Babies are cute. We seem to be hard wired to protect those adorable infants with their rounded, over-sized heads, large eyes, and chubby cheeks, whether they be human or animal. We just adore them.
Well, maybe not all of them. How about baby arthropods?
What I believe are mosquito larvae were spotted in a puddle early in June. Our revulsion is probably a result of what we anticipate the adult females will do.
These spiderlings were seen in the grass. No one finds them cute, and arachnophobes fear them. Just maybe, all babies are not perceived as being cute.
But, did I get the identification correct? Are those mosquito larvae? What is the species of those spiderlings?
Because there are so many of them I feel that makes them not so cute
Hi Alistair,
The top photo does appear to show a wealth of mosquito larvae – maybe not cute to most humans, but a critical food supply for other aquatic beings such as fish and larger invertebrates, as well as a promise of adult mozzies for bats, birds, and dragonflies to name a few. And I’ll put in a good word for the spiderlings, I do think they’re cute!
Thank you ever so much for all of your marvellous nature photos and descriptions, they are a true comfort.