tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8300567524923980422011-07-10T18:53:22.981-07:00Ted Hoffmannoreply@blogger.comBlogger41100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830056752492398042.post-32672255530080919582008-10-20T14:29:00.000-07:002008-10-20T14:41:19.830-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPz4gV-aFOI/AAAAAAAABHQ/AJ90CuMvr-M/s1600-h/Regal+Jumping+Spider.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPz4gV-aFOI/AAAAAAAABHQ/AJ90CuMvr-M/s320/Regal+Jumping+Spider.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259351699400299746" /></a><br /><br />My best guess is that this is the <span style="font-style:italic;">Phidippus regius</span>, also known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phidippus_regius">Regal Jumping spider</a>. I saw it running around on my porch window; the bug people come on Wednesday, so his days on Earth may be numbered.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/830056752492398042-3267225553008091958?l=tedintexas.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ted Hoffmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830056752492398042.post-32463963888606505662008-10-13T13:23:00.000-07:002008-10-13T13:33:34.193-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPOuqTDcvRI/AAAAAAAAA4k/CPYiKECNzX4/s1600-h/Praying+Mantis.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPOuqTDcvRI/AAAAAAAAA4k/CPYiKECNzX4/s320/Praying+Mantis.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256737231763979538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPOugOMH0RI/AAAAAAAAA4c/VaicXv0sonI/s1600-h/Another+Mantis.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPOugOMH0RI/AAAAAAAAA4c/VaicXv0sonI/s320/Another+Mantis.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256737058659488018" /></a><br /><br />For the time being I have settled into an uneasy truce with the variety of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_mantis">Mantis</a> that have made home in my garden.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/830056752492398042-3246396388860650566?l=tedintexas.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ted Hoffmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830056752492398042.post-52937338109245129202008-10-12T17:08:00.000-07:002008-10-13T13:34:07.974-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPKRwrjG57I/AAAAAAAAA4U/aNq_aeUC6To/s1600-h/Armadillo.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Fszy-ULEMZw/SPKRwrjG57I/AAAAAAAAA4U/aNq_aeUC6To/s320/Armadillo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256423980604516274" /></a><br /><br />A neighbour alerted me that the armadillo featured in the above picture was in my garden. <br /><br />According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillo">wikipedia</a><br /><blockquote>Armadillos have short legs but can move quite quickly, and have the ability to remain underwater for as long as six minutes. Because of the density of its armor, an armadillo will sink in water unless it inflates its stomach with air, which often doubles its size and allows it to swim across narrow bodies of water.[3]</blockquote><br /><br />Though this sounds fantastic, I followed the referenced link, and it seems to check out.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/830056752492398042-5293733810924512920?l=tedintexas.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ted Hoffmannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830056752492398042.post-4170972139219185352008-07-29T20:31:00.001-07:002008-10-02T12:29:49.454-07:00.... at least in my experience, and I am not entirely sure why.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/830056752492398042-417097213921918535?l=tedintexas.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ted Hoffmannoreply@blogger.com0