Taiwanese Stinging Ants

During my trek into the depths of Taroko National Park, I ran into some intimidating ants. Figuratively, not literally…thankfully! These ants build their nests around sturdy tree branches, suspended several feet above the ground. Some are almost head level, making a surprise encounter all the more surprising!

When disturbed, the ants quickly swarm and surround the outside of the nest to protect it from any offenders. Their stingers are held proud, thrust into the air, daring anyone or anything to disturb the nest again. At the same time, a slew ants begin dropping out of the gaping main entrance at the bottom of the nest to launch a second line of defense — one in trees around the nest and one on the ground in the leaves.

The moral of the story is: Ants are cool! When they’re on your face…

Orchids Abloom

After 18 months of care and a warm early spring, my small orchids finally bloomed. I added a microUSB connector for scale :D

Gem in the Rough

Classy lady buggin’ this innocent pine cone.

Yellow White Purple and Green

Not all colors of the rainbow are required for beauty. With only a certain few in a certain arrangement, it’s enough.

Big Big Spider

I found a big spider. Almost walked into it…

It was dark and rainy and I was returning to my guesthouse in rural Nikko, Japan. I decided to take the lesser-used rear entrance atop a dimly lit spiral staircase. Because, you know, for convenience. Little did I know, at the top of the stairs, the spider had strategically spun its web. It was high above the ground where it wouldn’t be disturbed, but close enough to the door light acting as a homing beacon for insects.

Coincidentally, what saved me was the spider’s size. Its abdomen was about as big as my big toe, large enough to catch my eye, even in the darkness. The wind’s breeze gave its web a gentle pulse, allowing me to spot its dark mass swaying in the corner of my eye. I abruptly stopped to let my brain process what exactly I was looking at in the darkness, then crouched under its giant web and continued on my way. Crisis: averted.

I came back in the morning to take a photo and watch it sit gloriously upon its silky throne. Do you know what type of spider it is?