Red Admirals!

There were about fifty of these little guys on a flowering shrub in the garden. Friendly things, I had a few land on me.

They don't stay still for long, so it was difficult getting photos.

Click to enlarge:

Beware The Ladybug

The weather's been rather nice the past few days, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. This being the complete opposite of last Thursday through Sunday, where we were treated to a preview of a January blizzard.

So the woodland critters made a reappearance in the backyard, as well as the insects. While I was working at my computer, I noticed a tapping on the rear window and sliding glass door.

Ladybugs. Lots of 'em. Smacking themselves against the glass.

Went outside to find the rear of the house buzzing with them. Not swarms like I've heard about on the news, but still, a lot. They were using the drainpipe as a freeway, some traveling up, some traveling down.

This happens just about every October. They're looking for a warm place to hide for the winter, and in some cases, swarm into houses. We've never had this problem, only about ten or twenty actually find their way into the house throughout October. This usually serves as entertainment for our cat (both the old cat which passed way, and the new kitten). I'm the one rescuing them and pitching them outside. The ladybugs. Not the cat.

From what I read, ladybugs can sting, pee on you (defensive bleeding), and smell bad. Honestly, I've never noticed. I handle them all the time, and never had one sting or defensively 'bleed” on me. Then again, maybe we just have really laid back ladybugs.

Here's two of them, hanging out on the side of the house (click to enlarge):





Here's one with an assassin wheel bug (click to enlarge):




About four seconds before I took that photo, the ladybug had been motoring along the assassin's leg, and the assassin was waving it's long, robotic leg around, trying to dislodge said ladybug. Apparently they don't eat them.

I don't pick up assassins. They have a long, pokey stinger on their face, that they probably use for sucking blood from other bugs. I heard they eat spiders, which makes them awesome in my book.

To give you an idea of how weird looking the assassin bug is, here's a better shot. Check out the stegosaurus cog on it's back (click to enlarge):




Funny, I grew up in a small town, and thought we had plenty of insects. I had no idea there were so many weird things living in the woods of Pennsylvania.

Speaking of weirdness, here's a random photo of Leonidas being pathetic. Apparently, waiting too long for his sweet, sweet softie food caused all the bones in his body to collapse:

My Little Friend

We have a grapevine outside the kitchen window. I should've cut it back about two months ago, but I didn't have time, plus it was entertaining. It housed a large number of critters: katydids, grasshoppers, several inchworms, a large nursery web spider, 3 dime-sized orb weavers, a walking stick, ladybugs and various stink bugs.

It's like Animal Planet in my kitchen window.

Today I found this dude hanging outside the window:

(click to enlarge)

Then it saw me:

(click to enlarge)

Here's a close up:

(click to enlarge)

I need to get out of the house more often.

Ant Deo

Yesterday, my mailbox was filled with ants and ant-eggs. Nesting in my mail.

I heard the mail truck around noon, and I retrieved the mail about a half hour later. I opened the box to find several envelopes covered with swarming ants clutching their eggs in hysteria.

I've found all kinds of things in my mailbox, from bees to frighteningly large spiders. This was a first for ants.

It's also very strange that all of the ants were on top of the mail.

As I said, I went to get the mail about a half hour after the mailman delivered it. Somehow, in that short time frame, a nest of ants appeared. If they were there prior to the mailman showing up, the ants would, at least mostly, be UNDER the mail. I think.

After being completely icked out, I whipped out the Raid Ant Spray and coated the mailbox inside and out. And myself. The wind blew back the spray and I got hit as well. Has anyone else noticed that Raid smells perfumey? In an overpowering, gagging, kinda way?

Took a shower. I still couldn't get the Raid smell out of my head. It seemed to be everywhere. Then I realized it was my deodorant.

Lessons learned:

1) My mailman apparently delivers ants, along with the mail
2) Degree deodorant “shower clean” scent smells just like Raid Ant Spray.