Lost Pond Springtime Macros! Live Tiny Animals!

[urbpan]

We went to Lost Pond Reservation on this gorgeous spring day and took some nature macros and such.
The dark outgrowths on the sticks at the top are the tent moth egg masses.



Almost immediately upon entering the reservation I felt something crawling on my bare leg. I was happy when I looked down to find it was a harmless sap bucket beetle.


Ferns are still unfurling, these fiddleheads providing an upside-down perch for an ichneumon. Note to aspiring wild food eaters: there are many species of ferns and not all fiddleheads are edible.


At the pond I saw my first frog of the year: a big ol' bullfrog.


The frog made me feel jealous of Mike and Andrea, who find all manner of reptiles and amphibians on their walks. We decided to overturn some leaf litter to see if we could find some, and found a mess of springtails (probably snow fleas).


Then Alexis found a velvet mite in the middle of the path, and held it for a picture before moving it to safety.


While that was happening, Alex noticed a tiny inchworm had landed on Alexis' sweatshirt.


Soon we came upon tent moth caterpillars, a half a dozen different tents-full! It might be a big year for them.


Just before we left, Alex said "Hey look at the big spider!" I thought she might be exaggerating, but no, this was a pretty big wolf spider: a female carrying her egg sac. Ready for the close up?


Beautiful!


Thanks to miz_geek and ankhanu for identifications and corrections!

Comments

[miz-geek.livejournal.com]

I think that's the eggs that the tent caterpillars come from. At least, I usually see them nearby.

Nice story!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Why didn't that occur to me. Of course, you are correct.

[ankhanu.livejournal.com]

Awesome finds for the day :)

Quick note, though, your crane fly is actually an ichneumonid wasp, perhaps Enicospilus.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Whoopsie! Thanks for that. I did think it's posture was unusual, but was overconfident of my ID. Glad you are reading and keeping me on the right path!

[(Anonymous)]

What a great set of pictures! That wolf spider shot is AMAZING!!!

We didn't get into the field yesterday (though I still managed a tick... go figure!) so I'm especially happy to see the bullfrog!! Not too froggy yet this year!

Mike H

[weofodthignen]

Some amazing pics, I like the froggie eye - but those tent caterpillars are gross.

M