Leafhoppers are a vast family of insects that can do unsightly damage to lawns. These critters are the bane of folks who desire to keep perfectly trimmed and bright green grass lawns. Me? As long as they stay clear of the garden, they can eat all of the grass they wish. With nigh on four acres to cut, I can use all the help I can get. The grass grows far too fast to suit me so let a few bugs suck the sap right out of it!
It turns out that Leafhoppers have many friends. Most of these (according to their names) try to imitate other critters. I suppose to survive in this bug eat bug world, you need a gimmick. Not to mention, this is also a bird eat bug, snake eat bug, lizard eat bug, turtle eat bug...ok, you get the idea that it is a wild, dangerous world out there for tiny bugs that might be tasty. The imitation antics of the Leafhoppers include (but are not limited to) Leaf-mimic Leafhoppers, Thorn-mimic Leafhoppers, Twig-mimic Leafhoppers and even Scorpion-mimic Leafhoppers! They are so good at imitating plants and other critters that, most often, unless you are truly searching for them, they go unnoticed. They could be called the "World's Greatest Impostors!"
My hike today took me to the pier as usual. I had seen a beautiful watersnake basking on the marsh mats earlier and was hoping she would still be there. No such luck in spotting the snake but on my return trip up the hill, a tiny Leaf-mimicker hopped out in front of me. The tiny bug was just so cute that I had to drop to my knees to get a few photographs. The camouflage of the bug was incredible! It actually looked like a leaf and had it not been on a blade of grass, I might never have seen it again. The little bug was gracious as to let me have a few "closeups". Its bright red eye was the only "giveaway" that I was not peering at just another leaf. Good job, Little Mimicker!
Down by the pier just on the edge of the property, a medium sized bush grows under an oak tree. This shrub is known as Glossy Privet or Ligustrum Lucidum....I think...perhaps...I hope so anyway! The shrub has been there as long as I can remember even before the Little Bayou House was built. I remember this particular shrub simply because I was always fascinated by the thick heads of white blooms and their effect on certain folks. I can remember Granddad telling me how a few visitors to his place (my grandparents lived on the Bayou long before I did) would start sneezing the moment they came in contact with the bush. Personally, I have never had that problem so I assume that allergies hit only certain folks. I like the Privet Bush and all of its pollen-laden white flowers so it stays even though poor Mark is one of those folks who seem to be sneeze-prone when it is blooming. He understands and merely stays upwind of the bush.
I was looking at the list of invasive plants the other day and, lo and behold, my Glossy Privet was on that list! I was aghast! How can this shrub be invasive? I had always imagined that to be considered "invasive" a plant needed to be able to spread with wild abandon! My idea was that little sprouts would shoot up in the most inopportune places and soon take over an entire area. This comes from the description of the most irritating of all "invasives" better known as Cogon Grass. Now that junk is truly invasive as it is now the scourge of the South beating out the Kudzu Vine! (I have to admit...that is invasive!) Anyway, like I said earlier, this shrub has been here long before I was even around which makes it as "old as the hills". Not once have I seen a wee, little Privet showing its bright leaves about the hillside. Why, I have even considered picking the berries to start a few more of the bushes but have never been able to beat the birds to them. As soon as the berries ripen, the birds devour them and obviously, after passing through the bird, not one of the seeds has sprouted. I may have to try rooting some cuttings if I want more bushes.
Now comes the kicker. If this is true Glossy Privet and not some impostor, everyone might wish to grow them in their yards! According to the WebMD site, Glossy Privet can be used as a remedy for any number of maladies from promoting hair growth to preventing certain cancers (by improving the immune system). There are a number of good points about the use of Glossy Privet but, as far as studies go, only a few side effects with the number one being allergic reaction (like sneezing!). To use the Glossy Privet for any remedy, I would need to get a positive identification (first and foremost!) and then beat the birds to the fruit! It is the ripe berries that have all the good stuff in them that is helpful! So, now I need to find a botanist to identify my bush and perhaps it will become better liked by all of the inhabitants around here and not just me! Why, my bush might just become high in demand!
