Maui vacation, part 5
Dec 28, 2018 10:45:24 #
This will be the last installment of pictures from my vacation in Maui last summer.
We can get right to what was the best find of the entire vacation – and also one of the coolest things I have ever photographed. I described last time how we spent the last part of the trip in the Hana area, which is dominated by tropical forests. Along a forest trail along the Hana highway I spotted a distinctive silhouette through a sun-lit leaf. It turned out to belong to the largest jumping spider that I had ever seen. Meet Ascyltyus pterygodes, which is easily the largest jumping spider on the Hawaiian islands and is one of the largest jumping spiders in the entire world! I estimate the length, including the outstretched legs, to be just under two inches. In Salticids, that is huge.
Giant Hawaiian jumping spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
I was completely astonished! I did my best to get good pictures, but it was so exciting that I was positively shaking. This is clearly a male, indicated by the over-sized chelicerae which some male jumpers have (although I am not sure why). Note too the broad ‘horns’ that widen its face. He sat there calmly at first, but he was a jumping spider and you know what that means. After a time he looked up at me, as they do, and began to move. In slow jerks, at first, and then in a determined run. He then leaped away and disappeared into the dense foliage. As they do. And that was that.
Giant Hawaiian jumping spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Here are some videos I found that give an idea of the size of this spider:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfIg8V-hY2E and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itoasN_tdjU
One day we visited the Hana Forest Preserve. This is a large area of tropical forest that covers much of the eastern half of the island. I wish we had more time there! At one point, some distance from a trail, I spotted several gulf fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae) flying around a patch of passion flowers which is their larval food plant. This species of butterfly is also found in the southwestern part of the mainland U.S., but it was the first I had seen them. I could only watch, forlornly, as the rules here for staying on the trails are very strict. But luck was with me because one of them broke from the flock and came over to land right on the trail. This picture was taken with my ancient 100-300mm telephoto lens, which has served me faithfully for the past couple years. I have since replaced it with my 100-400mm lens, and so this turned out to be the last picture taken with the older lens. I am working at selling the old lens, btw.
Gulf fritillary by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Also at this park I came across a large meadow katydid nymph eating a praying mantis ootheca. Many katydids have a taste for protein, and some species are in fact fairly predatory. As yet I have no idea what the species might be but it is probably safe to suggest it belongs to the genus Conocephalus.
Meadow katydid eating a mantis ootheca by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Back at our rental cottage by the sea, trails go down to the beach and along these trails were dozens of large millipedes, I think measuring about 4 inches long. These are called rusty millipedes (Trigoniulus corallinus). Native to islands in Asia, they have become very abundant on the Hawaiian islands and in the mainland U.S. They do not glow in the dark under UV light, alas. I made sure to check, of course.
Rusty millipede by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
On our last outing, we went to a beach area to let the boys play in the surf on boogie boards. For me, there were numerous ghost crabs in burrows well above the surf line. So I had fun lying prone on the sand, creeping up on these super-alert crabs to take pictures. I think this particular species of ghost crab is Ocypode pallidula.
Ghost crab by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
There was a near disaster, though. After some time I became aware of a rapidly approaching "surfy"-sound. I looked up to see a wall of water coming right at me. A rogue wave! I had barely enough time to sit up and hold the camera straight up over head before the wave hit and completely soaked me. The camera was ok! But the crab pictures were the end of my photography on Maui because it was time to go home. Late the next day I stepped back into our airport in Michigan, with sand still firmly embedded into the seams of my shoes.
And that is it! I close with a picture of a strange creature at the Hana cottage. The butterfly net (purchased at a local hardware store) was meant to be possibly useful but I never used it.
Home. The land of Small Leaves. It felt at first that things might be comparatively boring. But I resumed my visits to familiar parks and also to some new parks, and in no time the excitement of Maui was replaced by many exciting and new discoveries, all documented with the camera. There is still plenty to share!
We can get right to what was the best find of the entire vacation – and also one of the coolest things I have ever photographed. I described last time how we spent the last part of the trip in the Hana area, which is dominated by tropical forests. Along a forest trail along the Hana highway I spotted a distinctive silhouette through a sun-lit leaf. It turned out to belong to the largest jumping spider that I had ever seen. Meet Ascyltyus pterygodes, which is easily the largest jumping spider on the Hawaiian islands and is one of the largest jumping spiders in the entire world! I estimate the length, including the outstretched legs, to be just under two inches. In Salticids, that is huge.
Giant Hawaiian jumping spider by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrI was completely astonished! I did my best to get good pictures, but it was so exciting that I was positively shaking. This is clearly a male, indicated by the over-sized chelicerae which some male jumpers have (although I am not sure why). Note too the broad ‘horns’ that widen its face. He sat there calmly at first, but he was a jumping spider and you know what that means. After a time he looked up at me, as they do, and began to move. In slow jerks, at first, and then in a determined run. He then leaped away and disappeared into the dense foliage. As they do. And that was that.
Giant Hawaiian jumping spider by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrHere are some videos I found that give an idea of the size of this spider:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfIg8V-hY2E and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itoasN_tdjU
One day we visited the Hana Forest Preserve. This is a large area of tropical forest that covers much of the eastern half of the island. I wish we had more time there! At one point, some distance from a trail, I spotted several gulf fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae) flying around a patch of passion flowers which is their larval food plant. This species of butterfly is also found in the southwestern part of the mainland U.S., but it was the first I had seen them. I could only watch, forlornly, as the rules here for staying on the trails are very strict. But luck was with me because one of them broke from the flock and came over to land right on the trail. This picture was taken with my ancient 100-300mm telephoto lens, which has served me faithfully for the past couple years. I have since replaced it with my 100-400mm lens, and so this turned out to be the last picture taken with the older lens. I am working at selling the old lens, btw.
Gulf fritillary by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrAlso at this park I came across a large meadow katydid nymph eating a praying mantis ootheca. Many katydids have a taste for protein, and some species are in fact fairly predatory. As yet I have no idea what the species might be but it is probably safe to suggest it belongs to the genus Conocephalus.
Meadow katydid eating a mantis ootheca by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrBack at our rental cottage by the sea, trails go down to the beach and along these trails were dozens of large millipedes, I think measuring about 4 inches long. These are called rusty millipedes (Trigoniulus corallinus). Native to islands in Asia, they have become very abundant on the Hawaiian islands and in the mainland U.S. They do not glow in the dark under UV light, alas. I made sure to check, of course.
Rusty millipede by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrOn our last outing, we went to a beach area to let the boys play in the surf on boogie boards. For me, there were numerous ghost crabs in burrows well above the surf line. So I had fun lying prone on the sand, creeping up on these super-alert crabs to take pictures. I think this particular species of ghost crab is Ocypode pallidula.
Ghost crab by Mark Sturtevant, on FlickrThere was a near disaster, though. After some time I became aware of a rapidly approaching "surfy"-sound. I looked up to see a wall of water coming right at me. A rogue wave! I had barely enough time to sit up and hold the camera straight up over head before the wave hit and completely soaked me. The camera was ok! But the crab pictures were the end of my photography on Maui because it was time to go home. Late the next day I stepped back into our airport in Michigan, with sand still firmly embedded into the seams of my shoes.
And that is it! I close with a picture of a strange creature at the Hana cottage. The butterfly net (purchased at a local hardware store) was meant to be possibly useful but I never used it.
Home. The land of Small Leaves. It felt at first that things might be comparatively boring. But I resumed my visits to familiar parks and also to some new parks, and in no time the excitement of Maui was replaced by many exciting and new discoveries, all documented with the camera. There is still plenty to share!
Dec 28, 2018 11:51:00 #
Dec 28, 2018 12:16:49 #
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Dec 28, 2018 15:03:48 #
and another lovely informative post with lovely shots and stories.......the net certainly adds to your authenticity ............. 
Dec 28, 2018 17:21:05 #
You sound like the young Gerald Durrell which is marvellous. I love your write ups and the images.
Dec 29, 2018 03:41:41 #
Dec 29, 2018 16:11:40 #
Another great set. Thanks for sharing all of your Maui photos and explanations.
Check out Digital Artistry section of our forum.
Dec 29, 2018 17:41:14 #
Oh, Mark...These images truly have the "WOW" factor. Great mastery on all levels. Thank you ever so much for sharing them and the narratives that go with them are a special treat.
Dec 29, 2018 18:31:46 #
Dec 30, 2018 01:15:33 #
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