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Tiny non-native predators of the yard
Early on Sunday we discovered two charismatic predators in the yard. Neither one is native to North America, which is a little sad-making. I wonder how we could get some Argiope spiders onto the property...
This tiny Chinese mantis hunts on the tops of the sunflower leaves. That's great for now, as it will likely catch mostly pests feeding on the plant. If it is still there later, when the flowers open, the mantis will be something of a pest itself, feeding on pollinators that visit the blossoms.
The clumps of pinpoint baby spiders are gone, and now this 2mm cross orbweaver sits in a web by itself, hopefully catching aphids and whiteflies as they pass along the grapevined fence.
This tiny Chinese mantis hunts on the tops of the sunflower leaves. That's great for now, as it will likely catch mostly pests feeding on the plant. If it is still there later, when the flowers open, the mantis will be something of a pest itself, feeding on pollinators that visit the blossoms.
The clumps of pinpoint baby spiders are gone, and now this 2mm cross orbweaver sits in a web by itself, hopefully catching aphids and whiteflies as they pass along the grapevined fence.