New Spider

This is a very interesting looking spider!

It is a white spotted jumping spider, a.k.a. Phippus Audax.  They are not poisonous, but they do bite is they feel intimidated.

They are also called Daring Jumping Spider because it's prey consists of insects much larger than it, including the black widow!

~Emma

Leaf Footed Bug

There has been a large, leaf-like, bug flying around our house this summer and I have been wondering what it was.

I looked it up and saw that it was a "leaf-footed bug".

I read that when threatened, they release a strong oder, kind of like a stink bug.

When threatened by other leaf-footed bugs, they can either fight them off or fly away at first sign of danger.  They also make a really loud sound when they are flying to sound scary.  They eat leaves, too, so you don't want them in your garden.  They live mostly in the southern states, but range mostly across North America.

~Emma