rose_cat: (jaypeg)
rose_cat ([personal profile] rose_cat) wrote2013-01-28 06:28 pm

Disaster averted!

My concerns were unfounded; both camera and macrolens appear to be A-OK. YAY! Here be photos.

These are monarch butterfly caterpillars in a pot of tropical milkweed plants. The pot is about 14 inches high and 16 inches in diameter.

R3.9, taken 1/13, distance shot of monarch caterpillars, various sizes, feeding on milkweed, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13

I'd expected to see some fights -- these guys are competitive enough that they sometimes kill each other -- but apparently there was plenty for everyone that day.

R3.5, taken 1/13, monarch caterpillars many sizes, feeding on milkweed, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13

Let's see one of you smug vertebrates try THIS.

R.3.4, 1/13, monarch caterpillar on milkweed, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13

I have no idea how these two got out of this, but when I came back later they were elsewhere on the plant and looked fine.

R3.22, taken 1/2013, two monarch caterpillars feeding on same precariously dangling milkweed leaf, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13



This female red-backed jumping spider was hanging out on my miniature roses. Usually jumping spiders are, well, too jumpy for me to take photos, but this one was more relaxed. (You can tell she's female by the black stripe.)

R1.6, taken 2012, red-backed jumping spider on rose pot, female on account of black back stripe, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13

R1.4, taken 2012, red-backed jumping spider on rose pot, female on account of black back stripe, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13

R1.3, taken 2012, red-backed jumping spider on rose pot, female on account of black back stripe, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13

Somebody else's (much better) photos, showing a "dating" couple.



This green lynx spider was protecting her brood. The spiderlings are below and to the right of her, in and around what's left of the egg sac. Mama could see me and the camera just fine, and she wasn't happy about either of us. It's been a couple of weeks since I took this, and most of the youngsters have dispersed, but she's still got a few to watch over.

R4.7A, taken 1/2013, green lynx spider protecting her spiderlings, some of which are hiding in egg case and some outside. They've been hatched for several weeks but haven't left yet. She's still protecting them until they are big enough to venture out and find their own homes. Yes, she can see me and the camera, and, no, she doesn't like it. Posted to rose_cat lj 1/26/13.

And here's seventeen-year-old Missy. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE CAT BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

R1.21, taken 2012, Missy behind the curtain, posted rose_cat lj 1-26-13