Thought you were going "buggy?"

Spiders (Araneae) » Opisthothelae » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynes » Orb Weavers (Araneidae) » Neoscona (Click on the photo if you want an up-close and personal view!)

He may not play baseball, but this fellow makes his living
catching flies!
Just don't let on about your arachnaphobia! :-)

According to Bugguide, this is spider is a Neoscona. It was just outside the front door, on the front porch, in its somewhat destroyed orb web. We're looking at its underside. I was taken with the markings that seemed somehow "facelike."

It didn't seem bothered at all that I was probably within "striking distance," so I took several photos. ;-)

The next photograph is a web I found a few weeks earlier. Perhaps my Neoscona left this one to make the other...Might it be that this is "Charlotte's" great-great-great-grandchild? Something to ponder out here in the shade!

Were We Talking About Moments That Take Your Breath Away?

There I stood on the front porch, leaning on and over a potted hibiscus with my arms outstretched. My camera was in my hands; focused on a single hummingbird feeder.

And, in came this little "hummer!"

Enjoy the photos. Please click on them for wonderful close-ups.

I couldn't help myself. There were so many little birds vying for each of the three feeders in the front yard, that I had to be part of the experience!

I'm sure I spotted only one male. His ruby throat is unmistakable.
(The males may have discovered the lone feeder I hid in the backyard yesterday. Possibly they were having an easier time of "sharing the wealth!"
As I held the camera, two or three of them hummed over and around my head, coming between my arms, under my chin, to sip nectar from the hibiscus flowers.

I could hardly breathe!

*As a postscript, you might have noticed all the "insectavariety" (my own word) with which the hummingbirds must compete for food.

Buzzing About With the 'Hummers!'

We get Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Iowa.

There are two little ones at the right-hand feeder.

I'm going to furnish a couple of short videos, if possible!

This first one shows us that our "Guard Bird" has gone off-duty. Finally!

I just didn't have the heart to try to download another video! So I put it on Youtube.
Perhaps I can add a link here. This video isn't better quality, but you'll see a LOT of hummingbirds and a quick close-up or two! ;-)

My Pearl Crescent

I chased these little fast-flying fellows all over a field last weekend.
(With my little camera, you need to get close!)
Today I was painting a shutter for the shed, and what should appear...
but a fast-flying, quick-"breathing," Pearl Crescent.

Guess he wanted a closer view of what I was doing... so I obliged him!

Aliens???

I spotted these yesterday as I drove by our friends' house... I didn't slow down to take a closer look, until today.

All in a row.
Thought I'd better investigate.
Wanted to see if there were "wee folks" climbing down outta there.

Could this be the result of toppermost-atmospheric-incomprehensible-heat and burn-upon-entry?

And... might this be the Command Center?

Are you with me? I'm going Down Under!
Taking a peek... AAAHHHHH!

Hey... it's Beautiful down here!I don't see a sign of anyone,
but this thing is HUGE!
I feel like a little, bitty fellow...
Wonder if I could crawl up this "tree."
If I could just get up to that ring.

(If you don't hear from me pretty soon,
please call home.)

It's Shady under here, too!