Two Killers and a Charmer With the insect season winding down, the imported species of praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) are now mature and can occasionally be seen flying. Insects only get fully developed wings in their final molt. Although there are some exceptions, mantises aren’t among them. Flying they look like less agile dragonfly. The […]
Anthony Westkamper
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: A Dead Crane Fly and a Strange Nursery
I grew up calling them “mosquito catchers.” Other folks know them as daddy longlegs (a name also used for Opiliones,a type of arachnid) or mosquito hawks. More properly they are known as crane flies, or family tipulidae of the order diptera — true flies. Resembling giant mosquitos, they inspire fear in some people. But unlike […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Two Killers and a Charmer
The insect season is winding down. The imported species of praying mantis, (Mantis religiosa) are mature now and can occasionally be seen flying. Insects only get fully developed wings in their final molt. Although there are some exceptions, mantises aren’t among them. Flying, they look like less agile dragonfly. The four wings and size are […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Locals Among the Invaders
Finding myself with an uncommitted day and the Himalaya berries in season, I went blackberry picking along some of my favorite logging roads. I did OK but the best part of the day was wandering through patches of Queen Anne’s lace, cat’s ear, pampas grass, Scotch broom and bird’s foot trefoil. One and all thriving […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Honeybees are Loveable and Love Plums
Honeybees are everyone’s favorite. After all, they pollinate our crops, make wax and honey, their language is a dance and they are the perfect model of a socialist society. They toil tirelessly gathering nectar and pollen, cleaning and building their home, and tending to the needs of the queen, who in turn produces eggs which […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Yuck! Flies
It may come as a surprise to some but I don’t like all bugs. There are many I find despicable. Mosquitoes kill more people than lions, tigers and bears combined. Fleas killed my dog. I’m extremely allergic to tick bites. I find flies — not all members of the order diptera but house flies, green […]
Posted inNews
Yuck! Flies
It may come as a surprise to some, but I don’t like all bugs. There are many I find despicable. Mosquitoes kill more people than lions, tigers and bears combined. Fleas killed my dog. I’m extremely allergic to tick bites. I find flies, not all members of the order Diptera, but house flies, green bottle […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: A Day for Beetles
Yesterday was a day for beetles. Moving some large pepperwood planks to my garage for curing, I noted several small beetles on the freshly sawn surfaces. One was actively chewing its way into the surface. There are quite a few species of small cylindrical wood boring beetles, many choose a single species of host tree. […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Crispy Fried Garlic Chips
I finally figured out a use for one of those big bags of pre-peeled garlic. Although I’m fond of the “smelly rose,” I hate peeling the paper skins off them. Prepped cloves seem to show up in industrial portions so, cooking for only one, at least half the cloves always got green and fuzzy in […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: A Mixed Bag of Beauties
It’s getting late in the season, the time when all the insects that overwintered as eggs have hatched, grown through their larval stages and are now wearing their adult colors. There were quite a few of one my favorite late season butterflies out today. A fritillary (genus Speyeria) was nectaring on thistle blossoms. I looked […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Dead or Alive
Beetles, Weevils and Dragonflies A recent walk along the Van Duzen River yielded a couple of interesting things. The only dragonfly I saw was a flame skimmer (Libellula saturata). This is the brightest orange dragonfly I know. I rarely see this species; I suspect they travel through my area just stopping to catch a quick […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Beetles and Weevils and Dragonflies
A recent walk along the Van Duzen River yielded a couple of interesting things. The only dragonfly I saw was a flame skimmer (Libellula saturata). This is the brightest orange dragonfly I know. I rarely see this species; I suspect they travel through my area just stopping to catch a quick bite. I felt something […]