Recently in Garden Pests Category
August 29, 2010
Slurping away on an Angel Trumpet...
After chasing this rather plump sphinx moth around for a half hour tonight, I was finally able to snap a photo of it slurping away on a bloom from one of my Brugmansia seedlings.
This was not a small bloom so can imagine the size of this gal. Sphinx moths are also called hummingbird moths because they mimic a hummingbird and are often mistaken for the same.
I have several varieties of sphinx moths that frequent my Angel Trumpets. This particular moth is called a Rustic Sphinx and it is a warm weather sphinx that is typically only found in the southern temperate states.
This was not a small bloom so can imagine the size of this gal. Sphinx moths are also called hummingbird moths because they mimic a hummingbird and are often mistaken for the same.I have several varieties of sphinx moths that frequent my Angel Trumpets. This particular moth is called a Rustic Sphinx and it is a warm weather sphinx that is typically only found in the southern temperate states.I was chasing three different sphinx moths around tonight and each one had a different eye color. Their eyes act like reflectors when you shine a headlamp on them . It is sort or eerie to see the brightly colored eyes bouncing around in the darkness.
August 15, 2010
Tonight's creature of the night...
Every time I take my evening stroll through my Angel Trumpet forest in search of new blooms, I always manage to surprise a few "creatures of the night". Tonight it was this jumbo Katydid who had claimed this bloom as his evening residence.
I wonder it these critters actually eat blooms? I've caught them in the daylight hours munching away on leaves, but I have yet to catch them eating flowers.
I wonder it these critters actually eat blooms? I've caught them in the daylight hours munching away on leaves, but I have yet to catch them eating flowers.August 10, 2010
Brugmansia Lady Liberty has a midnight visitor...
While out for my evening stroll through my Angel Trumpet forest, I was able to capture this beautiful moth paying a visit to Brugmansia Lady Liberty.
I was hoping to get some close-up shots but this fellow skirted off in search of other blooms.
I was hoping to get some close-up shots but this fellow skirted off in search of other blooms. August 4, 2010
The slime returns...
One good outcome from this past winter's severe cold is that I have seen very few giant slugs sliding across my Angel Trumpets this year. It could just be because I have been more pro-active with baits to keep the snails under control this summer. Baby slugs have a small shell so they could easily be mistaken for a type of snail, and they would certainly eat the bait.
Tonight I came across several of the big mommas munching away on my yard brugs.
Unfortunately for this gal I happened to have a scissors with me while I was out strolling tonight....and thank goodness slugs do not regenerate when they are snipped in half..
Tonight I came across several of the big mommas munching away on my yard brugs.
Unfortunately for this gal I happened to have a scissors with me while I was out strolling tonight....and thank goodness slugs do not regenerate when they are snipped in half..
July 28, 2010
In search of the great sphinx moth...
The moths were out cruising around my Angel Trumpets in full force tonight. I typically take an evening stroll through my field of Brugmansia with a LED headlamp on. As you can imagine, that headlamp is a giant magnet for all sorts of flying insects. Tonight I was running in circles trying to photograph giant sphinx months feasting on brug nectar. I did not have much luck with the giants, but I did get some shots of their smaller and more passive relatives, the Tersa Sphinx.
Here's one checking out a hole that was most likely made by one of its juvenile predecessors.
Looks like I should get ready for another caterpillar attack in a few weeks.
Here's one checking out a hole that was most likely made by one of its juvenile predecessors.
Looks like I should get ready for another caterpillar attack in a few weeks. July 11, 2010
Creatures of the night...
With summer comes the usual influx of garden pests, both good and bad. Spiders are my friends, that is until I accidentally run smack dab into their webs at night.
Nothing gets your blood pressure riled up like the feeling of sticky spider web wrapping around your face....unless.....you happen to also feel the pitter-patter of 8 little spider legs scurrying across your face to the back of your neck.
I wonder what colorful insect this guy is munching on for his midnight snack?
Hardly a week goes by without me having to do the spider dance in the middle of the night. Perhaps I need to pay more attention to what is in front of me when I'm strolling amongst my Brugmansia at night?
Nothing gets your blood pressure riled up like the feeling of sticky spider web wrapping around your face....unless.....you happen to also feel the pitter-patter of 8 little spider legs scurrying across your face to the back of your neck.I wonder what colorful insect this guy is munching on for his midnight snack?Hardly a week goes by without me having to do the spider dance in the middle of the night. Perhaps I need to pay more attention to what is in front of me when I'm strolling amongst my Brugmansia at night?
December 31, 2009
Another one gets away!
Seeing how it is New Year's Eve, you may be thinking I'm talking about the year 2009, but I'm not. I'm talking about another darn Cuban Tree Frog! Who knows, this could be the same one I've let escape a few times already this year.
With eyes like those looking at you, how on earth could you snuff this poor guy out???? If you followed my earlier posts you know they are an invasive species
that is working its way up the state. When found, we are supposed to
destroy them. Actually, when I was taking these pictures it did not register with me that I was shooting a Cuban Tree Frog. When I downloaded the pics to my computer I knew right away what it was. The big toe pads are a dead giveaway.
Unfortunately the next time I see him it may the last as well...
With eyes like those looking at you, how on earth could you snuff this poor guy out???? If you followed my earlier posts you know they are an invasive species
that is working its way up the state. When found, we are supposed to
destroy them. Actually, when I was taking these pictures it did not register with me that I was shooting a Cuban Tree Frog. When I downloaded the pics to my computer I knew right away what it was. The big toe pads are a dead giveaway.Unfortunately the next time I see him it may the last as well...December 10, 2009
These slimy guys are relentless...
Look what I found when I was making my rounds tonight. These darn slugs are relentless in their quest to eat all my brugs!
Although I applied snail and slug bait in my primary growing areas, I did not treat all the independent brugmansias growing in my yard. That's where I found these guys eating away tonight. Unfortunately for them it ended up being their last supper...
Although I applied snail and slug bait in my primary growing areas, I did not treat all the independent brugmansias growing in my yard. That's where I found these guys eating away tonight. Unfortunately for them it ended up being their last supper...November 24, 2009
A deadline you do not want to meet..
Last night when I was out making my rounds, I came across several additional large slugs amongst my brugmansia seedlings. Now I know why the slugs are so large. Not only are they eating my Angel Trumpets, they are eating the fertilizer I recently applied as well!!!
Finding so many large slugs in such a short period of time convinced me that I need to resort to chemical warfare if I am going to get them under control. While I was at the growers supply store today I purchased some industrial strength slug and snail bait. The product is called Deadline, and I'm hoping that this will be the only deadline the snails and slugs will have to meet!
Finding so many large slugs in such a short period of time convinced me that I need to resort to chemical warfare if I am going to get them under control. While I was at the growers supply store today I purchased some industrial strength slug and snail bait. The product is called Deadline, and I'm hoping that this will be the only deadline the snails and slugs will have to meet!
November 22, 2009
Guardian of my pots.....
This friendly wolf spider sort of makes you think twice before you grab an empty pot.
Looks like remnants of his lunch is on the bottom.
Looks like remnants of his lunch is on the bottom.