Spiders and Butterflies

We've had some crazy looking spiders in the front yard!  If you are squirmy of spiders, you should probably skip this post. :-)

The first spider I spotted was this green one... and it is HUGE!  I have never seen a spider like this one before:

We believe this is the Green Lynx spider.  It is scary yet beautiful at the same time.  I'm not sure how that is possible, but it is.  Here are some interesting facts about the Peucetia viridans:

-  This is a hunting spider that moves around and waits for its prey, so it does not actually construct a web

-  The mother spider can squirt venom from its fang-like appendages from a distance of about 1 foot.  YIKES!!!  I wish we knew that before we got so close to take photos.

- The species name viridans means "becoming green".

The following week, Charlie spotted this white-colored spider.  I actually notice the dead bee that was upside down and totally missed the spider!

Here's another look at the same spider the following day.  Looks like it finished up his "meal" and was waiting to catch another bee.  There was almost actually a "National Geographic" moment as I was squatting there to take its photo.  A bee came buzzing along that flower stalk and the spider almost caught it!

We believe this one is called the Flower Spider Crab spider.  Assuming that is the correct type, these (female) spiders are actually able to change the color of its body to match its surroundings.  And just like the Green Lynx spider, the Spider Crab spider does not spin webs and instead, just ambush their prey (hence that almost "National Geographic" moment!).

It's nice to have these spiders in the yard as they are great for eating up pests, but at the same time - these spiders have learnt that there are lots of bees on these flowers.  So there's plenty of food for them! But my poor bees!!! :-(

Okay, that's enough about the spiders.  Let's move along to a nice butterfly instead.  I noticed something fluttering about in the side yard and then I spotted this big yellow butterfly.  So pretty!

It was a bit tricky to get a good photo, but eventually did get some good ones. I've never seen this butterfly before in the yard, so it was a nice surprise:

I'm checking online now and looks like this butterfly is the Western Tiger Swallowtail.  You can see the "tails" on the hindwings, especially in this picture taken below:

The milkweed plant in the backyard is struggling a bit but hopefully we will see more Monarch butterflies.  Supposedly they migrate back to California in late October.  Fingers crossed!