We were cleaning the pool today. No we have not gotten in because the water is starting to get a little cooler. Now if we put that solar liner on there we might get a few more dips in the pool before we shut it down. Anyway, we were getting those leaves out and look what else we got out. It's a Black-and-yellow Mud Dauber. It looks like part of one of it's wing is torn off so I took the opportunity to get our handy jar to get it for closer inspection. Of course I finished cleaning the pool first but then brought our jar in to take a close look. Then I took it out again and let it out. It walked over to the top and I took as many pictures as I could. It's it amazing what creatures we find in our own back yards? Well, ok, in our pools.
In the book under the section Life Cycles it says in part, "Using its mandibles, female shapes small masses of moist mud into balls and makes joined tubular cells. Into each cell female stuffs 1 paralyzed spider, immobilized by venom, then lays 1 egg on the spider and closes the cell with mud." I don't think I would like to be that spider.
I heard from the boys, "Oh, wow!" I think that sums it up.
1 comment:
How cool! I haven't seen any mud daubers in my pool... or yard for that matter. :-) I think we might start inspecting the pool more often for critters!
And what is the book "Life Cycles" that you mentioned? Is it something you really enjoy?
Thanks! Dana
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