Life Cycles -- Summer's Finality

 One cycle ends while another begins

The warm days left over from summer are still hanging around and so are several species of insects that I enjoy watching.  At this time of year, I try and savor as many warm moments as time will allow before the temperatures drop.

I can't say that I will miss the tomato horn worms that strip the leaves down to stems.  They do keep me busy each morning when I go out searching to pick them from the tomatoes.  This is a love-hate relationship since I do enjoy having the sphinx moths around, so I just reposition the worms to a Sacred Datura which is in the nightshade family like the tomato plant. 

The dragonflies that accent the landscape around my pond are beginning to dwindle down.  I walked by as two adults were embraced to continue the life cycle.  The eggs will be laid on plants near the pond and slowly grow over a period of 5 years to reach the adult stage which  lasts only for six months.

A male praying mantis fans his wings out wide in a threat display as a warning not to come any closer.   The end of summer also concludes the life cycle of the mantis.  Hatching after the temperature warms in spring; they grow over the summer to mate, lay eggs and die as the weather begins to turn cold.  

Although not in the insect species, the reclusive male tarantula can be seen wandering around the desert in late August through September looking to mate with a willing female.   This handsome feller that is at least seven years old came walking down my sidewalk late one September afternoon. 

Even with the warm days, my yard is starting to quiet down and beginning its transition to fall.  Most of the sunflowers are gone and I have noticed only one monarch butterfly fluttering. 

 Soon the showy visitors of summer will be replaced by the dull colored birds that winter here in the Great Basin, but they also bring a special charm to my yard as they dart about foraging for seeds in the dry leaves. 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Mantis Displays His Colors

The Artistry of Camouflage

 
My slogan, "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" transpired from those awesome moments when I stumbled on nature's most creative side.  One of those rare moments was when I tried to move a male praying mantis from the street to a more secure location and he fanned out his wings in a manner of protest.

Most of the time the praying mantis will spend it's time going unnoticed by camouflage and concealment to blend in with the surroundings with It's front legs are folded as if in prayer. 

 When the legs are unfolded, they reveal sharp, long spikes for grasping prey.  During the few times that I have held a mantis, I have never been bit, however the spikes are very sharp and once in their grasp there is no getting away.

When threatened, the mantis will try and make itself appear larger by standing tall, spreading its wings and raising the forelegs in a combative stance.

As beautiful as the vivid colors and eyespot appear on the wings, they are there for a practical application, to startle a predator. 

  

For additional reading:
http://insected.arizona.edu/mantidinfo.htm

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Courting Tarantulas

   

Creepy Crawlers for Halloween

With Halloween being just a few days away, I decided to dedicate this blog post to the creepy crawlers who have been playing trick or treat in my back yard. In the Southwestern U.S. during August through September male tarantulas come out and begin their journey to find a suitable mate.

This movement of large hairy brown spiders is called the Tarantula Migration, however tarantulas do not migrate.  Most of their lives are spent underground in a burrow that they dig and reinforce with webbing.

Tarantulas are nocturnal and most of the time will go unnoticed because they come out at night to search for their prey of insects and small animals.  For the last two years, a female has set up residence under the decorative rocks by my patio.

  Even though I am terribly afraid of spiders, we have a peaceful co-existence.  It's just when I walk outside and almost step on a five inch (12.7 cm) amorous male that my heart comes through my chest!

The smaller males have been known to travel around 50 miles (80.46 km) in their quest for courtship and many will die either from being eater by the female or from sheer exhaustion.  Female tarantulas have been known to live for 20 years.

    

  

So as my natural Halloween decorations are moving right along, I wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Summer of 2012, Great Basin Desert

 Nature's Subtle Changes

Over the summer of 2012, I have noticed some subtle changes with the birds and insects that I enjoy watching in my yard that is located in the Great Basin Desert of Northern Nevada.

 It was a cold spring this year with the temperatures not warming until June. However, the cooler temperatures and strong winds were not deterrents to the hummingbird migration. I noticed some early arrivals in mid-March.  Fortunately I had the feeders ready with plenty of sugar in my pantry.

The Bullock's Orioles began to show up much later than the typical April 15th. calendar date.  I was starting to worry that something had happened during their migration from South America when finally I noticed a male desperately trying to drink from the hummingbird feeder.  Quickly, I prepared the larger feeder that is designed to accommodate the orioles so that they can drink nectar water.

Once the air began to warm up, it got very hot.  The summer was also dry and even the seasonal monsoons did not produce any measurable moisture. 

The hot, dry summer did not deter the damselflies from being so prolific; I have never seen such large numbers and a few stragglers were still around in late August.

For the first time over the summer, I did not see any of the usual garden spiders that spin such intricate webs around the pond plants.

  I only saw one Western Spotted Orb Weaver on the Russian Sage.  

However, the lake spider orb weavers were out in mass with larger numbers than I have ever witnessed.   It was not a good time to go hiking through the brush, they are not poisonous but will bite.

The bees have been very plentiful and are still buzzing at every flower that is still in bloom this late in October.

After such an abundance of Painted Lady Butterflies from the summer of 2011, I only saw a few and they did not hang around for long.

Much to my surprise, the number of preying mantis was very low.  There were so many last summer and I found egg sacs on almost every wooden surface.

The summer of 2012 has been an unusual one and it seems to be getting hotter each year.  The Great Basin Desert is noted for its cooler temperatures and if the climate continues to warm, it will be very interesting to see what changes to nature this will bring.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Western Pigmy Blue Butterfly

North America's Smallest Butterfly 

During the early morning on October first, I was enjoying my coffee while sitting outside by a lantana bush when I noticed a tiny set of blue wings on one of the leaves.  A closer look revealed a very small Western Pigmy Blue Butterfly.  The western pigmy blue butterfly, Brephidium exilis is the smallest butterfly species in North America, with a wingspan that measures from 5 to 7 millimeters.

Preferring warm salty areas, the western pygmy blue can be found in the Southwestern States of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Over the last few summers, I have noticed more of these butterflies which may be due to the increased levels of salinity in Walker Lake.

After changing my camera lens to the Nikon macro 150mm 2.8, I began taking close ups while the butterfly was still.  The air temperature was was cool and butterflies need the sunlight on their wings to warm-up before they can start to fly.

 When the sun rose higher in the sky the butterfly slowly stirred from its leaf and moved to the lantana flower.  As a reference to how small this butterfly is, the entire lantana flower only measures approximately 3 centimeters across.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Mantid Family Mantidae

THE PREYING MANTIS

In early September, as I stroll through my yard, I begin to notice the Preying Mantis on the leaves of plants or flowers, waiting for a tasty meal.

The mantis will reach adult size, from 3 to 4 inches, by late August or early September. It is also around this time when the female is ready to mate. Soon after mating, the female will lay her cluster of eggs on a limb or other rough surface and in a couple of weeks, her life cycle will end. These creatures only live for one generation.

The color and size of the Preying Mantis is determined by its species and may also be a factor of the environment.

A moist environment, the Mantis is Green.

A dry environment the Mantis is brown or tan.

Mantises are found throughout the world, and are revered and even considered holy in many cultures. The name mantis is derived from the Greek word, "Mantid", meaning "profit" or "seer."

I think they are fascinating creatures to watch and they do perform a service in keeping insect pests like flies and aphids in control. 

The biggest fear and greatest predator to the Praying Mantis is none other than the common bat.

For more information, please visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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