The Nature Thread

Oops, forgot the pic.

Zenjoy.



Paul

Seeing the insects reminded me of a moment at a mine in New York State. I was done exploring and came face to face with what looked like a dragonfly. I think dragonflies are amazing creatures and since we were face to face, I held out my hand to see if she would perch. It continued to hover in front of me. So, I stepped aside. It was then that I realized that I had extended an invitation to a solitary thread waisted wasp who was trying to retrieve prey that I was nearly standing on. As soon as I moved, she landed on the insect and dragged it down a burrow, presumably to lay an egg on it..

Found this little guy in our backyard, it froze completely in this position, when we put it down it played dead for about 2 minutes - and then got up and just walked away.

David, wonderful idea for a thread, proving to be very popular.

An now for a revisit with this vivid Carpathian Blue Slug:

[www.mindat.org]

(from previous thread: [www.mindat.org])

David,

Great thread; fascinating.

John, nice mushrooms. What type of trees are in the area? Here in Pennsylvania they grow around ash, tulip and sycamore trees.

Best,

Joe

Thanks, folks. I knew there were a lot of like minded souls here.

Stephanie, I have that slug in my favorites and look at it often. My son and I just saw a large slug outside climbing up our stone wall. Pretty drab looking slug compared to Big Blue.

Ran across this on the trail in the Organ Mountains, New Mexico. He kept trying to hide in the shadow of the boot.

Hope there was no Tarantula Hawk around. Never seen one but I hear they are pretty ferocious.

Hey, Paul. I think I met his cousin in Warner Springs California!



At least he didn't rush us... >:D<

Corie

David, never seen the Tarantula hawk, but how about a caracara.......taken late afternoon at our family ranch.



Corie, that must be the leggy cousin that left for fame and fortune in Cali.

Wow...everyone's photos are just awesome!
My treasure of the day in Southern Idaho, a tame juvenile Pituophis catenifer (Gopher Snake).

Jake

All knowledge is vain, except where there be work
All work is empty except where there be love

John, Those morels make my mouth water. For those of us that are mad enough to go wandering along sandstone ridges on moonless nights in Autumn/Winter west of Sydney, you may be lucky enough to encounter one of these beauties to brighten your path. Pleurotus nidiformis, about 20 cm diameter and when fresh, they are bright enough to read a book by. Photo was taken as a 150 second exposure.

Great thread!

Here are a couple of shots of a tarantula hawk on a sage in our garden. It is about 4-5 cm long. They are not aggressive but are reported to have a stunning sting. Love the 'wulfenite' wings.




Photos by Rosegraphics.

Steve

Here is a columbine found at the Van Silver Property (Van Silver Mine; Van Silver Claims), Brandywine Creek, Vancouver Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada in June 2006.

Regarding Tarantula Hawks - we have had a ridiculous number of them at the White Sands Missile Range Museum this year - up to about 80 or so on the patio at a time. A co-worker was stung a few days ago and said it was the worst sting she has ever had! Obviously we try to stay away from them!!!

Darren

Stephen, great shot of the Taratula Hawk. If you google painful stings on the Internet, there is an article who subjected himself to stings from various creatures, including the Cow Killer(Velvet Ant), Bullet Ant, various wasps etc. And ranked the pain on a scale he created. I'm not exactly sure why someone would want to subject themselves to that.

Doug, that Columbine shot is gorgeous. There are two mines that I visit to see them along with Ladyslippers but I have never gotten a decent shot.

Paul, the Caracara is not yet on my life list. Amazing shot. Do you have Swallow Tailed Kites also?

David, if you have a moment, could you explain a little more about that seemingly phosphorescent plant. Never seen anything like that!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2011 09:58AM by David Bernstein.

This bush turkey has been coming in for a feed for the last 5 years. He turns up about a dozen times a year , and can be hand feed......Greg

Awesome thread! Thanks David, and all contributors!

Nice Turkey, Greg!

Here are two favorite backyard shots of mine. The first are two Turkey Vultures warming their wings in the morning sun and the next is an adult Red Shouldered Hawk who wintered with us one year. I would throw him/her chicken or turkey parts every morning.

Another time I was on the Isle of Skye I saw for the first time one of these things - a basking shark - must have been 20 - 25 feet long (~7m). It was just floating along in the calm sea with it's gob open, which can't be a bad way of life. I took the photo from the cliff top which was around 600' high at that point (~180m) so its a bit fuzzy - only 3x zoom on this, my old camera.

George - excellent fly on honeysuckle photo - looks very professional.

Regards, Mike