http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:32:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146971 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:24:25 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146971 Doug - I have just about the same relationship with the spiders here at the farm. Last year, I felt quite annoyed with the Argiope aurantia spiders in the "Spider Ranch" part of our gardens after I found a Hummingbird Clearwing moth wrapped in silk in the middle of one of their orbs. Crab spiders are so efficient and choose the most attractive places to hang out, so they do catch a lot of butterflies and moths. Doug - I have just about the same relationship with the spiders here at the farm. Last year, I felt quite annoyed with the Argiope aurantia spiders in the “Spider Ranch” part of our gardens after I found a Hummingbird Clearwing moth wrapped in silk in the middle of one of their orbs. Crab spiders are so efficient and choose the most attractive places to hang out, so they do catch a lot of butterflies and moths.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146938 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:37:11 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146938 I have a love/hate relationship with crab spiders. They are beautiful, and important parts of the ecosystems that they are found in. On the other hand, it's always disheartening to find one of the endangered species of butterflies that I am trying to restore, only to notice that it's in the clutches of a crab spider. This has happened more than once. A colleague once released several adults onto a restoration site and saw one of them get nabbed within seconds of its release. I have a love/hate relationship with crab spiders. They are beautiful, and important parts of the ecosystems that they are found in. On the other hand, it’s always disheartening to find one of the endangered species of butterflies that I am trying to restore, only to notice that it’s in the clutches of a crab spider. This has happened more than once. A colleague once released several adults onto a restoration site and saw one of them get nabbed within seconds of its release.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146932 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:58:55 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146932 robin - yes, do send the photo along and I'll take a look at it. It may have not markings if it's an immature spider, but there are some other yellow species and might be one of those. robin - yes, do send the photo along and I’ll take a look at it. It may have not markings if it’s an immature spider, but there are some other yellow species and might be one of those.

]]> http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146928 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:34:23 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/08/golden-days/#comment-146928 I love these yellow crab spiders. The ones I've seen here don't have the red on them. I photographed one on Saturday that I thought of sending to you. Just a lovely bright yellow. I love these yellow crab spiders. The ones I’ve seen here don’t have the red on them. I photographed one on Saturday that I thought of sending to you. Just a lovely bright yellow.

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