Long-jawed Orbweaver

Living upside down over water, the Long-jawed Orbweaver is distinctive in looks and style.

It is long, slender, and translucent throughout. It blends in well with water, plants, and twigs. Its web is quite open, like most orbweavers, but it keeps its egg sacs well-protected in tough, stringy bundles near the web's edge.

There are several species of Long-jawed Orbweavers throughout the United States. There are at least 15 known, but this one is likely a specialized species due to its open nature. I found this one on a bridge above a small creek. It wasn't near plants, and the web was larger than I thought it should be. If you know the exact species, I would appreciate it.

Order:
Araneae

Family:
Tetragnathidae

Shamrock Orbweaver

Counting down two weeks until Halloween, I'm going to start posting some creepier pictures... well, I'll start posting pictures of spiders!

I'll start you out with the Shamrock Orbweaver. It's set apart from other Orbweavers by its greenish tint, orange, translucent legs, and the whitish "shamrock" pattern (although it's just a series of spots) on its back. They make large, open webs in bushes or brushes along marsh edges and in tall grasses.

Scientific name:
Araneus trifolium

Skimmer on leaves...

Okay, here's another game. Where is the Common Whitetail Skimmer?

It's near the center of the picture. Hard to see, isn't it? Well, the reason is due to its unique camouflage which helps it blend in with decaying leaves. Why would this be of use? Well, because the skimmer seeks out water, the natural landscape includes multitudes of dead or decaying plants. Also, many underwater plants are muddy, stringy, and good places to hide eggs. The female, if you remember my earlier post, is a dark brown. She will blend in with the areas she needs to lay her eggs.

The males blend in with the water below. This makes them less vulnerable to overhead attacks from birds.

Scientific name:
Libellula lydia

Snowberry Clearwing

Looking again at disguises and camouflage, I bring you the Snowberry Clearwing. It's the perfect example of looking like something it's not.

What is it? I'll give you a few seconds.

Did you guess moth?

It looks like a large bee, but it's not. It is a moth. The main differences are easy to spot. First, at the tip of the abdomen, look at the hairy appendage. It mimics a stinger. The wings start out pale with scales, but after the pupa stage, the scales fall off, and the wings become clear. These wings are larger and wider than a bumblebee's. The black and yellow segments are also thicker. And, the moth makes a noise similar to a hummingbird's buzz when it flies. This is mainly due to its size. In fact, several years ago, this moth was responsible for several missightings of hummingbirds. If you see one, it will probably sit still. Hummingbirds rarely sit still while feeding. They do while flying from place to place, but prefer to fly and feed.

Oh, and this Clearwing is feeding from a Canada Thistle.

Scientific name:
Hemaris diffinis
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae

Mud Plantain

This tiny plant grows mainly in southern Missouri eastward to New York, clipping only a few states here and there. It grows around water in moist soils and indicates native areas.

The Mud Plantain comes in several looks, but it stands out because of the green ring in the center and the tall, thick anthers. Six to eight sharp petals surround them. The stem is long and slender. It trails down through the mud where the whole plant is supported by broad leaves that resemble those of bean plants. These leaves are quite dark in contrast to the rest of the plant.

Scientific name:
Heteranthera reniformis
Family: Pontederiaceae

The photo was taken near Wildcat Park near Saginaw, Mo. A new Audubon Center has been built in the area to recognize the natural glades which line Shoal Creek. The Center provides free information and has worked to improve the local trail systems. I highly recommend going there for a nice weekend trip.

And, if you are coming down Mo 71, then you'll pass Prairie State Park. It is the most accessible prairie in Missouri as far as information and walking is concerned. Other prairies in the state were once private lands turned into roadside stops. I will provide more information in later posts. Here are directions to Prairie State Park.

P.S.
Yes, it is the same plant featured in Victoria's post a few weeks back. We were having a macro-off.

Differential Grasshopper

Common throughout most of the United States, this grasshopper appears during the late summer. However, it is active as long as it has something to eat, which includes ragweed, goldenrod, and other large plants.

It can be a pest in some places, but it is useful in controlling populations of noxious weeds. Every grasshopper has powerful chewing jaws that allow it to eliminate large leaves quickly.

The reason I chose this subject is because of its ability to blend in with its environment. During the summer, this grasshopper is a lighter green with more brown, but as the fall comes, it turns darker green. This is a sign of aging for this species. The identifiable marks on this grasshopper are the brownish eyes and the dark chevrons which line the hind legs. They remind me of tanks for some reason.

Camouflage is a useful thing for any creature. For the next few posts, I will be exploring different examples of camo in the wild.

Also, my posts may become sporadic as I am working and going to school pretty much full time. I'll post as soon as I can.

Scientific name:
Melanoplus differentialis