This is the way the nymphs protect themselves:
Now, what is this just poking its head out of the spittle?
A cropped closer look:
I do believe it is the head and front legs of a Frog Hopper.
Correction: After Adrian's comment that t might be a spider I checked today. It was in exactly the same place so I fished it out. Then I could see that it was a small spider which had perished in the sticky spittle.
Macro photos taken with Canon 50D + 70-200mm zoom + Raynox macro lens.
1st photo is 2 stacked shots and the 2nd is 4 stacked shots using Zerene Stacker.
A good description of the life of a Frog Hopper can be found on this BBC site.
Link opens in a new tab / window.
Well spotted.
ReplyDeleteNo frog hoppers up here yet but they would make a good time lapse.
John, I've just been looking again and it could be a spider invading the cocoon or spit.
ReplyDeleteCorrect Adrian. 'Twas in exactly the same place today so I fished it out. Small dead spider.
DeleteA million years from now the spiders will have learnt to deal with the spit. I'll have to look up what it's made of, A million years from now the spit will have evolved so the spiders will still die in it. Insects have got the world sorted.
DeleteI'm guessing an Orb Spider.
Deleteyick! :)
ReplyDeleteYick indeed TWG. Horrible sticky stuff.
Delete