You are looking at a Goldenrod - rod Crab Spider resting on the top of a lavender flower. This spider is white with pink strips. This is from my post Fall Macro Bugs.
Photography

Autumn Bug Photography

Autumn Bug Photography is just as fun as any other season. I find when Autumn arrives we begin to see different types of bugs. Spiders start to get a little scarce except for the Crab and Daddy Long Leg spiders, with a few jumping spiders here and there. I haven’t been seeing many spiders as in years past. In fact all our bug population is rather down, except for the disease carrying types. Such as the ticks, mosquitoes etc, they seem to be thriving. One word of caution, if you travel into Wisconsin. Since we do have lots of water and wetlands. It’s important to wear a tick and mosquito repellent anytime your outdoors. Between the Lyme Disease and now the EEE Virus, that has spread into our state, this is a deadly virus that you should beware of. I’m trying not to scare anyone, it just needs to be known so you can protect yourself from it. Now off my soapbox and on to the photos!

Spiders

You are looking at a white with pink stripped crab spider, also known at the golden-rod spider. They can change color depending on what flower they are on. This guy is sitting on a lavender flower, trying to blend in. This from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Crab Spider or (Golden-rod Spider)

One of my favorite crawlers to photograph are spiders!  Especially the Jumping and Crab Spiders. When you get a close up of them they can be very colorful and very inquisitive. I love their eyes because they all are very different and I can see them watching me back. I have found that these pink and white crab spiders or (golden-rod spiders) seem to hang out on my lavender plants.  They can change their color depending on what flower they are sitting on. The crab spider mostly hang out on flowers waiting for for their next meal to come along.

Daddy Long-legs

Daddy Long-legs are another fun Autumn Bug. Did you know that there are actually two types of  daddy Long-legs, and they are very different from each other. The one pictured below is an opilionid arachnid also known as the Harvestmen, and are the true “Daddy long-leg”. They have a pill shaped body with eight long legs and are actually not a spider. Then there’s the pholcidaes, which have long legs and small bodies, they resemble opilionids, but are true spiders.

You are looking at a Daddy Long-leg up close, looking back at you. He is missing one of his legs. They can drop off their own legs to fool an enemy. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

The Daddy Long-leg has seven sections on it’s legs witch they can break off to scare or surprise a predator, how cool is that! Can you see where he’s missing one of his legs?

You are looking up close at a true Daddy long-leg. They are not poisonous, nor are they a spider. They are also called Harvestmen. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Opilionids

When you were a kid, did anyone tell you that Daddy Long-legs were the most poisonous spider on the planet? We’ll fear not, that’s only and urban legend. The true daddy long-leg (opilionids) do not have fangs or venom glands, or any other way for chemically subduing their food. Those two little arms near the mouth, look like fangs. But they are not, they are used to help him eat and they eat junks of food. Instead of sucking the juices out like a spider.

Pholcidaes

The Pholcidae daddy long-legs or cellar spider, are true spiders and are venomous. They have fangs, small bodies and build webs. usually don’t bite people, but can if provoked. Their bite can cause a mild burning sensation.

You are looking at a spider web shinning in the sun light. It's hidden away in an apple tree. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Webs

As we all know the true Daddy Long-legs, don’t build a webs. In fact they don’t even have the ability to make the web silk. They mostly roam around on the ground, hiding in cracks or crevasses. You may even see them in packs. Sometimes they gather up together and will act like one big bug, maybe to scare off predators.You are looking at a Japanese beetle, this is an invasive species and has caused lots of issues for gardeners. He's very shinny and beautifully colored in copper and green. He has very large eyes and can fly.This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Beetles

Another favorite Autumn Bug Photography, are the beetles. Although the Japanese beetle is a pest and can destroy your garden. They are still beautiful to look at, I love their colors and their shine. These beetles have become a big problem in the states, in fact they almost destroyed my grape vines.

You are looking at a long bodied black beetle with yellow markings. He's resting on an ostrich fern. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Long horn beetles are quite popular around here and there are a total of 120 different types of beetles in Wisconsin. They come in all sorts of shapes and colors.

You are looking at a very camouflaged lady bug hidden away in a goldenrod flower. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

We also can’t forget about the Lady Bug, in this case it’s the “Asian Lady Bug”. They are more aggressive and have a tendency to bite. I haven’t seen a native lady bug in years, unfortunately the invasive species has taken over.

You are looking at a very close up picture of a caterpillar eating the leaves of a goldenrod plant. He's brightly colored in red, white, yellow and orange stripes. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography. Caterpillars

Then there’s the caterpillars munching away getting ready to make it’s cocoon.

You are looking at a caterpillar walking along a goldenrod stalk. He's beautifully colored in red, white and orange stripes. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.  There are some species of  caterpillars that will cocoon or chrysalis all winter long. You can actually keep them alive through winter and watch it hatch come spring. I’ve done this with my kids when they were little. It makes for a great science project.

You are looking at a white butterfly resting on yellow button flowers. He's beautiful against the green background. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography. Butterflies

Then there’s the favorite with everyone, the Moths and Butterflies. They come in some many beautiful colors, shapes and sizes.

You are looking at a Monarch butterfly resting on a clover flower. He's got a long journey down to Mexico, sure hope he makes it. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

This seemed to be the year of the Monarch Butterfly, I saw them everywhere this fall . It was so great to see so many, over the past few years I was lucky to see a couple. I’m wondering if some areas were growing and releasing them. I know the Marshfield zoo grows and releases them. You can even go and watch the release of the Monarchs, and wish them well on their long journey to Mexico.

You are looking at a honey bee collecting the pollen from a giant sunflower. He is literally covered in yellow pollen, so much so you can't even see his eyes. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Honey Bees and Bumbles

Last but not least in my Autumn Bug Photography, are the bees and bumbles. I love watching these guys collecting the pollen on the sunflowers. They get completely covered in yellow, you can barely see their eyes.

You are looking at a bumble bee enjoying the nectar from a purple thistle flower. This is from the post Autumn Bug Photography.

Do you have a favorite bug or bugs, you enjoy watching or taking pictures of? I’m one of those who spends a lot of time out doors, looking at my surroundings and enjoying the creatures great and small. If you sit long enough, you may learn a little something about them. Something you’ve never known before, nature is always surprising us with something new.

You are looking at a bumble bee resting on a chicory flower. He's very big and fluffy, lots of hair on this guy. This is a post from Autumn Bug Photography.

 

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