Teenager discards broken eyeshadow container without a second thought at prairie picnic area, where I find the next morning the tiniest of tiny winged things, stuck in the sticky stuff, feet up. It's so very little and I worry while I shakily put a thin reed next to his legs. He grasps but cannot pull out of the goo. Long story short, I did succeed and put him on a clean leaf, but who knows if he will survive with eyeshadow still on his wings? A possible death simply because a stupid girl cannot walk ten steps to the garbage pail.
Getting in my car one morning, something flutters in a diagonal line in front of my face---a captive mosquito or moth? No, it's The Fantastic Flying Green Spider! Not quite sure how she does it, but there she was, as delicate as a butterfly, as nimble and accurate as a trapeze artist, fluttering past my ear and landing upon my steering wheel. What a delight. I spoke to her, saying she must be still, then climb upon my offered piece of blue paper or be forever lost within the confines of my car...she did so, walking casually, and remained still until I pulled over and showed her a leafy new home. Okay, okay, I will admit I might not have been so charmed had it been a much larger variety and landed in my hair ;)
I hope our local famous naturalist does not mind my posting his marvelous homage:
A Nod to the Crawlies
If you ever find yourself wondering where all the wildlife is, I suggest you make a change - not in location, but in your mindset. Instead of looking for animals you hope to see, take a moment to consider the amazing little critters that are always close at hand, buzzing your head, crawling up your pant leg or merely hitching a ride on the front of your boat. With the help of a good insect field guide (preferably one which describes behaviors and life cycles, not just identification) your exploration will take on a new dimension.
Every month of the year, and on every river we explore, the alert paddler will see; dragonflies and damselflies redefining flight, often in tandem as the male clasps the females neck, flying her around until they mate and sometimes hovering low over the water while she deposits eggs in the water; whirligig beetles, whose two sets of eyes allow them to seek prey underwater, while watching the skies for predators, fishing spiders that dangle a leg in the water to detect passing fish upon which to pounce.
But a word of caution. Once you've gained an appreciation for your creepy-crawly brethren, you'll be the slowest roach stomper and fly swatter in your home.
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