An Unorthodox Halloween – Page 13

“Getting Huge-er”

As Talia says, Wiggles is “getting Huge-er”.

After molting to 2nd instar:

From Bugs 2013

almost ready to molt again.

From 2013 buildup

Wiggles now has a sibling as well. Originally we collected 3 additional eggs, but only one has survived.

A monarch egg closeup:

From Bugs 2013

Chompy, Wiggle’s sibling.

From Bugs 2013

Of course, all this fun with the macro setting on the new point and shoot has also brought a lot of frustration with it. There is no manual focus on this thing…and that means lots of suckage.

From Bugs 2013

Seems that what I want for Christmas now is a proper macro lens for Bertha (the nice camera).

With all the bug fun, I actually did manage to get around to something for Halloween. The near annual ‘new sign’.

Wiggles Day 4, and other bugs.

Wiggles, starting to get a little color…it’s either preparing to shed it’s skin to 2nd instar, or just had. I’ll know more later. Talia was especially excited that it’s changing colors.

Caterpillars this tiny just eat the surface of the leaves. Normally, Monarchs prefer the underside fuzz, but Wiggles continues to favor the top. Can’t even get normal bugs around this house.

When I got home, there were 4 monarchs over in the garden. I was shocked. One was impressive enough, but suddenly my yard is becoming grand central.

Unlike the Monarchs from my childhood that were all but oblivious when feeding, these ones are timid and flighty at the slightest movement. It took some considerable patience to allow them to ‘forget’ I was there, and they settled down.

Maybe it’s a sign how devastaded the surrounding habitat is that my little butterfly garden is getting so much attention.

Checking for more eggs, some other inhabitants stumbled upon.

Firefly.

From 2013 buildup

Honey bee from one of the several neighborhood hives.

From 2013 buildup

Dragonfly

From 2013 buildup

you gonna eat that?

From 2013 buildup

Wiggles

We’re taking things a little on the easy side this year. Vacation coming up and all, don’t want to have too many projects outstanding.

Combined with the garden expansion, and the need for a new point and shoot, it’s allowed me to rediscover my love of bugs.

Long before the Halloween bug bit me, I had a thing for insects. At one point I wanted to be a hollywood bug wrangler, thanks in large part to Indiana Jones.

But, the boss didn’t like the idea of the bug collection. No bugs in the house, not even dead ones. Thus, it’s a minor miracle we have our little baby wiggles.

Playing with the macro setting on the new camera…

From 2013 buildup

I soon started taking bug pics.

Squash bee.

From 2013 buildup

Damsel fly.

From 2013 buildup

Long Legged Fly.

From 2013 buildup

It’s really made me want a proper macro lens for Bertha (the nice camera).

It wasn’t long before I noticed a Monarch butterly. Now, I’ve been purposely allowing milkweed to grow for a few years now, and planted butterfly bushes in the hopes that food and habitat would attract them. I’d just about given up. But, mom has been fluttering about our ‘butterfly garden’ for a week now. Noticing her struggling in a windstorm, I considered catching her and bringing her in, but she fluttered over to the neighbors. So, I went checking in the milkweed.

From 2013 buildup

A day later, that egg was showing signs of life.

From 2013 buildup

And, we had “Wiggles” (as Talia has named it).

From 2013 buildup

2 days after hatching, Wiggles is still first instar, but starting to show some of the characteristic patterns.

From 2013 buildup

RIP Karen Black

So they don’t nibble on the corn.

Neighbors,

It was my daughter’s idea. She insisted we needed to make a scarecrow “so the birds don’t nibble on our corn”.

She then proceeded to instruct me on EXACTLY how to make it. I had to get Fred, and put him in a coat, with his arms out, and a hat. “Then the birds will nibble on Fred and not our corn.”

Good memory, she has.