Where Have All The Insects Gone..

Subject: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:11 pm

There are not many Insects around in our garden, I was pruning one of the very tall Double Poinsettia plants not my favourite job as I always manage to get that horrible white sticky sap on me Yes even when wearing gloves and when I was cutting them up small to fit in the wheelie bin I noticed this little Flower Spider on the lid so I went up washed that stuff of me with turps got the camera came back to the bin and imagine my surprise to find two of the tiny spiders there..

Perhaps this is the Male as its was the smallest about 4-5mm at a rough guess.

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-Spider-IMG_3060

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-Spider-IMG_3060

If this is the Female it was a little bigger probably 6-7mm.

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-Spider-IMG_3067

Don't know what this spider is, three times bigger than the flower spiders.

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-Spider-IMG_3173

Always plenty of small Ants in the middle of the single Poinsettia.

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-Ant-IMG_3145

Where are all the Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Bee_2asm

I have not seen one for about two weeks every morning I go out and look on the Golden Penda but there is never any there as you can see.

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-G-Penda-IMG_2870

Where Have All The Insects Gone.. July-G-Penda-IMG_2870

Sorry Fay... whistle

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Fri Jul 03, 2009 4:22 am

We have so many of those little flower spiders here, I'm glad their not venomous (to us) as I'm always being bitten by them.

With those hairy legs and eyes in front and on top of it's head, that third spider would have to be a lynx spider.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/australian/oxyopidae/oxyopidae.html

Not many bees around here either but still plenty of ants.

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:05 am

Maybe it breeding season for the flower spider Gail there are lots here too, Thanks for the link on the other spider yes that looks like it I tried to get a pic front on so I could get the eyes but it would not move. Its very strange not to have bees around, the Lavender spikes are starting to open up they usually have bees on them but not at present Question

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:34 pm

the insect pics MA .

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:51 pm

Thanks So Much Gwen..

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:56 pm

Hasn't been many bees around here either but they don't like colder weather and aren't usually as active.

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:45 am

good ones MA, the girl looks preggers or just a sore butt Laughing

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:26 am

I guess one or the other Cheryl.. laughing wit tears

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:51 am

I checked out Gail's site on the Lynx Spider , can't say I've seen one before, but I do like the flower spiders we get lots , have not be bitten yet.

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:20 am

I don't think they pack a punch Gwen I have had many on me..
Maybe I am just lucky gasp

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:56 pm

The bite of a flower spider is similar, but not quite as bad as a green ant or one of those tiny wasps, usually stings a little for a minute or two and gets a little lump for a few hours. We have them everywhere here... find one on every couple of leaves... if they weren't such a helpful creature I'd be worried.

Subject: Re: Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:20 am

I never knew they had a bite like than Gail.. Where Have All The Insects Gone.. Smilies-40628

I will be more careful in future.. Sad

» Flowers and insects
» Couple of interesting insects