Well, it's been a busy, but good week here in Shakerag. I have started borrowing my mom's camera when she comes to visit. It's another Canon point and shoot, like mine, but much nicer. It's a Power Shot A1100IS. So, I've taken a lot of pictures this week- some with my camera, some with Mom's. (Thanks, Mom!) Choosing an entry for this week's Macro Friday has been challenging because there are a lot from which to choose.
I finally decided on this photo of a Praying Mantis in my strawberry bed.
I finally decided on this photo of a Praying Mantis in my strawberry bed.
One evening, while watering my strawberries, apparently I watered the Praying Mantis, too. He or she was rather large, perhaps six inches.
It was a good evening for finding things. After the strawberries, I gave my roses a drink. Then I saw it. There was something large crawling around under the rosebush. Not only was it scary looking, after some internet research, I determined that it is actually venomous! This is a caterpillar of an Io Moth. Needless to say, I did not touch it.
If you look very closely, you can see black on the tips of some of his bristles. That's one of the features used to identify this as the Io Moth Caterpillar.
Watering the following morning also brought out some critters. "My" fence lizard was there. I thought he looked larger than I remembered. Then I noticed the evidence of his last molt. It's nice to be right, at least occasionally.
Look closely on his tail near his body. See? Okay click on the photo, then look. Looks like a spot is scalier than the rest of the fence lizard.
Then I noticed a Walking Stick. I don't see these or Praying Mantises very often.
It was pretty neat seeing the two so near each other both in time and place.
Then I noticed a bit of blue in my big bucket 'o sawdust.
It's a Five-lined Skink. We always called the Blue-tailed Skinks.
I love the electric blue of the tail!
Gosh, I didn't even mention all the butterflies I saw this week!
Well, that's a post for another day.
It was a good evening for finding things. After the strawberries, I gave my roses a drink. Then I saw it. There was something large crawling around under the rosebush. Not only was it scary looking, after some internet research, I determined that it is actually venomous! This is a caterpillar of an Io Moth. Needless to say, I did not touch it.
If you look very closely, you can see black on the tips of some of his bristles. That's one of the features used to identify this as the Io Moth Caterpillar.
Watering the following morning also brought out some critters. "My" fence lizard was there. I thought he looked larger than I remembered. Then I noticed the evidence of his last molt. It's nice to be right, at least occasionally.
Look closely on his tail near his body. See? Okay click on the photo, then look. Looks like a spot is scalier than the rest of the fence lizard.
Then I noticed a Walking Stick. I don't see these or Praying Mantises very often.
It was pretty neat seeing the two so near each other both in time and place.
Then I noticed a bit of blue in my big bucket 'o sawdust.
It's a Five-lined Skink. We always called the Blue-tailed Skinks.
I love the electric blue of the tail!
Gosh, I didn't even mention all the butterflies I saw this week!
Well, that's a post for another day.
Thanks to Laura from
blogging from bolivia
for for hosting such a cool blog hop!
Hop on over to link up to your own Macro Friday post.
Hope you enjoyed your visit to virtual Shakerag!
-Susan
blogging from bolivia
for for hosting such a cool blog hop!
Hop on over to link up to your own Macro Friday post.
Hope you enjoyed your visit to virtual Shakerag!
-Susan
Look at all these neat shots! I never run across stuff like this.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd better answer your question here too! It's actually my front bushes...lol They look a lot more exotic in macro!
ReplyDeleteBtw... you have the coolest stuff near you! WOW.....what fun stuff to capture in macro!
ReplyDeleteIncredible as always. I'm amazed at all the critters you find and capture shots of. These are awesome, Susan!
ReplyDeleteThanks! *blush*
ReplyDeleteTotally AWESOME!!! well done, and thanks for being my newest follower....
ReplyDeleteSuch cool animals! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic shots!! I loved them all.
ReplyDeletewow we don't get these in England! great shots!
ReplyDeleteHow amazing to be able to find all of those creatures!!! The most exotic thing I saw today was a grasshopper! Great captures!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I love the skink!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteEven a grasshopper is pretty exotic in macro!
Skinks are a favorite of mine, as well!
Cool shots! Perfect subjects for macro :)
ReplyDelete