... these colorful bugs ...
... were active in the evening ... never saw them before sunset.
They were running around on the upper surfaces of the leaves, it looked like they are after something ... and when I took a better look through the macro lens ...
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... I noticed that they are feeding on minuscule mites and scale insect crawlers.
This rounded black bug ended up in the web. Must have been some old, abandoned trap, because I saw no spider around ... so I set the bug free.
Jumping spiders were exploring the branches.
There was always something going on here ...
... and I saw a nice little collection of beetles ...
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... this one ad example ... that I don't know anything about.
Then there were some Rhagonycha fulva ... they are very common and widespread in the area, you can see them in almost every kind of habitat, from woods to the garden.
This pollen eaters, Oedemera nobilis beetles were also present when the tree was in bloom.
These minuscule half - spheres were the most beautiful inhabitants of the Citrus universe.
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These are the Flea beetles Sphaeroderma testaceum ... and their shape, color and semi translucent look is very decorative. It's like some fine jewelry made of amber. These beetles are very small ... but the one on the following photograph ...
... is even smaller ... here you can see it walking on the edge of the leaf ... with details of my finger as the background.
The aphids ...
... and Psyllids abounded ...
... and the Scale insects were also always present ...
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... so there was plenty of cool shooting opportunities involving them ... and the ants.
Here you can see a group of ants ...
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... running around one single aphid ... on the lower surface of the leaf ... there were five ants but only maximum two at time ended up on the shot because the picture wouldn't be enough macro with all of them present in the frame.
The ant's shepherding work continued for a while ...
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... so I took quite a few shots ...
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... crouched under one of the lower branches ... in a very uncomfortable yoga - like position.
Here is the larva of the minuscule Lady beetle Scymnus nigrinus ...
... exploring some empty aphid's exoskeletons ...
... while the ant is exploring the larva. It seems that the ants aren't a good protection from these predators ... I never saw them attacking the larvae.
Here the larva is attacking a large herd of pinky aphids.
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I saw quite few of these caterpillars hanging around ...
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... maybe they will become this kind of moth ... a species that was regularly present on the tree ... maybe ... I don't know.
Here is another very common shiny fly ...
... and here, the very common Dock bug passing by.
Planthoppers and Froghoppers were also regularly appearing from some hideouts in the foliage ... this is the Issus lauri planthopper.
this is the Aphrophora alni Froghopper ... and on the following photograph ...
... is some minuscule green species.
This wasp is also very small ... there are many insects around, especially among the minuscule ones, that I do not know anything about ... this is also one of them.
And now ...
... with the Earwig resting hidden among the leaves ...
... and the closing shot of the setting - the small Tangerine tree ... is time to end this series of posts ... as always here on HIVE, all the photographs are my work ... THE END.
The person looking out the window in the last photo is probably yelling "get out of my citrus garden, what are you doing in there anyway?!"
I love the little plant hoppers.
:D
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So go ahead very educational and instructive about what nature is :-)
I urgently need a powerful camera to shoot this amazing world of insects!) So many elusive things in everyday life ... And the aliens, in fact, they are under our feet)
Just when I think you've found them all you show us new and exciting insects and arthropods on your little tree! For a second I thought the first one was a tree cricket. That wasp is probably a parasite looking for caterpillars to lay eggs on. I like how you let nature take its course. I would've removed the scales. But at least the aphids have natural predators.
True ... aphid steal some fluid plant material and then sustain other predatory species and the life on the tree gets rich and varied ... and at the end I get some fruits too ... maybe not the maximum but quite enough.
OMG!!! I am going to post the very colorful grass hopped I took a photo of the other day
Spectacular insect :) Just saw your post.
Thanks :) Yes you can use them for free. All the people from HIVE can.