard.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/dragonfly1.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/praying_mantis1.jpg

[ConcinusMan]

Wow, a native mantis. Not something I see very often. Possibly Stagmomantis carolina.

[katach]

Having a mantis is lucky!

[ConcinusMan]

Plenty of them around here but they're European.

Here's one I had last fall. Most are bright green. Only very few are brown around here.

-QVT_Un89-M

TDjqmyVYz9s

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I love the orange Monarch . There my favorite butterflies and those pics were the coolest Ive ever seen. I think Ive seen the blue ones. Thank you all for showing ur pics.

[ConcinusMan]

I think Ive seen the blue ones.

Anything's possible but you would stand better odds of finding an albino garter snake in the wild next time you go looking. I've seen plenty of monarchs that were very pale yellow or almost no yellow or orange, but out of millions of them roosting, never once saw a blue one.

There are blue swallowtails that look very, very similar to a monarch.

[RedSidedSPR]

We have lots of mantises here! I remember a few years ago, when there was a ton of babies on the bush right near our deck. They're awesome.

[ConcinusMan]

I never find them until this time of year when they're adults. I guess they're just too hard to see when they're younger, plus they are wandering around (and males are flying around) looking for mates now.

Found an egg case on my back fence once though, and put it in a jar so I could watch it hatch. I couldn't believe it. Only ONE nymph came out of the case. What a disappointment. Cute little booger though! I've seen adult females like, around 9 inches long around where I'm moving to in CA. I mean, huge ones. Suckers eat lizards, I'm not kidding.

[RedSidedSPR]

All mine are green.

That's awesome!! 9 inches!! jeez...

[katach]

We went fishing today. Unfortunately our fishing hole was filled with drunken swimmers and we couldn't fish, so we went hiking instead. We tried to snake hunt, but only saw one. It was a beautiful baby Puget! It was too fast to get a picture of though. We did see this cool spider, not sure of the species, just hanging out. Sorry for the poor picture quality, I only had my phone with me.

[ConcinusMan]

awesome orb weaver. Very pretty. I haven't seen that spider before anywhere in WA or OR. Nice!

[RedSidedSPR]

I found one in the house a few weeks ago. Never seen one before. They really are cool. To prevent someone else killing it (they would) I moved it outside. For the last few weeks he's been living in a big web right in the middle of our bay window. Rain destroys it, so ive seen him build it several times. Nice view. (no one agrees, but at least they won't kill 'em now)

[RedSidedSPR]

First snake in months!!!!!! And of course it was just another worm snake.:mad: As much as I like them that's all I find. Can't find any snakes most of the year, but then when I finally do, it's a worm snake... They're unique though, they don't bite, just press their surprisingly sharp tail into you, and their head. And writhe and musk like freakin crazy.

Smallest one I've seen.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/d6662fa3.jpg

My dog helped me out on this one. Anyone in the family will say they can't do a thing with this dog, and that there's no possible way to walk him, "no way I'd let him off the leash" we have a huge wooded yard anyway.

But he walks with me a mile or two to the creek I herp at. Leash or no leash he just follows me and does what I say. He's a good dog.... to me.:D

loves it.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/ecae0692.jpg

[infernalis]

The back yard....

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/backyard.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/habitat.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/falls.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/fish.jpg

[infernalis]

A short way down the line...

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/cliff.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/canyon.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/pool.jpg


http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/up.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/WG1.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Great shots.

[infernalis]

thanks..................

[Hornets23]

Those are amazing! What a great place.

[GarField000]

@infernalis .... wow, great nature ... can I come live over there?

[ConcinusMan]

Wayne is such a show off! I have to drive and hike (but not far) to see that. I hate you! :p

[infernalis]

Wayne is such a show off! I have to drive and hike (but not far) to see that. I hate you! :p

So.. you are headed off to Infernalis land.:(

..................................................

I took a couple recent shots of the habitat, I will post them up in it's thread.

Even though I couldn't afford to do much more to it, Nature took over and it's already flourishing.

[snakehill]

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! (So jealous!!!);)

[guidofatherof5]

Had a visitor today. This Nighthawk was resting on the top of my van. Very cool bird. Raised a few in my time.
Common Nighthawk, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Nighthawk/id)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/nighthawk.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome Steve!

WOW Wayne!!!!! That's the awesomest back yard I've ever freaking seen!!!

[guidofatherof5]

Found an injured first year red-tailed hawk in my backyard yesterday. Called a raptor recovery group. They came and captured it. They suspect it had been shot in the wing. They expect it to make a full recovery after being rehabilitated.

[RedSidedSPR]

Sweet! (no pics??)

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry. The hawk was stressed enough as it was.;)

[Hornets23]

Good save then steve!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

OMG I wish I had backyards like that. I am so so so jelous. Wow awesome people.

[infernalis]

Thanks.. more.

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/falls1.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/falls2.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/falls3.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/falls4.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/falls5.jpg

[katach]

Wow! Just beautiful!

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Where is that at again?

[infernalis]

Where is that at again?

Watkins Glen, it's right up the street from home.

I marked it on the map...

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/fingerlakes.jpg

We went for a walk on the cove yesterday and took a bunch of pics with the cell phone, I will put those up later.

[RedSidedSPR]

Waaaaayne, stop it!!:D

That is so freaking awesome!!

[infernalis]

Waaaaayne, stop it!!

That is so freaking awesome!!

Not yet anyways.. It's colour changing time, lots of photo ops. Wait till I go up on the ancient fire tower, the view is for miles around, and you can see a few finger lakes from up there.


Excuse the quality of the wetlands pics, I used the cell phone.

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/cove1.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/cove2.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/cove3.jpg

a few more from the gorge.. That log has been stuck there forever.

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/log.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/pool1.jpg

http://www.rockyroost.us/nature/pool2.jpg

[katach]

Beautiful photography!

[RedSidedSPR]

Bet you find a lot of snakes too...

Really really awesome.

[guidofatherof5]

Found this little guy while I was out mowing.
Sphodromantis viridis I think.
I would love to raise some of these.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mantis.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Me too Steve! I used to have tons on a bush near out porch and wanted to keep 'em ever since. Never have though...

[RedSidedSPR]

I.D. please.

http://www.dpughphoto.com/images/micrathena%20mitrata%20chatham%20county%20110905.J PG

You can't walk in our woods without seeing like 100...

[guidofatherof5]

Micrathena mitrata;)

Mitrata - Micrathena mitrata - BugGuide.Net (http://bugguide.net/node/view/559522)

[RedSidedSPR]

Awesome! They're orb weavers?!? Cool! They're so much smaller than most orb weavers... Now i really wanna keep one!! (maybe)

That or a phidippus audax....

or a centipede...

or a mantis...

[kibakiba]

Mantis!

[RedSidedSPR]

Can't find 'em!!! Haven't seen any all year. Used to have a lot.. not anymore.

Lots of jumping spiders (especially phidippus audax) but hard to find...

TONS. TONS. TONS. of those guys though...

And centipedes are cool. Lots of them.

[kibakiba]

Go and find one then! :p Mantises are the only bugs that I wouldn't want to smash.

[RedSidedSPR]

They are my favorite "bug".:)

I just can't find one. Trust me, I've been trying all year.

Also i can toss that orb weaver in a jar, and as long as he has his web, he's good....
I can toss a jumping spider in a nifty little "critter keeper" I have, with substrate and a log, and he'll be good.....
I can toss a centipede... you get the picture.

But a mantis is more complicated.... Bigger cage etc, and I do not have room for a terrarium.. I MAY be able fit one somewhere, but that's reserved for garters.:p

[kibakiba]

What is this bug? My mom said it was a cricket, but it's not. It matches some of the features of katydids in eastern WA, but it was my understanding that they were in western WA. She was kind of cool. She just sat in my hand for a little bit.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Buuug.JPG

I was kind of scared at first, because I never saw one before.


Shortly after I let her go I saw a huge black snake go into a blackberry thicket :eek: I wish I had been able to catch it, it was almost too big to be a NW.

[RedSidedSPR]

Looks like a "katydid" to me.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tettigonia_virdissima_nymph_on_Phleum_pratens e.jpg

[kibakiba]

Interesting. There was two of them, one looked like it might have been a male (no ovipositor). Okay, that's another bug I wouldn't smash. She was an awesome little bug

[RedSidedSPR]

Why smash any bug? Poor guys.:p

[RedSidedSPR]

Tettigoniidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tettigoniidae)
^^^

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Buuug.JPG



Great green bush-cricket nymph
(Tettigonia viridissima (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tettigonia_viridissima))

[kibakiba]

Depends on the bug. Big aggressive spiders don't fly with me. Anything that can hurt me or my mom's dog dies. Like those weird worm/earwig/pincherface things. One of them bit Lovey (we did not name her) and made her bleed and her leg swelled up. The bug did not see another day.

[RedSidedSPR]

Steve you're so helpful.:p

Well.... it's LIKE a katydid.:rolleyes:

[kibakiba]

Weird. I know we have camel crickets, black fields, jerusalem and mormon crickets, never heard of a bush cricket. Haha.

[RedSidedSPR]

Depends on the bug. Big aggressive spiders don't fly with me. Anything that can hurt me or my mom's dog dies. Like those weird worm/earwig/pincherface things. One of them bit Lovey (we did not name her) and made her bleed and her leg swelled up. The bug did not see another day.

Ok there i get that. I would kill a poisonous spider, or anything in my house that could harm my dog, but technically I either go "that's awesome" and go about my business, or I remove it alive. Everyone in the house was freaking out over a big orb weaver. I told them to chill out, picked it up, and took it outside. That spider has been living peacefully by our bay window for a month now. He's huge.

[Mommy2many]

Kinda looked like a "grasshopper" to me. Not sure of it though. Steve may have it right with the cricket reference.

[snakehill]

I can't kill anything!!!!:p

[RedSidedSPR]

Kinda looked like a "grasshopper" to me. Not sure of it though. Steve may have it right with the cricket reference.

Nah, it's not a grasshopper.