Oh, so close!

  Today, I headed to the garden to plant okra.  I had one spot left to dig a single row so that was going to have to do for the moment.  A few steps after entering the garden gate, something bright caught my eye.  Of course, I whipped the camera in action and proceeded to photograph a critter in the middle of the pathway.  Since I had broken my glasses a few days back, I thought I had found a lovely moth!  In fact, the colors were so similar to the Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth, I figured that the thing was another critter that would not do major damage in the garden.  Wow.  Was I wrong!  Without those spectacles, I making a huge mistake.

  The critter that I so patiently photographed was the bane of most gardeners (at least those who refuse to douse their plants with harmful chemicals!).  The "pretty" critter was a moth alright but not the one I thought.  I had just spent ten minutes photographing a Squash Vine Borer Moth!!!!  Yep!  This was one of those critters that insists on laying its eggs inside the stalk of squash plants.  There, the egg hatches and the larva munches on the inside of the stalk while being hidden away from all predators.  Ugh!.  And to think...I just lifted the critter up and put it on the jasmine vine!

Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth

Squash Vine Borer Moth

  After the photo session, I realized my mistake.  Looking at the photos, I could clearly see the critter was not one that I wanted in the garden.  Out I raced to hunt down that Squash Vine Borer Moth!  I searched and searched the jasmine vine to no avail.  I was just about to resign to the fact that there would be no healthy squash plants after today when I spied that critter on a rose bush!  

  I am happy to say that at least one Squash Vine Borer Moth will not be laying eggs in the garden.  Goodbye, Garden Pest!  Your mimicking trick did not work this time!  Those fuzzy legs gave away your true identity!  (Just so you will know, folks, under those top wings, the Squash Vine Borer Moth has the clear "window-pane" wings like the other moth.  Blue thorax and fuzzy back legs...dead giveaway!....Oh, and make sure to have glasses handy if you wear them!)

 

Which is Which?

  A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photo and tale of a gorgeous butterfly that almost met its demise under the feet of the old dog.  Mr. PJ had unknowingly knocked the (not yet flight ready) butterfly off of the gatepost then almost stepped right on it.  I quickly intervened and picked up the butterfly and let it rest on the begonia until it was ready to go.  The butterfly was identified as a Spicebush Swallowtail and I told how it is often misidentified as a Pipevine Swallowtail.  The colors are the same and the markings are very similar.  The Spicebush Swallowtail actually benefits from this likeness as the Pipevine Swallowtail is toxic.  The mimicking protects the Spicebush Swallowtail from being eaten by predators.  Predators know the Pipevine Swallowtail is toxic so steer clear of anything that is similar.

  This morning, I found the "real deal"!  A Pipevine Swallowtail was visiting the lantana in the back garden.  The butterfly was busy flitting about the place and I was worried that I may not be able to get a photo of it to be used as a comparison shot.  Happily, I did!   So, here are the two!  Notice that the Spicebush Swallowtail (top photo) has two rows of one orange spots on its hind wings and the Pipevine Swallowtail (bottom photo) has only one.

Who is calling?

  It is not unusual to find birds' nests on my hikes about the hillside.  It is also not unusual to find them in all of our outbuildings such as the shed and greenhouse.  Wrens seem to love nesting in areas near people and do not seem to mind if we check the nests now and again.  I love these little birds.  Their cheerfully jumbled calls fill the air from daylight to dusk as they busily work the gardens hunting bugs.  This year, there is an abundance of bugs which makes gardening a bigger chore but makes the birds' lives much easier.  In a matter of minutes, the busy, little wrens can find dozens of caterpillars or grasshoppers to feed the hungry mouths of their broods.  Mama Wren, who chose the greenhouse as her abode, has not started the task yet as she is still setting on her five eggs. Papa Wren, on the other hand, does bring her an occasional treat.  He is a good husband!

Papa Wren singing in a brush pile.

  This afternoon, my sister-in-law made a visit to the Bayou.  While she was here, we toted mugs of coffee out to the greenhouse.  This is one of her favorite places (as it is mine) to sit and relax.  While there, I showed her Mama Wren's nest and told her to listen to Papa Wren's song coming from behind the greenhouse.  He was guarding his ladylove and was letting any intruders know that he was on duty.  It was not long before she could recognize the song of the wren.  She then made the comment that another wren was singing on the south side of the greenhouse. I listened but had to giggle as it was not a wren. Yep, the song was almost perfect.  Each note was in perfect sequence but after three trills, it stopped and continued in what almost sounded like a whip-poor-will's call.  It was not a wren at all but our resident mockingbird mimicking the call of the wren.  How confusing must this be for the wrens???  

Papa Mockingbird who mimicks the call of the wren.

  The wrens nesting in the greenhouse are Carolina Wrens.  These birds pair for life and stay together year round.  The songs are different between male and female but when they sing together it sounds like one bird singing.  This is something the mockingbird has yet to copy and hopefully will never.  While I love hearing the mockingbird with his never-ending song, it is also nice to be able to hear and distinguish the song of the wrens. 

They Keep Us Guessing!

  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!