Mutualism is when both organisms benefit from hanging out together. Thus, I get something and you get something too. It is pretty cool to see in action!
Alan found these Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) swarming. Photo by Alan.
Then we noticed some other critters on the same plant. Little nymphs that were about the same size as an aphid.
Isn’t this the coolest critter you have ever seen? The Typical Treehopper (Entylia carinata)! So the nymphs and at least one adult were clustered on the plant. The adults will sometimes tend to the nymphs. And apparently ants will fend off predators and/or parasites and collect sugary fluid by the hoppers. ( Source: BugGuide). Therefore, this is mutualism in action!
Alan gets the star for finding the spiders that day! This one photographed by Alan is the American Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira).Look at all the babies on this Wolf Spider! According to BugGuide there are over 240 species north of Mexico. Wow!
I too look for babies on the wolf spiders. I posted one on iNaturalist and was never identified beyond genus. Now I know why, 240!
I think that nymph picture would make a great Halloween costume. That is so weird it is cool.
Leafhopper looks prehistoric. I love to find wolf spiders with babies. Good show Alan.
I too look for babies on the wolf spiders. I posted one on iNaturalist and was never identified beyond genus. Now I know why, 240!
I think that nymph picture would make a great Halloween costume. That is so weird it is cool.
It always special to see the babies! And yes that is a lot of species.
Wow I’ve never seen one of those treehoppers!!!!
Some day we should do hike there. Do you think it would still be there 😂😂