What is Slugyard?

Slugyard is a window to the world around you. Most of these photos were taken from in or around my yard. I hope they encourage you and your family to pay more attention to the world outside your door.

NORTHWEST NATURE BLOGS

OTHER NATURE BLOGS

Cross Spider Cuts Boxelder Bug Loose

By Mike, on May 30th, 2011
Boxelder Bug on Rose

“Dad, hurry up!” That is a sentence I hear a lot around my house. Luckily, this time my son was calling me outside to look at something. I asked what was going on and he said “A Cross Spider has a Boxelder Bug caught in its web!” Not bad for an 8-year old, huh?

. . . → Read More and See Photos: Cross Spider Cuts Boxelder Bug Loose

5 comments   Insects, Spiders   ,  

As the Insects Flourish, So Do the Cross Spiders

By Mike, on April 20th, 2011
Cross Spider

Now that we are starting to see some insects in the yard, the Cross Spiders have returned. These spiders are not native but pretty soon they will be everywhere. They spin large orb webs between trees and plants and wait in the middle of the web for an insect to fly into it.

. . . → Read More and See Photos: As the Insects Flourish, So Do the Cross Spiders

3 comments   Spiders   ,  

Really a Bug

By Mike, on December 10th, 2010
Cross Spider

This bug was hanging on just outside of my front door. In this case, it really IS a bug. Confused? Even though people usually call any insect a bug, there is a certain group of insects that are actually known as “true bugs”. Stink bugs, squash bugs, and leaf-footed bugs are just a few . . . → Read More and See Photos: Really a Bug

4 comments   Insects, Spiders   , ,  

Rush in the Sky

By Mike, on November 11th, 2010
Cross Spider

I noticed these nice cloud patterns over our patio pond this week. The rush spikes still have their seed heads. Hold on though- one of them looks a little strange.

Another Cross Spider! They are everywhere. This is just above the spot that was in my last post where a Cross Spider didn’t . . . → Read More and See Photos: Rush in the Sky

6 comments   Plants, Spiders   ,  

Cross Spider All Wet

By Mike, on November 9th, 2010
Cross Spider in Pond

With the weather changing, I’ve noticed a lot less Cross Spiders and their webs recently. This large one was still around but unfortunately fell into my patio pond. It was probably a female due to its size (males are smaller).

Related posts:Cross Spiders are harmlessCross Spider Gets a MealCross Spider Cuts Boxelder Bug . . . → Read More and See Photos: Cross Spider All Wet

9 comments   Spiders    

Cross Spiders Are Everywhere

By Mike, on September 29th, 2010
cross spider

Over the past few weeks I have noticed a lot of cross spiders. They seem to be everywhere.

I walk into webs when I leave the house in the morning, and if I wander anywhere off the beaten path around the yard I also get a face full of web. I’ve talked to . . . → Read More and See Photos: Cross Spiders Are Everywhere

5 comments   Spiders   ,  

Cross Spider Gets a Meal

By Mike, on August 7th, 2010
cross spider and bee

In another post, I talked about how cross spiders are harmless. Of course, I meant to humans. Clearly in this photo we can see that they aren’t so friendly to honey bees. This bee was likely out searching for nectar and pollen when it flew into the spider’s web. The spider started to wrap . . . → Read More and See Photos: Cross Spider Gets a Meal

11 comments   Insects, Spiders   , ,  

Cross Spiders are harmless

By Mike, on July 11th, 2010
cross spider

This is a Cross Spider or Cross Orbweaver, otherwise known as a European Garden Spider. It gets its name from the white cross shape on its abdomen. Do you see it in the picture? The Cross Spider sits in its orb web until something it can eat flies into it. This one is either . . . → Read More and See Photos: Cross Spiders are harmless

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