Here we are again with another of the series of posts for the LBC, the Loose Bloggers Consortium. If you survive the horrors of my writing this week do not forget to visit the other members of LBC, Anu, Ashok, gaelikaa, Ginger, Grannymar, Helen, Judy, Conrad, Maria and Ramana, for their contributions this week.
Whilst I am about it, I must apologise for missing off their links last week. I was quite distracted by the topic.
It’s coming up to “that time of year” again. The time when we begin to see numerous small visitors to our world.
The first few may be seen in January: the Peacock Butterfly, the Brimstone Butterfly, the small Tortoiseshell.
Later in the year we may be visited by other butterflies and larger insects:
Cockchafer or May Bug aka June Bug
I haven’t seen a Cockchafer for a few years but I remeber being hit by flying specimens on a regular basis. I have a feeling I know the inspiration behind Gremlins came from.
Of course later still in the year we may be visited in doors by Daddy Longlegs or crane flies that are attracted into the house by lights in the evening. Never kill a daddy longlegs or it will rain.
If you can catch one have a close look…all these visitors are worth a close look by the way…just behind the wings on each side of the body… you will seea apir of club shaped halteres. They are flapped rapidly and function as vibrating structure gyroscopes to help the insect maintain stability in flight. Th flight of craneflies is already very erratic and if the halteres are removed it is impossible. Oh yes …this was done by an inquisitive magpie at quite an early age. Just to check that what father was telling the truth.
The halteres on a species of crane fly.
When Autumn’s “mellow fruitfullness” arrives and the wasps have ceased their summer activities and need no more to work then they will visit our fruit trees to gorge themselves in a pre-passing orgy of gluttony.
The result of a wasp colony's labours. The original paper makers,
I haven’t touched upon visitors to our homes yet….what about Silver Fish?
Silver fish............Lepisma saccharina...what do they eat?
And what about that childhood, and sometimes later, visitor shown below?
I’ll never forget the comment of a colleague when we had a visit at school, “Oh You need not worry. They’re not interested in middle aged men.”
From the Magpie's Nest 
February 5, 2010 at 5:15 pm |
The June Bugs in Kansas are not furry like that. They used to collect on our grandparents’ door screen in the hot summer evenings and my sister and I would “thump” them from the inside. Many of your tiny visitors do indeed have relatives over here.
February 5, 2010 at 5:18 pm |
Magpie, considering your name you should be feasting on the inhabitants of your photo fest up there.
I dimly remember a book called ‘Daddy Longlegs” written for teenage girls. I loved it as light relief, though all soppy. Must dig it out again. See what I make it down the line of time. Can’t say I am fond of them [daddy longlegs]. Worse than spiders they dart around in a rather unpredicatble, albeit slow, fashion. Most people I know flee the room and leave me to deal with the culprit. I carefully catch them in a glass, release them outside only for them to tumble in again two minutes later, attracted by the light in the room. Mind you, they have nothing on moths which seem to be borne with a death wish. I know this since I burn candles with abandon. It’s quite awful and there is little one can do about it.
Headlice I recently covered in a reply to gaelikaa and, cosidering that I have just done battle with fleas which were far more interested in me than the cat, I’d rather not awaken memories of the itch.
As to silverfish: Aren’t they like coakroaches a sign of lack of hygiene in moist places? Where is a magpie to hoover up what’s surplus to requirements when you need him?
U
February 5, 2010 at 8:25 pm |
Now you have started me scratching!
We can always depend on you to find a totally unique take on the weekly topic. Nests, built by wasps or birds, always hold fascination for me. They are such wonderful works of art – the shapes, colour and textures used by such tiny creatures just amaze me.
February 6, 2010 at 1:23 am |
I loved the butterflies, laughed at the gremlin like May bug and reacted to the Wasps with my usual horror on seeing them.
As to the headlice or I guess in the case of the photo headlouse, one of my favorite first grade stories is about the little girl who said, “Teacher, I have something I need to whisper in your ear.” Kneeling down, I put my head next to hers, and said sweetly, “What do you need to whisper.” and then I heard the whispered words, “I have head lice.”
February 6, 2010 at 4:39 am |
Hi! I’m not partial at all to creepy crawlies. God knows I meet them enough time here, especially during the rainy season. But I admire your take on the topic. T”is admirable to say the least….
February 6, 2010 at 7:34 am |
Ugh!
February 6, 2010 at 12:07 pm |
The Queen Bee was leading her swarm on the search for a new home. She had decided to follow the rout of a motorway/highway. young drone towards the back was feeling a “call of nature” and sent a suitable message to her buzzjesty. The Queen sent back the following message, “Hang on . Just up the road there’s a BP station.”
When visiting Fort Smith (NWT, Canada) it soon became known that I was the first English visitor for many year not to complain about the “Bugs”. Why would I? I had done my homework and knew what to expect.
Gaelika, the world would be a mess without the bugs, bacteria and fungi.