Cosmophasis waeri female (Holotype):
https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_228.1.pdf
Cosmophasis bandaneira male (Holotype):
https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_228.1.pdf
Cosmophasis ambonensis male (Holotype):
https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_228.1.pdf
I'm pretty sure this one is a salticid mimic.
a bunch of these were semi-hovering near a compost heap, and flashing their highly reflective upper abdomen.
I cooled it down to photograph it, but it flew away later > not dead.
Feeding on a dead mirid?
no idea, blind guess
The fly was trying to get rid of this phoretic pseudoscorpion clutching its hind leg.
Very much the same as another user's obs:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6456987
This observation is for the fly that the Cyclosa caught before falling prey to the Portia.
Looking for host plant of Macrolophus pygmaeus in the picture.
Small salticid (BL 2-3mm). Not very shy, likes to escape on a thread, falling halfway down.
Interesting Beetle Day at Tai Po Kau :)
Natural garden with pond.
I have no idea what these are… any idea? Many of these on a large rock.
Hatched from this caterpillar on June 3.
I brought a Dasychira chekiangensis caterpillar home and let it pupate, turns out it was already carrying the seed of this one …
The caterpillar started to pupate on April 16.
I used the locale of the original observation here, because that's where it would have hatched.
Portia was sitting next to a Cyclosa web. Took a few minutes waiting, then jumped straight at the Cyclosa in the center of the web, killing it. Spent 10-20 in the web center, then dropped down to a branch, continuing to digest. More than half an hour later, was still at the same position, digesting.
I'm making this observation "captive" because I took this Portia home for pictures, and released it here the day after.
I never knew there are robber flies that hunt and eat spiders :P
A female hatched from the cocoon :D
Caterpillar in the previous observation.
Found on a lemon tree on a balcony, 48th floor. Ate a lot of lemon pollen. Pupated one day later, see next observation.
Rather small; I've seen one of these before.
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/7985083329/
Many thanks to Ryan Brookes (Mahad) for the ID in flickr.
Campanario Biological Station, San Pedrillo, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Preening after a short trip in the freezer.
Field Notes - 3mm spider on thread of web in dry bushland. Possibly family Arkyidae genus Demadiana. Interesting colours and patterns on abdomen with apparent folds at back end. Head has a shiny stippled appearance.
"Es inofensiva y las vellosidades le sirven como unidades sensibles para detectar sus presas entre la vegetación".
Descripción de: Darío Hernando Gutiérrez Galvis, Biólogo.
I never knew these can get that huge!! Prey in next observation.
Observation of beetle: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6519169
A handful of workers transporting one of the legs of a stick insect. Last one was in the air most of the time, firmly gripping the leg.
Lamprochernes hitching a ride on Leptopeza flavipes.
This one moves really fast, mimicking a black ant with prey in its mouth very well.
Spider in next observation. Flies (?) on spider in the one after that.
Small, walking on a rock next to a stream. Flew away (I think) when disturbed.
Maybe 5mm. Seems to have eyes facing upwards, reacts to movement.
The knot was made by a mole, Talpa europaea.
When moles find a lot of worms, more than they could eat, the knot them to avoid escaping, and keep them in some place, something as a food safe...