Here are a couple of more photos from my venture into the small world last weekend.

First is a tiny white spider on a Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera) flower. Mexican Hat is a kind of coneflower, part of the daisy family, and a native. The flower itself is pretty spent. It is certainly a late season one. Most of the Mexican Hats bloomed weeks ago. It was pretty hot and I sat down next to the small patch of Mexican Hats, mainly to catch my breath and rest. I didn’t think the flowers themselves were that interesting.

As I sat and looked at them, I became aware of the small, white spider. You can see its tiny, black eyes. I’m certain it was looking at me. The flowers cone is only about 1/2 inches tall, so the spider’s body is about 1/8 inch long. I never would have seen it, if I hadn’t sat down to rest. It’s a great reminder about paying attention. Life exists at all scales in the natural world. We lumber by most of it and it’s good to pay attention to the small.

Tiny Spider On A Mexican Hat

Next is the exoskeleton of what I believe is a Cicada. I’m not sure about the ID though. I haven’t seen that many this year, but I know they’re around. Most of what I’ve seen are katydids.

They live underground as nymphs, or larvae, and emerge to molt and become adults. The abandoned exoskeleton is known as an exuvia. This exoskeleton is about an inch long. I like how you can see the eye’s clear covering and the pattern of abdominal stripes.

Cicada Exoskeleton