Artemis Eats a Cricket

It's been far too long since I've updated this blog. I have so many projects and posts that I dream of, and I need to get it going already. A year ago, I visited The Galapagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon, and I have thousands of photos that I want to share! It's time to tackle that pile!

Before all that, I would like to show off this brutal encounter a feeder cricket had with my old scorpion, Artemis. 

Witnessing one of these feedings was rare. I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and my camera was handy. I almost felt bad for the cricket, as it stared at the giant, hairless ape documenting its demise. 

I was also able to get a nice side view. 

I'm still largely confused about how scorpion faces work, but I think you can make out part of the scorpion's chelae ripping through the cuticle and muscle of the cricket. Any links to a good diagram of scorpion mouth parts are welcome!

Bugs From Around the House: Jumping Spider Feeding

It's cold outside! I'm missing the warm, summer months that buzz with life. I'm particularly missing the arthropod diversity that I see in and around my own home. I live in the city and, even here, we humans are outnumbered by the diversity of insects and arachnids. Even in January, I'm sure a thorough hunt could turn up a few live arthropods. Or, instead, I could finally do something with these pictures I've been sitting on for months. It may keep me busy as I wait out the winter cold.

Here's a photo I took last August. I was in my laundry room and out of the corner of my eye I noticed the swift movement of this hunter grabbing a fly out of the air.

I immediately ran to fetch my camera and started snapping photos as the meal was devoured. This spider appears to be in the genus Platycryptus. The species either californicus or undatus. They are jumping spiders in the family Salticidae.