July 31, 2017: Tetragnatha egg cluster

This morning was Tropical Storm Emily poured inches of rain on us.  By afternoon it partially cleared so I visited my Tetragnatha cluster.  Today looking for eggs - which I found.

Tetragnatha elongata depositing silk over eggs

July 30, 2017: Tetragnatha building a blanket over eggs

I've been watching a Tetragnatha colony for several days. Lots of deposits of egg and covering blanket. Here the female is depositing a silk blanket. The weaving seems to have two components - depositing silk on the central mound and and then depositing a radial element. Not sure what the purpose of the radial element - perhaps lines to secure the blanket?

Depositing radial silk

Depositing central core silk

Guarding Eggs

Video of depositing silk to the central core and radial stabilizers

                                      

July 28, 2017 . Love is in the air (or rather, on a grape leaf)

I've found a Tetragnatha elongata colony over a small spillway near the main lake.  I've started making regular visits.  This morning, along the way, several old spider friends (Leucauge venusta, Sac Spider), a lizard shedding his skin and colorful insects.

Jul 23, 2017 Upper Hillsborough Tract

July 23, 2017:   Upper Hillsborough Tract (Southwest Water Management District)

Lots of interesting spiders near the parking lot - a result of "edge effect". Two jumpers that were non-cooperative.  Cabbage Palm fronds seemed to harbor many different flavors of spiders.

Argiope aurantia (juvenile)

Juvenile Nephila clavipes with breakfast 

Agelenopsis sp.

Broad-faced Sac Spider: Trachelas tranquillus

Argiope aurantia (juvenile)

Nephila clavipes with something similar to a robber fly

Micrathena sagittata 

A fluffy moth? with hiden eyes

Nephila clavipes in a wet web (mist sprayed on her web)

Leucauge venusta

Juvenile Argiope aurantia

Juvenile Argiope aurantia after spraying a water mist

Grasshopper

Larinia directa

Red Necked Caterpillar (Datana ministra)

Probably an adult Argiope trifasciata

July 21, 2017: Variations of the color red

I was out this morning, doing my rounds - and saw many interesting birds and took a few photos.   Later I posted to Facebook and Alexandra Badia said - what an interesting study of reds.  I missed this - and thanks to here, here are the variations of red