[gardeners] Of bees and spiders
Janni (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 09 Aug 2001 13:03:57 -0500
Little background here first. When I first moved to MO from CA, I found a
whole new world of creepy crawlies. And I did a ton of research on those I
came in contact with on a daily basis. I also started working for the
Missouri Dept of Conservation, where I did MORE research so I could answer
the publics' questions re: 6 and 8 legged bugs. So I do know a lot about
them. But I would never say I know all there is to know! Now I need to
further my bug education.
There are these tiny, tiny bees that harvest pollen from our Coneflowers
and Thistles. They pack that pollen on their hind legs. What are they?
The spider, and let it be known, this is my specialty. LOL I know the
spider is just your typical garden spider, but his actions are nothing I
have ever seen. The first encounter with him, Ed ran into his web at the
end of the front porch. It was streched from a little oak to somewhere.
This happened three or four times. Then we noticed that he built his web
high enough up so our early morning outings would not disturb his web. (We
leave here while it is still dark) When I come home, just before sunrise,
the spider and the web are gone. Only to be back that night. Anyone know
what he does with his web? Somehow he destroys it. We thought at first it
was one of the birds that visit our feeders, running into it. Not the case,
as it happens every day without fail.
Janni, an inquiring mind