Ironwoods Backyard Critters

M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Ironwood said:
Haven't seen these fella's for a while now. I spotted 2 different ones today chasing greenants , with the wind blowing the leaves around, the spiders constantly moving around, either chasing the greenants, or being chased by them, and me getting covered in greenants and getting bitten for my troubles, I didn't get too many good shots, in fact they were all a bit soft but I kept these 4 anyway :eek:.

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This one is growing a new leg :cool:.
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Well caught,lovely shots
 
I

Ironwood

Senior Member
Found this Guy chasing Greenants today....

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Vixen

Vixen

Senior Member
Man....not having done any macro shots for ages I took my camera out yesterday evening to see if I could find any bugs. Total failure. Maybe the 2 beers I had beforehand didn't help :)

I especially love those jumping spider shots. They are so colourful.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
I went a month or so before Christmas hardly using the camera at all, it takes a good bit of practice to get back into the swing of things. Can be a bit frustrating.
 
I

Ironwood

Senior Member
We just had a rain storm go through here, I thought after it finished raining I would go out and see if the spiders would play, they all seemed to be hiding :(.

I had to be content with a Cicada shell, and a Fly...

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I

Ironwood

Senior Member
Here is another shot of the Gold Jumping Spider, which is called "Cosmopasis Bitaeniata", this one seems to be a female.
I missed the eyes with the focus pane by only a couple of mm, but it makes all the difference, I would have normally deleted this shot, but thought I would post it to show how close you can be to getting a good shot :eek: but just missing out.

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After a bit of research I have found out why I seem to find spiders of the Cosmophasis family on the same trees as Greenants. It seems the Cosmophasis spiders have evolved to have a smell the same as the Greenants, which allows them to raid the Greenant nest and get the ants lavae to eat.
 
Vixen

Vixen

Senior Member
You don't get much DOF with macro, that's for sure. I think one of my problems is the plants on my place....lots of non-native weeds that I am sure are not eaten or inhabited by any native insects or animals or birds. :(
 
I

Ironwood

Senior Member
The Giant Green Ants were out in force today.
@Lawrence you have to watch out they don't get their fangs into you, or you are in for a nasty time :nightmare:, but don't worry too much, [MENTION=9753]Scott Murray[/MENTION] is trained in first aid :courage:.

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L

Lawrence

Senior Member
Ironwood said:
The Giant Green Ants were out in force today.
@Lawrence you have to watch out they don't get their fangs into you, or you are in for a nasty time :nightmare:, but don't worry too much, @Scott Murray is trained in first aid :courage:.

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Aslong as Scott doesn't intentionally want to practice his first aid.
BTW guys I am from Africa where I survived for longer than Scott has been alive so I think I am good to go ... :)
 
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