365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Hidden In Plain Sight
Day 310: You really don't want to go sticking your nose in the daisies around here. You never know who might be living there. Misumena vatia, the Crab Spider, is a master of camouflage, although its ability to change hue requires a protracted stay on the flower its coloration mimics. When it moves to a white or pale green blossom, it slowly excretes the yellow pigment normally found in the outer layer of cells. These spiders are very common in the Pacific Northwest, but are often overlooked because of their chameleonic talents.
No comments:
Post a Comment