Phidippus johnsoni, the adorable Red-Backed Jumping spider in (my) palm valley. I wish this one showed up clearer.
I was so excited about this find today that I think I actually said “YES!” out loud and climbed in some bushes to take a photo. My love for bugs overrides the fear of looking like a weirdo to other CSUN students. So, anyway, I LOVE wasps, especially solitary ones like this one. I had some trouble identifying it because I get most of my identification practice from photos I take then having to research it. However, wasps are so hard to get a close look at, let alone a decent photo! Except for this awesome one right here! At first I though Blue Mud Dauber for sure but on closer inspection I think this is actually a Great Black Wasp, Sphex pensylvanicus or maybe a Steel Blue Cricket Hunter, Chlorion aerarium…Or even a Larropsis sp…. or possibly Tachysphex sp. !!! haha I guess I don’t know! According to bugguide, Cricket Hunters have oversize heads/eyes, and a hairless jet black body with blue shimmer. I’m not sure but I hope to get lots more wasp practice in the future! My confusion makes this necessity obvious!
This Gray Bird Grasshopper is quite pretty… I like that its legs look like they’re covered in fish scales on the sides. And check out the barbs on the back of its legs, I’m sure you’d get a nasty kick if you were a predator.
“What’s down there?”
See the green fangs? Jumping Spiders in the genus Phidippus are known for their shimmery green fangs.
Look at this little cutie I just found! I was on the phone with my sister and hung up on her because I was so excited to catch it! It’s a Red Backed Jumping Spider, Phidippus johnsoni or very closely related species. These little wandering predators are so fun to photograph! I got some cute ones to share!
