Jan 31, 2017: Breakfast at Walden Lake

This morning, I decided to work on my focus and flash skills.  I walked over to the grassy spot where I usually find crab spiders and Tetragnatha -  I was no disappointed.  Found male and female Mecaphesa celer and Tetragnatha - and their breakfast.

Theridion spiderlings

Theridion spiderlings, a day later

 Magnolia green jumping spider (Lyssomanes viridis) - with a transparent cephalothorax - here the steerable retina is not visible

Visible retina 

Face of Lyssomanes viridis 

Tetragnatha - reaching for breakfast

Tetragnatha with breakfast

Male Mecaphesa celer

Female Mecaphesa celer

Mecaphesa with breakfast

Crab spider captures breakfast

Breakfast

A yellow flower - sort of wide angle macro

January 28, 2017: Magnolia Green Jumping spider (Lyssomanes viridis)

It was cold this morning, which means spiders are slow, and therefore quite cooperative when trying to focus.   I went to my usual crab spider place and found a very small one, and nearby, a magnolia green jumping spider (Lyssomanes viridis) and Tetragnatha (sleeping)

Here several mature leaf hoppers and the lower right on is a juvenile

Tetragnatha (maybe elongate) - a male

 Another view of the long jawed Tetragnatha

A small crab spider (Mecaphesa celer)

  Theridion spiderlings

 Female magnolia green jumping spider (Lyssomanes viridis)

Lateral view - her retina is not visible

A moment later - her retina appeared

Face of Lyssomanes viridis - her big eyes are clear indicating she is looking away from me

Also, not looking at me

Jan 25, 2017: Wet Webs, Dew and Crab Spiders

This morning brought a very heavy fog.  So off I went to the forest  - and found many heavily laden webs - sagging from the morning dew.  Here are the photos.

A single dew drop

 Crab spider on the the offense

 Mecaphesa celer

 Face of Mecaphesa celer

 Three dew drops

 Jewels of Dew

 A distorted web

 Partial web

 Sagging web

 Full web

Dew drop jewels 

Janurary 13, 2017: Emerging Leaf Hopper

Several days ago I watched a leaf hooper begin to emerge from their old exoskeleton

This morning continued to watch emerging leaf hoppers.  Here is early

A moment later.  After the leaf hopper will develop their greenish abdomen

Female Mecaphesa celer with leaf hopper breakfast

Male Mecaphesa celer (crab spider) -  unusual to see one

My macro world of spiders and insects

I've retired and able to spend more time in the field - working to improve my photography and explore the local macro world.

Here is a crab spider, Mecaphesa celer - with a Tetragnatha breakfast treat.

 A leaf hopper emerging from her old exoskeleton

 Pulling herself out of her old shell

 The ear-like emerging structures are the wings

Emerging Leaf Hopper

Mature leaf hopper

Ant with a tasty treat

 Sunlit web of Leucauge veneusta

Theridion (differens?) and egg sac

Theridion (differens?) and her hest and egg sac