'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Tuesday 5 January 2021

Spider-Mad

 Today I found four new (to me) species of spider in my garden.  Given that I have been here for 27 (twenty-seven!) years this coming March, and, especially in the las ten, have been actively looking for critters at least every week, it's rather amazing. I post them on iNaturalist and eventually, if it's possible, some kind entomologist will identify them, if I can't. Since I last blogged, I have had lots of (mainly critter-oriented) adventures, this can serve as an introduction. 

Here is the first of this species I have ever seen - a Bird-dropping spider.  I walked past it twice at first before I realised that bird-poo is rarely symmetrical. 

5 comments:

  1. Now that is as weird a looking spider (indeed creature) as anything I have ever seen.

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  2. Sure is Geeb! It also makes me wonder if, not only are they adapted to look (and behave) like poop, but of course only that of a PARTICULAR bird. Which, ironically, is probably an Aussie bird. And here it is in NZ. I wonder if it will find its abilities and morphology as cryptic here.

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  3. How wonderful to discover a new post from you, Kate! And only a month after you created it! I used to check quite frequently but must have done less so more recently (shame on me). What a pleasant surprise after such a long interval.

    I must say, though, that I am not particularly a fancier of spiders (philarachnid?) — in the U.S. there used to be a chain of stores called Toys ‘R’ Us. You might try to ask Entomologists ‘R’ Us your questions because Entomologists definitely R Not Us.

    As you can tell, nothing has changed at this end during your hiatus from blogging.

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    Replies
    1. Lovely to hear from you Bob. I understand some people, possibly most, don't like little critters, especially spiders. That's why I didn't post a pic of this one, but only a link. I'm thoughtful like that. Spiders Rn't U.
      xx

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    2. I think the terms I couldn’t dredge up earlier are arachnophobia and arachnophilia.

      Delete

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