Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Beauty of the Bugs Part 2 - Daddy Longlegs in Purple

I was photographing a lovely clump of fragrant red clover blossoms when this spindly little fellow climbed into view. I love his long, willowy legs. He seems to have found a beautiful place to rest. I know nothing about Daddy Longlegs, so I don't know what he was doing. Was he looking for a little nectar or just a little beauty...




Does anyone know what these long-legged beauties eat? Or any other tidbits about them...

26 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Neat Kelly... Daddy Longlegs are the one bug that I am not afraid of... They really are neat little bugs... Glad you got a great photo. You did good, Girlie!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Kelly said...

...thanks, Betsy. I know they can't bite me, and are no danger at all, so I'm really not that afraid and I'll let them crawl on me, but I don't like it!

Anonymous said...

Superb images! The color alone is breath-taking.

Linda McGeary said...

I love your pictures. Do you have them protected? I'd love to use some of them for screen savers or desktop backgrounds. (If you don't mind) Let me know.
I so enjoy them.

holdingmoments said...

Lovely delicate looking chaps, with their long spindly legs.
I love watching them scramble over the plants in the garden.
Good shots with that background. They look like a painting.

Kelly said...

John...thank you! I popped over to your blog and just ready your post on macro photography...perfect timing!

Linda...thank you!! You can use them for your screen saver.

Keith...thank you!! I love the blurry backgrounds that pop up when zooming in on an image.

Wai Yien said...

that is a great macro shot.

Dave said...

You're a brave one Kelly!
Spiders make me scream and run like a little girl!

Unseen India Tours said...

Kelly You Really Take Amazing Photographs !!This Is Neat And Nice !! Thanks For Sharing..Also I Have Started My Own Website And Would Like You To Have A Look At It.I Would Love To Have Your Comments On That Also.Unseen Rajasthan

Aunt "B's" Backyard said...

Kelly, I can honestly say that I very quickly slid through the photos. I am so afraid of spiders!

Kelly said...

yen...thank you!

Dave....you make me laugh....

Unseen....thank you. I'll check out your new blog!

Brenda....Oh no!!! I know....this whole bug thing is new to me and spiders do creep me out too, but just look at those beautiful and graceful long legs!....exposure therapy ;-)

Roy said...

Definitely nice shots, Kelly. I grew up in northern MD, but we had vacation property just over the border in PA in the Susquehanna River valley. That place was just overrun with Daddy Longlegs. We used to race them, except once you let go of them they really had no clue which way the track went!

Roy said...

Oh, and as to petting Bumblebees... Wait until one has been sitting still for a while (not while they're busily burrowing for pollen)and just put your finger on the yellow fuzz on their backs. If an insect could be said to enjoy something, they seem to enjoy this. Bumblebees seem to be pretty laid back about life anyhow; the only Bumblebee sting I've ever personally heard of was my sister, who had been eating one of those candy lipsticks when we were kids. The Bumble flew in her mouth chasing the sweetness, and Sue closed her mouth on it in panic, so naturally it stung. But that's the only incident I've ever heard of.

Kelly said...

Roy.....very cool.....Hmmmmm....I wonder if I'll get brave enough to try petting a bumblebee someday. I think I will. If I'm successful I'll let you know!!! Thanks for letting us know about petting bumblebees!

Heather said...

Kelly, I bet this is actually some species of "harvestman", and not actually a spider at all (but still an arachnid). True spiders have a 2-segmented body (i.e. they have a waist). Just Google harvestman and you'll find all kind of cool info. (Like this tidbit: "They eat a wide variety of animal food, both dead and alive, as well as vegetable matter and juices." (from http://www.cirrusimage.com/harvestman.htm)

Laure Ferlita said...

Thanks for the wonderful reminder of many joyous childhood hours spent playing with these guys! Fabulous shots too!

Warren Baker said...

You're really catching the bug for ''Bugs'' now Kelly. :-)

laurent Debordes said...

magnifique ... :)

Anonymous said...

Daddy longlegs in purple is neat. I thank you for taking the time to come and visit.

I hope you are always able to get out and about and photograph the birds.

I went outside a couple of times but the humidity is jut right to make breathing nearly impossible so I have to stay in most of the time. If it is a humid summer I am sunk when it comes to getting a lot of photos.

Jayne said...

Like you, I know nothing about them, but am not "afeared" of them!

Montanagirl said...

I don't know much about spiders, but they sure are good photos you took!

Dawn Fine said...

Ooooooo ahhhhhhhh....the colors in these photos are brilliant..love the greens, glowing..and the purple accent...very nice..
of course who could forget mr. longlegs

very very nice!

Sue said...

How neat!
I admit, I like spiders better OUTSIDE-don't much care for the ones in my house!

NW Nature Nut said...

It seems we are all photographing bugs and blossoms lately. Tis the season. Those are great close-ups!

Adrienne Zwart said...

I don't mind Daddy Longlegs (as we always called them) but they do tickle when they crawl on you. More than once I've hastily brushed one off thinking something creepy was crawling on me. LOL

These shots are wonderful!

Unknown said...

My computer was down: so I missed several posts. Beautiful pictures!
I also loved photos of bugs :-)