Here’s video of Phidippus adumbrata jumping spiders mating.

The male has two primary concerns: he wants to mate, but he doesn’t want to get eaten. His elaborate dance is not only gauging interest, but possibly also determining his risk level in approaching the female.

Jumping spiders, in general, are very visually-oriented creatures. They have excellent vision in color. According to some studies, the arm-waving behavior is not purely visual, however, but also vibrational, and the dance differs if the male is approaching the female in her nest or out in the open.

Anyway, spoiler alert, this male succeeded in mating and avoided being eaten (at least for the time being).

It’s Springtime in the Quagg Garden, and several hummingbirds have declared it their own exclusive territory. When I take my lunch, I am greeted by spectacular aerial displays: both mating rituals and territorial defense. Less dramatic and yet equally (sonically) expressive, the mocking birds seem to be nesting nearby. Plenty of finches and bushtits and crows come by too.

We have a new resident, though he’ll probably move on along soon enough.

This monarch caterpillar takes advantage of the hot weather to make a late-November start.