Category Archives: Insects

Silver Argiope Spider

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I'm not one for spiders but this one just begged to be photographed.

I'm not one for spiders but this one just begged to be photographed.

Spiders are not my favourites I must admit but the Silver Argiope Spider is such a colourful spider with an interesting web. They weave a distinctive zigzag pattern within their web and makes them easy to identify. There may be as many as four stabilimenta in a web forming an X and it seems to make the spider larger with leg extensions.

White , yellow and stripes of this unique looking spider

White , yellow and stripes of this unique looking spider

The total length of the female Silver Argiope measures up to 12mm. It has a silvery carapace and the abdomen is silver with a pair of darker longitudinal bands.

The underside of the Silver Argiope spider as it spins its web.

The underside of the Silver Argiope spider as it spins its web.

See the smaller spider? I think that's the male.

See the smaller spider? I think that's the male.

This one went crazy spinning his web!

This one went crazy spinning his web!

This spider is one of nature’s many pest control agents so I guess we’ll just let them be even though I don’t really care for them!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Starfish Flower

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This has to be one of the most unique and strange looking flowers I've ever seen.

This has to be one of the most unique and strange looking flowers I've ever seen.

I’m not sure where I got a cutting for this cactus like plant and was amazed one day to see a spectacular flower appear. It is called Stapelia Gigantea or Starfish Flower.

The starfish-shaped flower of the Stapelia Gigantea is a subdued yellow covered by miniature purple hairs.

The starfish-shaped flower of the Stapelia Gigantea is a subdued yellow covered by miniature purple hairs.

The flowers can be 10 to 16 inches across and are fleshy and shaped like five pointed stars. The interesting thing about this plant is the way pollination occurs.

The center of the flower is fleshy and exudes a horrid smell!!

The center of the flower is fleshy and exudes a horrid smell!!

The flowers are known for their foul smell which resembles the odour of rotting meat. The fine hairs, colouration and surface mimic decaying animal matter and attract mostly flies, which act as pollinators.  Before I knew the name of this plant, I called it the “shit” plant but it is also known as Carrion or Toad plant.

Stapelia Gigantea blooming at Harbour Club Villas

Stapelia Gigantea blooming at Harbour Club Villas

This Starfish Flower grows well in direct sunlight and has an interesting bud shape which opens to show a beautiful star like flower with tapering ends.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pretty Spider’s Web

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Liquid sunshine pearl drops on a spider's web taken one afternoon that I found irresistable for a photo.

Liquid sunshine pearl drops on a spider's web taken one afternoon that I found irresistable for a photo.

I’m not a big fan of spiders at any time but when I came across a spider’s web dotted with drops of rain after one of our brief rain showers, I couldn’t resist trying to get some photos.

It was fascinating the way the silvery drops hung delicately off the silken strands of the web

It was fascinating the way the silvery drops hung delicately off the silken strands of the web

The spider's web with strands of liquid pearls stood out from the backdrop of one of my fushia coloured bouganvillea.

The spider's web with strands of liquid pearls stood out from the backdrop of one of my fushia coloured bouganvillea.

 The gardens here at Harbour Club Villas always present something interesting or new for me to photograph. Yesterday for example, I couldn’t get a photo of a baby dove that was trying to fly. It was in our wild area hidden somewhat by the bush. Never mind……..there’s always shots that are missed but something else always comes along to take its place.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pirate’s Cave at Osprey Rock

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Beautiful spider's web catches the light at the pirate's cave at Osprey Rock.

Beautiful spider's web catches the light at the pirate's cave at Osprey Rock.

We headed out early today towards Osprey Rock as we knew it would be sheltered a little from the wind. We anchored the boat just off the pirate’s cave and since I hadn’t been up ontop of the bluff for a while, I decided to climb up the ladder to get some photos. Just inside the cave were some beautiful spiders’ webs.

Spider's web with the ladder in the background to climb up ontop of the bluff.

Spider's web with the ladder in the background to climb up ontop of the bluff.

What a view from the top as the water was a little churned up and showed off that amazing turquoise colour.

 

I took a photo of the boat anchored below me just off the cave

I took a photo of the boat anchored below me just off the cave

 

This beautiful ground cover with little white flowers was growing out of a small pocket of dirt in the rocks

This beautiful ground cover with little white flowers was growing out of a small pocket of dirt in the rocks

We were in about two feet of water so it was easy to wade back to the boat

We were in about two feet of water so it was easy to wade back to the boat

Malaika is just starting to walk and loves playing in the sand.

Malaika is just starting to walk and loves playing in the sand.

Here she is on the beach at South West Bluff close to Osprey Rock

Here she is on the beach at South West Bluff close to Osprey Rock

Make sure you have a rental vehicle ( Scooter and Amos at Scooter Bob’s will be happy to help you out) and then you can explore the whole island which is full of unique and wonderful more remote places to see.

See you there!!

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bouganvillea and Praying Mantis

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I'm sure I spent over an hour taking photos of this Praying Mantis on a bouganvillea.

I'm sure I spent over an hour taking photos of this Praying Mantis on a bouganvillea.

Here's a close up of the praying mantis and the white flower of the bouganvillea.

Here's a close up of the praying mantis and the white flower of the bouganvillea.

Bouganvillea comes in such a variety of colours and the deep pink or fushia is one of my favourites.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sea Purslane

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A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower

A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower

Sea Purslane grows abundantly in salty and dry habitats such as on the tiny cays just out from Harbour Club Villas and Marina. We decided to explore one day and stopped on a little cay with a spectacular view of the Five Cays shoreline.

View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced

View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced

We spotted some Rock Iguanas but they scurried away quickly as we approached. I did manage to get a photos of one though!

This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer

This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer

On one of the slopes of this little cay, a carpet of sea purslane cascaded over the rocks. Some had star shaped pink flowers that bloom throughout the year.

Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay

Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay

Sea Purslane is a succulent herb that makes for a great ground cover. It grows along beaches and along the edges of salinas and has smooth, fleshy leaves. The leaves are edible and have a salty taste. I’ll have to find out if iguanas eat the leaves as this island seemed pretty limited in the way of food. 

Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders

Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders

What a great plant and useful for so many things!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Orchid and Praying Mantis

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orchid and praying mantis

What a find.......a praying mantis on one of our wild orchids

I was trying to get some good photos of one of our island’s orchids and came across a praying mantis that was hiding in the petals. This orchid is found almost everywhere at this time of year and is known as Encyclia altissima (formerly known as Encyclia hodgeana). When in bloom, the flower sepals are greenish-yellow with brownish-red striping and the petals are yellowish-red with accents of purple. We have at least four different species that are found here and there’s pretty much one of them flowering for every season of the year.

Great camouflage..........It looked like a green twig until it moved!

Great camouflage..........It looked like a green twig until it moved!

The praying mantis is named for its front legs which are bent and held together at an angle that looks like it is praying.   These insects are quite the predator. They have triangular heads which can turn 180 degrees to search their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. Anyway, I was fascinated and spent a while taking photos.

Marta

www.harbourclubvillas.com