Amazing hike up Bass Creek with Haines
March 14, 2023
Hikes 2013
Bass Creek never disappoints
Any day spent hiking along the rushing waters of Bass Creek is truly a day well spent. This hike is definitely in our local patch, and we traveled up this drainage what seems like hundreds of times. On this occasion, I was joined by Haines, and we went to the boundary of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area for a total mileage of slightly over 5 miles. The sun was intense (even caught a bit of a sunburn) as the temperatures soared into the 40s.
Invertebrates on Ice
Meet Microhexura idahoana
A tiny funnel web spider (Family Microhexuridae) that emerged in the hundreds this past weekend on top of the snow that blankets Bass Creek. It seemed that every patch of warm sunlight was occupied by several of these little guys. Their web is often built in a depression in the duff layer, underneath the snow and once the snow melts.
The prosoma (the front half or head) is shiny brown with a sculpted appearance, darker in the eye region. The opisthosoma (the back end or abdomen) is brown and velvety. The legs are brown to pale brown. Also, note that the eyes are arranged in a dense cluster.
This is the first time I have been able to observe and identify this species (with many thanks to the spider nerds over on iNaturalist).
With warming temperatures, this small stonefly in the genus Zapada has appeared in large numbers. In fact, Bass Creek is absolutely alive with these guys as they emerged from the icy waters of the stream, especially near the log jam pond.
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Hikes 2013
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