Rotting Log = Critter Hotel

About 5 years ago we had to cut down an old Maple tree in our back yard. This tree was very old, upwards of 50 years. It was approximately 80 feet tall and 19 feet in circumference. I was devastated when it had to be removed. Afterwards we were left with a large stump that was almost completely hollow. It had about 8 inches of good wood all the way around and the rest was rotten. We created a huge flower bed around the stump and left it as a reminder of a tree that I loved so much. Over the past 5 years many creatures have used this stump as a home base. Mice scurry in and out of it. I've even found black rat snake coiled up inside the stump. Probably after the mice. Many insects and other arthropods like the 2 jumping spiders pictured (each a different species) and a tiny millipede, hide under the bark over winter. I even discovered a nest of termites complete with eggs today. I also found a tiny cocoon (pictured), it was barely 3/8 of an inch long. I have no clue what insect created it, but it sure was small. The stump is quickly decomposing and I am sure it won't be long and it will be a mere memory much like the giant maple that gave us shade for many years.

Late one evening last summer (August), my husband and I were looking for praying mantids in our yard instead we came across many orb weavers like the ones here. Seemed as if their webs were everywhere. Many of the webs contained a large female and a smaller male or males in some cases all vying for the females attention. The pair pictured here were quite taken with each other. Their mating dance went on for quite some time. He would run down the web towards her and some vigorous toe tapping would take place, then he would run away to the edge of the web only to return a few seconds later and repeat the process. In this picture you can see that he finally acccomplished his mission and managed to get away with his life as well.

Huge Wolf Spider

This huge spider was used for an educational program then released, I managed to get a few pictures of it before it disappeared behind some bark in a tree.