Common

When do the things we see become common? Are they common because we see them everyday? Hopefully the familiar will continue to awe us all!

For example, on the past outings to the grasslands in recent months, this critter, the Green Lacewing larva keeps showing up on my radar. Such a tiny and bizarre looking creature. So is it common? In fact, I do see it more often these days, but maybe because I keep eye out for it. I hope I continue to find them.

A side view of the above larva. So I would love to raise one. However, the larvae, called “aphid lions”, are extremely carnivorous and predaceous on many soft-bodied insects and mites, including insect eggs, thrips, mealybugs, immature whiteflies and small caterpillars. Larvae have sickle-shaped jaws that contain tubes with which they can inject prey with a paralyzing venom and then suck out the body fluids. They can consume over 200 aphids or other prey per week. Certainly, seems a bit more than I am willing to do at this time. 😉

Another beautiful shelf fungus! We see them all the time.

Just a casual glance, but wait this almost seems to be dripping down like melting candle wax. Awesome!

A cicada exuvia is a frequent sight. However, for some strange reason I am drawn to them over and over.

Mushrooms have a similar effect on me. The hairy top and scalloped edges were cool. It just seemed to be different.

Twisted vines are not uncommon sight.

When do you get tire of finding another vertebra? Certainly I have not reached that point. And it seems to be looking back. LOL

Just more familiar roots, yet this one drew me in.

Who can not be drawn in each time you see a magnificent Red Oak!

Common is not a bad thing. Just take the time to be in awe of nature’s “common” beauty. And you sometimes will be surprised. Indeed, I can’t get enough it seems.

Fireworks and Birds: The Hidden Costs of Celebration

It may look like a horror movie scene, but this eerie video shows plants ‘breathing’ in close-up detail

Keep looking!

The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know

8 Comments

  1. Totally agree. These things bring a sense of awe even when I have seen them over and over.
    The front of the three mushrooms with the scalloped edges is especially pretty.
    My first thought on the shelf fungi was that they looked like they were melting down the trunk into each other. That is really cool.
    And I bet your watchful eye is just more in tune with those camouflaged green lacewing larva. It is like when I was a kid and my dad would always tell me to “look for dear” when we drove out in the pasture at our lease. My eye did develop the ability to see them which later went to my noticing many other things in nature. We become tuned into those things. I think it is wonderful that you find us such special things to see on this blog.

  2. What a great view Kathy. And Mary sees so many things i walk right by. I love the lacewing larva and that scalloped mushroom is really pretty and yes thanks Mary for the fun your blog brings.

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