Warm September days suffuse the Quarry Corner with ripeness. Insect species finish their cycles of preparation for next year's generations. The fullness of some individual lives falls prey to the fulfillment of others. A food chain that begins far below our ability to see breaks into visible life and death dramas.
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A mortal tableau |
I've spent time every day this month at the edge of the quarry lake, crouched in a small circle of observation. At one point a winged ant floats into view on the water surface. It may have fallen from the colony that swarmed out of a fissure in the adjacent ledge to replenish their colony. The lost one's struggles to free itself from the water have drawn predatory interest from a Long-legged Fly (Dolichopodidae). The fly's long legs spread its body weight wide enough to stay supported by the surface tension membrane of the water as it skates toward the foundering ant.
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Floating aphid |
An aphid finds itself in a similar predicament, blown or fallen onto the lake.
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Water Strider devouring the aphid |
A spidery-looking Water Strider (Rheumatobates vegatus) jets across the surface to grasp the aphid in its short front legs. Tiny hairs beneath its out-sized middle and rear legs capture air to support it on the water surface.
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A web of life and death |
The engineering efforts of a funnel-weaving spider are rewarded within the canopy of a plant.
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Silk wrapping |
The Grass Spider (Agelenopsis pennsylvanica) encases its victim, a Halictid Bee (Lasioglossum), in a tomb of silk.
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Tiny spider dragging off a crane fly |
When it comes to strength and potency, size is not the ruling factor in the Microcosmos.
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The crane fly conqueror |
The spider known as the Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax) with the looks of an adorable stuffed animal perpetuates itself efficiently.
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