# Today in nature I saw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854 "2020-07-20T18:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 49
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/962 "2021-09-20T18:01:10Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Coral snakes are near the top of my list of NA critters that I’ve never seen but would like to. Thankfully they are really inoffensive, have very small mouths and deliver very small doses of (admittedly potent) venom. I watched a YouTube video of a lab that houses dozens of coral snakes. They collect venom from the snakes for the production of antivenin. Pretty cool job. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/963 "2021-09-22T11:36:10Z")
Today in nature I saw… some really funky looking clouds. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/t7eKQGOHSoeb58u0Tz9nxSFanPtbaq5OhCooSPQc8yw1B6OPfg-HeUvUQE3_MR7QER8Mwmaos9zMYkfX3Un6tEtv8-TzcKrMWI7pzA1d_8mczPLolPQTuXvz__5B_rbxbkOAGCsLMg=w600-h315-p-k "New item by j") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/kZmHQUrJT7TQkMb57) Do we have a cloudologist on board? I’d love to know what was going on here. j ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/964 "2021-09-22T15:18:17Z")
The sunset was amazing last night. These clouds remind me of a painting. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/3zlzPEw.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/3zlzPEw) Looks like fire in the sky. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/fNsRYwn.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/fNsRYwn) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/965 "2021-09-22T20:12:41Z")
I think those are dandelion seeds? Are you anywhere near a nuclear reactor? ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/966 "2021-09-22T20:19:47Z")
Uhh… I don’t understand the question. Well, assuming dandelion seeds and nuclear reactor go together in some way I need you to explain. The simple answer to the question is about 50 miles. j ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/967 "2021-09-22T20:29:46Z")
The clouds look like fuzzy dandelions. A nuclear incident would explain them being that large. My take, not putting words in op’s mouth! ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/968 "2021-09-22T20:32:27Z")
Ah. Now I feel somewhat dumb. I was thinking mushroom clouds, dandelion seeds - uhh… j ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/969 "2021-09-22T23:15:41Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > I’d love to know what was going on here. It looks like the clouds encountered a pocket of quickly rising air and went for a ride. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/970 "2021-09-23T12:58:51Z")
Colorful bug in the front yard yesterday [![](https://i.imgur.com/icX7Iuo.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/icX7Iuo.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/971 "2021-09-23T13:24:10Z")
I don’t know what it is, but it reminded me, there was a lady on the local news the other day talking about [vinegaroons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelyphonida). I had a nightmare about it. 😬 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/972 "2021-09-23T14:25:30Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > Colorful bug in the front yard yesterday I wanna say assassin bug nymph, perhaps? There’s a lot of variety: > **[Developing a clearer picture of how assassin bugs evolved](https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2012/10/25/developing-clearer-picture-how-assassin-bugs-evolved)** > > UC Riverside entomologists reconstruct the evolutionary history of assassin bugs; new work fine-tunes the Tree of Life > **[Assassin bug nymphs?](https://bugguide.net/node/view/1265887/bgimage)** > > An online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/973 "2021-09-24T03:05:03Z")
Definitely a “true bug” nymph. From the white dots it looks to be a milkweed assassin bug. > **[Milkweed Assassin Bug: nymph and adult - What's That Bug?](https://www.whatsthatbug.com/milkweed-assassin-bug-nymph-3/)** > > Orange Bug Sun, May 10, 2009 at 8:34 AMMany immature and adults seen on podocarpus in central Florida. This shrub has had a problem with aphids. The adults flew readily when approached. The immature just crawled around. Adults are about 3/4 inch... But lots of bug nymph look similar–for instance, the Leaf-footer Bug: [https://blogs.ext.vt.edu/ag-pest-advisory/leaf-footed-bugs-are-running-amuck-on-vegetables/](https://blogs.ext.vt.edu/ag-pest-advisory/leaf-footed-bugs-are-running-amuck-on-vegetables/) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/974 "2021-09-24T03:17:21Z")
I want to believe! [![](https://i.imgur.com/7u50KOK.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/7u50KOK.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/975 "2021-09-24T13:21:16Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > milkweed assassin bug. Thanks for the ID - it was on the milkweed plant ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/976 "2021-09-25T16:48:51Z")
I’ve been organizing photos lately and noticed how many different kinds of spiders I have photographed over the years (more than 45 species). There was one _weird_ looking spider that I had photographed more than 10 years ago framed in a wider shot with a Yellow Crab Spider. For some reason I didn’t try for a closer individual shot and the spider image was very small, but it was still enough for Google Lens to identify it as a Sylvan Jumping Spider (_Colonusus sylvanus_). Two nights ago I ran into another one and was able to get better specimen photos for my records. (This is the same spider in the out-of-focus "alien with UFO photo earlier. Here is my old photo: [![](https://i.imgur.com/qXhCC7t.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/qXhCC7t.jpeg) And here are new ones: [[Album] Sylvan Jumping Spider (Colonusus sylvanus) ![](https://i.imgur.com/IMyPvfK.jpeg?fb "Sylvan Jumping Spider (Colonusus sylvanus)") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/jrPt2gi) ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/977 "2021-09-26T00:49:36Z")
The Assassin Bug must have been female because now I have a bazillion little Assassin Bugs errr…at least… I assume they are Assassin Bugs: [![](https://i.imgur.com/oq1L1xr.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/oq1L1xr.jpg) Looks like they may sprout wings and fly away. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/978 "2021-09-26T00:54:48Z")
Egret in action, Coon Creek Beach, Montana de Oro State Park CA [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51516133637_ff3585856c_c.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51516133637_ff3585856c_c.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/979 "2021-09-26T00:56:16Z")
That is a really good photo. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/980 "2021-09-26T01:21:25Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > The Assassin Bug must have been female because now I have a bazillion little Assassin Bugs errr…at least… I assume they are Assassin Bugs: No, they’re assassin bug food 🙂. Those are mostly aphid nymphs sucking your plants dry. You can see a winged adult in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/981 "2021-09-26T01:27:29Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > assassin bug food Ah, needed enlightenment. Such a food source should attract predators. When they fly they’d be good dragonfly food. They sure showed up fast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=50)