It’s not uncommon for me to be urgently summoned to see and identify a ‘bug’ that my wife or kids have stumbled upon. Such was the case with this sizeable caterpillar my daughter found on the Virginia Creeper overtaking our deck.
“What is it?!”
Compared to most caterpillars found in Manitoba, this one is giant – about the size of my pointer finger (which its ‘legs’ would gently but firmly clasp when I picked it up).… Read the rest
I planted wild roses a few years ago, specifically Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana if you’re into scientific names). This is the low-growing one you sometimes see along country roads in the prairies. I planted them the for several reasons: 1) they’re beautiful, 2) they smell wonderful, and 3) insects love them.
I’ve catalogued visitors to the flowers so far this summer (aside from my nose, assuming you didn’t want to see pictures of that).… Read the rest
As of today, I am the parent of an adult. This is weird. Everything about it is weird.
Me being old enough to have an adult child? Weird.
Me having been a parent for 18 years? Weird.
Just weird.
Also in the category of weird is the feature organism for a Wasp Wednesday: the Pelecinid Wasp.
Friends, I’ve been lucky enough to meet this lovely lady on several occasions, including once on the sidewalk near my house.… Read the rest
I’m certainly not an cultural anthropologist, but I imagine the concept of ‘park’ or ‘protected area’ – an area deliberately set aside to be free of human ‘interference’ for its own safety – would have been completely foreign and nonsensical to the majority of human societies that have existed to date.
It seems the need for protected areas is the result of at least two things:
Regarding #1, I’m sure there has been much ink spilled to examine and explain how this worldview came about – I recall reading something by Alfred North Whitehead many years ago that placed the blame, and not without merit, at the feet of a certain understanding of Christian theology.… Read the rest
*Yes, I know it’s Tuesday, but you can’t keep a good moth down.
This is a Primrose Moth*. During the day, they can often be found hunkered down in flowers, especially these White-stemmed Evening Primrose** flowers. These day-time naps are no doubt due to late nights of excess and debauchery. This one is expressing its displeasure at being disturbed by giving the photographer the side-eye.… Read the rest