Nature Through My Macro Lens!

A young Katydid has been spending time in the front yard. Katydid's go through incomplete metamorphosis so they look like miniature replicas of the adult, but are lacking wings. The exoskeleton is shed as they grow. Wings develop during the final moulting stage.

Elliott's Plume Moths in Canatara

A Giant Robber Fly chilling on our chain link fence, waiting for its next insect meal!

Walden's Potter Wasp

White-footed Woods Mosquito doing morning yoga! It slowly but continually raised and lowered each of the hind legs while sipping on nectar from the Swamp Milkweed!

I originally thought I had encountered a Predator/Prey situation with these 2 spiders. However after posting on iNaturalist, I read the following comment from an expert on the species: These spiders are both the same species - Candy-striped Spider (Enoplognagth ovata) I suspect what is happening is that the male is attempting to mate with the female who has just moulted to maturity. (which is why her legs look translucent as her exoskeleton hasn't had time to harden yet.) We often see adult males "guarding" immature females (basically just hanging out nearby), presumably waiting for this exact moment! - Wow! Nature is amazing!