June 11, 2010 – That’s Not Pollen
Tiny Red Spiders
Friday, June 11, 2010
http://www.davefry.net/rate/index.php?viewimage=1558
When I decided that it would be worth my while to crouch on my knees all the way down there on the ground to take this picture, I thought I was looking at a tiny white flower with little bits of red pollen on it. It wasn’t until I actually looked through the lens that I realized that the little red bits of pollen were MOVING. That was pretty creepy. Then, it wasn’t until even later than that, when I was looking at the images on the big screen back at home, that I realized that those aren’t little red insects, they’re actually little red SPIDERS. I mean, wow, that’s straight up freaky right there.
Just thought I’d share…
Notes: Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens with Opteka macro extension tubes. 1/160s, f/18.0, ISO 100.
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They look like red spider mites although possibly could be a whirlgig mites. Hard to tell from the photo. Both still in the class of arachnids but not spiders.
Clearly your knowledge of entomology is vastly superior to mine.. I was proud of myself for just counting the legs and knowing it wasn’t an “insect”.
Lot’s of crawling around looking for creepy crawlies in my photography career.
I love it!
You did a really great job of capturing the beautifully creepy in this shot!
Just found your blog and I LOVE this photo! I’m enjoying all the NW ones too.
Thanks guys!! I definitely appreciate the kind words.
Wow, those little things are creepy but amazing – what a wonderful capture!
new fav
Scary spiders at that. Bloody red and heck, I never thought there’s such spiders that color, yuck..
That’s freaky alright… but they’re pretty much harmless. These red spider mites have no venom and only eats plants. They thrive in hot and dry environments and reproduce quickly, that’s why you probably saw a handful of them on this flower. It’s amazing you were able to capture them on a background of white. Great contrast!
Just be careful the next time you crouch on the ground to take a photo, you might just disturb an army of fire ants and that’s not going to be pretty!
I can’t believe anything alive is that small and really does look like pollen!