Wildlife early 2009

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

No idea whether we want a separate topic for Southern Hemisphere wildlife of not, but if we do then feel free to separate this off into a new topic....

A couple of pics taken recently with my new camera.  My old one couldn't have got these nearly as well......

I found this adorably cute little bee huddled (that is the only word for it) on a Crowea exalata in flower in my garden.  The whole bee would only be around 1cm long, and it was just so cute!    The shrinking of the photos has unfortunately lost a fair bit of the clarity of the originals, but I think you should still be able to see most of the details.

Enjoy.

[Paul T]

And another teeny tiny individual.....

I think this is one of our little "jumping spiders".  This is on the washing line.  She started out with just a few strands along the line but now has a proper nest built on the underside of the line.  It measures about 4 inches or so long from tip to tip, and we assume it encloses eggs somewhere in there.  We think we can see them, but are not entirely sure as there are lots of little insects caught in the outside (or are the little fluffy things something she produces?).  She herself is only about 1cm long and, like the bee, is adorably cute.

Enjoy.

[Lesley Cox]

Yesterday I brought washing in before it was fully dry, as it began to rain. Perfect morning today so out it went again and apparently I had brought in a red admiral butterfly as well, on a pair of my knickers. When I hung them out, the butterfly sat for a few minutes while I fetched my camera then opened beautifully in the sun. Went to take another pic but it was gone already. I have severely cropped this picture in order not to offend (they are working knickers, not lacy, out for the evening knickers) and I promise not to make a habit of showing my underwear on the Forum.

[cohan]

paul, that spider does look like  quite a character; i sometimes have jumping spiders on my plants on the windowsill..
lesley, thanks for showing us your, err... butterfly! nice that it survived the trip in with the washing..

[Ragged Robin]

Yesterday I brought washing in before it was fully dry, as it began to rain. Perfect morning today so out it went again and apparently I had brought in a red admiral butterfly as well, on a pair of my knickers. When I hung them out, the butterfly sat for a few minutes while I fetched my camera then opened beautifully in the sun. Went to take another pic but it was gone already. I have severely cropped this picture in order not to offend (they are working knickers, not lacy, out for the evening knickers) and I promise not to make a habit of showing my underwear on the Forum.

(Attachment Link)

This a hilarious posting, Lesley, it just made my morning and you captured the shot of the recovering butterfly admirably!

[Ragged Robin]

Howdy All,

No idea whether we want a separate topic for Southern Hemisphere wildlife of not, but if we do then feel free to separate this off into a new topic....

A couple of pics taken recently with my new camera.  My old one couldn't have got these nearly as well......

I found this adorably cute little bee huddled (that is the only word for it) on a Crowea exalata in flower in my garden.  The whole bee would only be around 1cm long, and it was just so cute!    The shrinking of the photos has unfortunately lost a fair bit of the clarity of the originals, but I think you should still be able to see most of the details.

Enjoy.

And I certainly am....this mini bee looks as if it is doing a ballet dance pirouetting in your flower! 

[annew]

I do like jumping spiders, you'll have to try and catch the hatching! I wonder what your tiny bee (I think it's a wasp) was doing sitting there? Maybe the flower was acting as a parabolic dish and focussing the sun's warmth on that spot? Maybe it was just showing off. 

[Paul T]

Anne,

You could indeed be right, as it does have a significant "waist" to it doesn't it?  I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it.  Maybe one of our insect experts can shed some light on what it is?  If it IS a wasp, then it is a bee mimic I am assuming?

[David Nicholson]

Yesterday I brought washing in before it was fully dry, as it began to rain. Perfect morning today so out it went again and apparently I had brought in a red admiral butterfly as well, on a pair of my knickers. When I hung them out, the butterfly sat for a few minutes while I fetched my camera then opened beautifully in the sun. Went to take another pic but it was gone already. I have severely cropped this picture in order not to offend (they are working knickers, not lacy, out for the evening knickers) and I promise not to make a habit of showing my underwear on the Forum.

(Attachment Link)

Thought I'd strayed into the 'wrong' part of the Internet

[Anthony Darby]

Etta, my female panther chameleon, has just laid 15 eggs. Now the tricky bit of incubating the eggs for 6 - 9 months at 28^oC!

[Maggi Young]

Six to nine months at that temperature..... that will be a challenge. And quite a lot of shillings for the meter 

[annew]

Congratulations, Anthony - how about a picture of the proud parent?

[Paul T]

Congrats Anthony!!  Very cool.

[Anthony Darby]

I have an environmental chamber in my classroom with a green tree python in it. Temperature kept at 28^oC. My back-up is a decomissioned baby incubator bought for £25 from Falkirk Royal Infirmary about 25 years ago. I'll check my pics folders at home as I don't have my camera at school. She mated with Sundance on 12th March.

[Anthony Darby]

Here's a link to Etta the female panther chameleon and Ringo my male Green Tree Python.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2692.msg66015#msg66015

Here is a link to Sundance - scroll down and check the thrid chameleon pic. Butch was supposed to be a female so I sent him back in exchange for Etta.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1052.msg43304#msg43304