Leaf-cutter bee

leaf cutter bee

 Today morning, while watering my plants, I spotted a bee on the periwinkle flower. It plucked a petal and took off. I was astonished! After a few minutes, it returned and this time started chopping a leaf from the butterfly pea plant, and took off with it like it was a magical carpet from Arabia. This was weird! I googled it and found out that it is the leaf-cutter bee. 

Leaf-cutter bees make their nests in holes of trees or rotting wood. It is monsoon so probably it had made its nest in some rotting piece of wood. They are very crafty. The bees roll the leaves and fill the holes where they lay their eggs. 

The bee visited my balcony for 3 days non stop- tearing a leaf and returning after 4-5 minutes. I was inspired by its hard-work. I must say though- it made a mess with those cuttings. 

Gemstone Jumping spider

Blue Jumping Spider

Almost every time I visit the balcony, I find something new. Today I spotted a shiny insect on my night-blooming jasmine(Raat Raani). It was a jumping spider! This time in a peculiar shade. It had had striking patterns on it- Shiny blue with black stripes and white legs. It was a bit more slender compare to other Jumping spiders I have seen. It is not called "Gemstone" Jumping spider. But because of the mixed colors and luster, it looks like a gemstone. 

I put it on the floor with the leaf to observe it under the eyepiece. It was more aggressive and active than the usual jumping spiders. But all of them have one thing in common: they all move their fangs the same way and dart at my eyepiece. Of course, they would; it is so intimidating for them.

Jumping spider darts at the eyepiece

When I put it back on the night-blooming jasmine leaves, it clamped down on pests--white flies.

White flies(Trialeurodes vaporariorum)are tiny 1 mm long flies that dwell under the leaves. They feed on the sap of the leaves, draining out the nutrients. Nature takes care of itself; this time, with the spider.

Jumping spider eats white flies.

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