Dangerous Caterpillars

6 Feb

A Time to Live

Melody Hendrix

 

I have moved the Hairstreak butterflies to next week. I thought it would be a good idea to show you some dangerous moth caterpillars before we move on, since we talked about harmless Florida moths last week. Most are harmless, but there are some Florida moths that can cause severe pain and possible reactions. Many caterpillars have hairs or spines. Some contain poison glands. In contact with human skin, they can cause pain, rashes, itching, burning, swelling, and blistering like this puss moth caterpillar.

Avoiding caterpillars with hairs or spines is best.
To treat a caterpillar exposure:

1. If the caterpillar is on the skin, remove it without using your hands!Gently put tape over the exposed area, sticky side down. (Any kind of tape will do.)

2. Pull up the tape, removing the hairs or spines.

3. Repeat with fresh pieces of tape as often as needed to treat the area involved.

4. Wash the area gently with soap and water.

5. If the area itches, put on a paste of baking soda and water.
Use ice pack to reduce swelling.

6. If that doesn’t help, try Zanfel Benadryl or a hydrocortisone cream.

7. If that doesn’t help, try an antihistamine cream. That shouldn’t be the first choice, as it doesn’t always help. Also, some people have skin reactions to these creams.

8. If the area is badly blistered, contact your health provider.

9. Call your health provider about a tetanus booster if your shots are not up to date.

The southern flannel moth, Megalopyge opercularis is an attractive small moth that is best-known because of its larva, the puss caterpillar, which is one of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States. The southern flannel moth (puss caterpillar)  is found from New Jersey to Florida and west to Arkansas and Texas. It is common in Florida but reaches its greatest abundance in Texas from Dallas southward in the western central part of the state. Found on Oaks and citrus.

 
Buck Moth found on Oak and Willow.
The adult buck moths have a flight period that occurs between October and November. as late as December in Florida.  The adults are active during the day and are very quick fliers, and can be found flying most commonly between noon and 2:00 pm in oak forests during sunny weather
Lo Moth

Lo Moth found on Ixora and rose. Adult moths are strictly nocturnal, flying generally only during the first few hours of the night.
Saddleback

Saddleback caterpillar and moth. Host plants are many plants, vegetables, flowers, citrus, maples, oaks, and blueberries.
Spines can become airborne and consequently be inhaled or contact sensitive tissues like the eyes and nose.
Spiny Oak Slug
Spiny Oak-Slug Host plants – Oak and willow, apple, blueberry, sycamore and more.  caterpillars seen from late June to October.

Tussock
 A large caterpillar 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 inches.  Stinging hairs are intermixed with soft hairs in diffuse tufts. Host plants – Oak, willow and deciduous plants.

I love spotting Hairstreaks in the garden. They are small and fly fast, but once you focus your eyes on them you’ll see their delightful display of rubbing their hindwings together in the typical fashion of most hairstreaks. It’s mesmerizing.  This back-and-forth movement makes the moving appendages on the hind wings look like anntennae, apparently to fool predators into attacking a less vital part of their body. They like to bask in the sun with their head down and hindwings up with it’s false antenae in motion.
Please join me next week. We will look at the Hairstreak butterflies.

 

 

I am retired and enjoying life. My hobbies are my 5 grandchildren, son and daughter, and my loving husband. I am a photographer and extreme nature lover. I love spending time in my garden or in the wilderness connected to God my Creator.
Melody

Tags: ,

Getting a Pup

5 Feb

My Take 

DiVoran Lites

 

 

 

By DiVoran Lites

My parents got a puppy
I don’t know where
But on their 50th anniversary
Dad left the party and came
Back with a small, black,
Boy they called
Casey or O’Casey
I can’t imagine why.

When I was little Daddy
Had curly black hair
I sat on the couch arm and
Ran my fingers through the silkiness
While he was resting after work
When I grew up, I became a hair stylist
I was at that 50th party
We stayed with Mom and Dad

I volunteered to love the beast
Through his scary first night.
We put him in a box
At the side of my bed
And when he woke
I dangled my hand in the box
And he quieted
Next day we took him

For a walk. The neighbors
Admired him. Aww
Casey traveled to Marrowstone Island,
Blue Mesa reservoir, and the Salton Sea
When it was still a sea.
But Casey didn’t fish or eat fish
Casey got cataracts and had a two thousand dollar
Surgery. He could see for a while but then had to
Navigate by running into walls
When dad went to the nursing home
Casey stayed home with Mother
And Patches the cat.
The three of them cuddled under the homemade
Afghan and watched, “Bonanza,” reruns.
He got let out at night to potty
While white-haired Mother stood by the sliding glass door

Waiting for him to come in.
When Mother went to the nursing home
Brother told Mother that a relative had come to get him.
Mother soon forgot
Mother and Dad both loved
Animals.
My first memory, or so I’m told
Is watching mice play under a bush.

Tags: ,

Let Me Tell You About My Grandchildren~Part 3

4 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

 

 

 

KATIE – Part 3

Another note about our granddaughter, Katie.

She and her brother, Forrest, both studied Spanish for several years in high school. I’m not sure whether or not she ever really had a reason to use it, or how fluent she was with it, but I do know of one instance where she did.

Every Christmas, we usually have one of our daughters and their families with us for the holiday. Upon occasion, both of our daughters come down for the holiday. While we have three bedrooms, we actually only have one guest room. It can get a little sticky with all those people here, but we love the challenge.

In previous years, one of our church families that lives nearby, usually went home to Grandma’s house, so Karen and her family would “house sit” their house and take care of their cats. However, the last time we had both daughters and families here, that family decided to stay home.

Just in passing, in a conversation with Jan (Janet) and Gene Eckles (Jan is another blogger with Old Things R New), they invited Karen’s family to stay with them! And so they did.

What is neat about all this, is that Jan and her family are from Bolivia, and she and her parents speak Spanish. Katie had an occasion to converse with Jan’s parents – in Spanish! I think it was a joy to all parties involved in the conversation! It certainly touched my heart to hear about it! Jan says that her parents still talk about that conversation with Katie. She made quite an impression on them!

Our Katie is a girl of many facets. She is fun-loving,

 

and she is serious.

 

 

She has been on several mission trips: to New Mexico,

 

 

and to Guatemala.

 

 

She loves her job as a stage manager – and she loves to study the Bible.

 

 

She is a serious student of the Bible and is in love with her Lord.

 

 

She is a joy to all who know her.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know our girl just a little bit. She is a joy to us, too.

Tags:

Four Ways God Turns Trials to Triumph

3 Feb

Waking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

 

 

February 2, 2018

Reblogged February 3, 2018

He’s got to be kidding.

I turned toward a new friend seated beside me during a writer’s conference. He’s got to be kidding! Did I hear him right? Did he say what I thought he said?

Those questions ricocheted in this crazy chica’s head when I heard him described what he did on the side.

I let out a quick gasp as he related, with a matter-of-fact tone, that he made jewelry out of, are you ready? …moose droppings!

I pinched my nose. “Tell me this is a joke,” I said.

“Nope.”

Being from Alaska, he explained the process. And I tried really tried to understand this craft. My imagination went wild with not-so-pleasant images.

 

Photo credit https://smashhumor.files.wordpres

Our Own Trials

But, amigos got to spill it all. This brought to mind the yucky droppings of trials that had paraded through my days—blindness, my son’s death, the struggles of sorrow—all gave my life a bad smell of heartache.

But viola! God turned the trials to triumph as He saw beyond the pain, the sin, the ugly scenes and transformed it all to a shining jewel for His glory.

No, amigos, don’t you think for a minute I’m saying this chica is a jewel. But the triumph God ushered certainly is.

Your triumph is waiting for you too. In the horrible, ever-present battle you’re facing, He’s got his tools and is at work too. He is at work to clean, shine and make it glow.

Four Things

And during the process, all you have to do is:

…receive the joy for the moment. The joy that comes because you know He’s in control. The joy that resonates even when we don’t see the end result.

…choose gratitude in expectation of what He will do.

…look back at ways He transformed other smelly circumstances in the droppings of life.

…spray the perfume of repentance on that smelly sin. When He’s done He will showcase His victory in you.

Life sometimes does stink. But no matter how unbearable the stench of sin or sorrow is, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Let’s Pray

Father, from a discarded soul, tainted with sin, smelling of pride, you polished life, beauty and sparkle through your son Jesus. Thank you that our life now has a glow of salvation, of freedom, of joy and hope. In His name we thank you. Amen

  • What painful situation stinks in your life now?
  • What will it take for you to allow Him to turn your trials to triumph?
  • What keeps you in the same rut?

Janet

 

Source: http://janetperezeckles.com/blog/encouragement/four-ways-god-turns-trials-triumph-2.html

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Tags:

Enthusiasm

2 Feb

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

 

author of Window Wonders

 

 

When we wake up in the morning
there is promise in the air.
We don’t know what the day will bring,
but the expectancy is there.

The time to be happy is now.
We have this day to explore.
Every day is a special occasion.
What are you waiting for?

Avoid premature aging with one word.
Enthusiasm would be my choice.
Get excited about each day.
Give your heart a voice!

 

Tags: , ,

Road Trip~ Pagosa Springs Color Fest

1 Feb

On the Porch
Onisha Ellis

 

Day 10, September 16, 2017

We were up early Saturday, excited to take part in ColorFest and  view the mass balloon ascension in Downtown Pagosa Springs. We were fortunate to score a parking place in the town lot but still had to walk a short distance to the viewing area along the San Juan river. I was worried that my husband wouldn’t be able to tolerate the walk, but he made it!

 

Hot springs along the San Juan river

 

We arrived early enough to watch the balloons being filled.

 

 

This was our first balloon ascent and I didn’t think to bring chairs. I was concerned about my husband standing the entire time and our daughter volunteered to fetch a ground blanket from the car. On the way back she captured this shot.

 

 

While she was at the car, I spied a lone picnic table across the river and rushed to snag it.  It turned out that the viewing from the picnic table was perfect. Several of the balloonist enjoyed showing off and would drop their balloons to touch the water, then soar upwards. This one didn’t quite make it and there was a lot of laughter coming from the folks in the balloon.

Dropping down
And down
Stuck

I’m going to expose my ignorance here. I have no idea who this balloon is supposed to represent. Please tell me in comments!

 

 

We took a lot of pictures. I’m trying hard to not be boring but I loved all of this!

 

Of course we took pictures of each other.

 

Me and my man
Our daughter, Rebekah
Dear friend Pam.

This time a balloon tried a different approach and he made it!

 

 

I like this shot as it captured the water dripping from the basket.  Lots of smiles from the lucky people in the basket!

 

 

We had a grand time watching the intrepid balloonists. As we were walking back to the car we spotted some people taking the waters of the hot springs. I am not positive, but I think the springs along the river are free to the public. Free or not, it was way too cold for us to even dip in a toe!

 

 

We thought our balloon adventure was over but stay tuned, we had the opportunity that evening to experience night glow!

 

PS: Here is the link for ColorFest 2018. Except for gas, lodging and food, it’s free!

PS2: Our daughter’s home that lost power during Hurricane Irma finally got the power back on and her cat, Mia was able to be brought home.  A BIG thank you to a pet sitter extraordinaire, Jennifer Gheen who went above and beyond.

Tags: , , ,

Pray

31 Jan

In any and every situation…

 

Photo credit Crosscards.com

Tags: ,

Florida Butterfiles~Moths

30 Jan

A Time to Live

Melody Hendrix

 

Moths are insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera. They are less-colorful cousins of butterflies. There are more than 150.000 species of moths that can be found around the world. Moths inhabit forests, fields, meadows, agricultural fields and human settlements. In most parts of the world, moths are classified as pests because they destroy commercially important types of fruit and crops.
Interesting Moths Facts:
Moths can be small as pinhead or large as the hand of adult man. Their wingspan ranges from 0.11 to 12 inches.
Moths are active during the night and their bodies are usually dark colored (they blend with darkness of the night). Moths have feathery or filament-like antennas on the head. Antennas are equipped with scent receptors that facilitate finding of food and partners. Moths are able to detect females that are 7 miles away thanks to exceptional sense of smell.

Indian Moon Moth / Indian Luna Moth {Actias selen} head-on view showing feather-like antennae. Captive insect.

Moths have long, curled tongue designed for diet based on nectar, fruits and berries.

 

Moths are important pollinators of various plant species. They use moon, stars and geomagnetic field to navigate during the flight. Moths are important source of food for the birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and numerous invertebrates. Even people in some parts of the world consume moths as valuable source of proteins and minerals.

Moths use several strategies to distract predators. Some secrete repelling fluids like this Leopard moth below. It’s larvae is also equipped with spines for protection.
Moths produce from 40 to 1.000 eggs in a lifetime. Eggs hatch after few days or couple of months (eggs of some species remain dormant during the winter and hatch at the beginning of the spring). Females reproduce only once in a lifetime, while males can mate a couple of times.
Larva (caterpillar) lives from few weeks to couple of months. It usually eats plant material, wool, silk or even other insects. Fully grown larva encapsulates itself in the cocoon and transforms into adult moth. They are usually found in dirt or plant debris in the ground.
Adult moths live from 1 to 4 weeks. Males have longer lifespan than females.
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera), commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms; it includes about 1,450 species. These moth species are found in every region. They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid, sustained flying ability. Their narrow wings and streamlined abdomens are adaptations for rapid flight.
Some hawk moths, such as the hummingbird hawk-moth or the white-lined sphinx, hover in midair while they feed on nectar from flowers, so are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. The hummingbird moths are among the fastest flying insects on earth. These moths can fly at over 12 miles per hour.
A hummingbird moth! Yes, you read that right―a moth that resembles a hummingbird to the minutest detail, yet does not even fall into the same species.
❖ Like hummingbirds, these moths can sustain flight for as long as they need to feed and can move sideways and backwards.
❖ It is also interesting to note that the hovering of some like this Sphinx Moth cause a humming sound like a hummingbird.

Some hummingbird moth larvae are large with stout bodies, and called tomato worms or horn worms. . They have five pairs of prolegs and most species have a “horn” at the posterior end. They are seldom welcomed, but adult moths are very beneficial.

 

Some caterpillars fall prey to the braconid wasp that lay their eggs on the moth larvae and feeds the wasp hatchlings with it’s life.

 

Moths primarily hide during the day and emerge at dusk or during the early morning hours. This is when I see them in the garden. Luna, Atlas and Prometheus are species of moth that do not have a mouth.

They have short lifespans and their only purpose is to reproduce and lay eggs. Moths are important pollinators of various plant species. Below is a surprising moth. The polka dot wasp moth.

 

The species is also called the Oleander Moth after the Oleander plant, from which its young feed. Like most wasp moths, these moths are day fliers. It looks like a very dangerous wasp, but in fact is a harmless moth.

 

The caterpillars are orange or dark orange with long black hairs. The caterpillars look dangerous too, but the setae do not inflict any harm.

Next week we’ll return to butterflies. We will start with a delightful species of little butterflies called Hair Streaks.

 

 

 

I am retired and enjoying life. My hobbies are my 5 grandchildren, son and daughter, and my loving husband. I am a photographer and extreme nature lover. I love spending time in my garden or in the wilderness connected to God my Creator.
Melody

Tags: , , ,

Giovanni and the Magnolia Tree

29 Jan

My Take

DiVoran Lites

 

 

Hot pink flowers growing through green grass

Yellow cosmos glowing to be seen

Cherry laurel with a network of roots

Choke the yard. Call them choke-cherries.

A neighbor who owns a store knocks

On our door, wants to know if he can chop our

Chokers that grow yellow, inedible seed pods

That drop to the ground like accomplices to

The network of underground roots that choke out all other vegetation.

“I have too much energy,” says Giovanni “don’t want to spend it at the fitness center.”

We said yes, but tied a ribbon to the small, misshaped baby Magnolia

Which yearned to be free of overshadowing.

On Sundays, sometimes, we’d hear the crack of the ax

Against a tree and the ker-thump when the giant fell.

We never had one pang of remorse.

We and the magnolia wanted sunlight and at least a glimpse of blue

When most of the cherry laurels were gone,

The magnolia began to grow.

It was warped and scraggly and would never be anything but a runt.

Didn’t look like other magnolias, but it was free now and perhaps someday we’d pick a big flower from its

Boughs and wouldn’t have to ask someone else in the neighborhood

For a blossom to put in on a bowl where it could fill our olfactories with

Fragrance and our eyes with its creamy white petals and bright yellow filaments.

One day, I suppose it was a few years later,

I happened to look out a high window

To see the Magnolia tree, though still not shapely,

Reaching with its grateful branches

Into blue background

Taller than the remaining cherry laurels

With every dark green leaf polished to a flash.

In my mind the tree

Told me all it had needed was light

And there it was, thriving,

Giovanni thrived, too

And fairly newly married has

Possessed a baby son,

Giovanni may be seen every day walking the

New walking child

On cold days the tot wears a thick white sweater with a fuzzy, matching cap.

Sometimes you see them with the stroller coming home from store up near the highway.

Maybe someday they will chop trees or hike the world just to be together and spend their energy.

And the magnolia with be white with flowers.

Tags: , ,

Let Me Tell You About My Grandchildren~ Katie Part 2

28 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills 

 

 

I mentioned last time that we have two sets of grandchildren – one set (boy and girl) from our oldest daughter, and one set (boy and girl – twins) from our youngest daughter.

I also mentioned that our oldest granddaughter, Katie, has complained that I have written about all the grandchildren except her! So I wrote that post for Katie. And so is this one. I’ve remembered some things about her that I would like to share.

I mentioned that Katie has recently graduated with a degree in Theatre Design and Management. Her specialty is stage management. And she’s very good at it! When she was here back in September of 2017, Fred and I took her to see La Nouba at the Cirque du Soleil at Disney Springs. Fred and I have seen it several times, but Katie had never seen it. While I knew she would enjoy the show – it is very much like a three-ring circus at times!! – I also knew she would be keeping an eye on all the production end of the performance. That’s just her nature now. She did just that, all the while enjoying that magnificent performance. We are sorry to see it ending in 2017. We hope they will bring another type of performance like La Nouba to this venue.

Katie, Karen and Brian came down for a visit January 1st this year for a few days. The weather was not the best, and so we thought to do some things indoors. One of the things we did was to take them to Disney. Well, we parked the car at the Polynesian Resort at Magic Kingdom, hopped aboard the Monorail, and got off at all the resorts along the Monorail track. We saw all the Christmas decorations still up in the Grand Floridian Resort, and Polynesian Resort, and the Contemporary Resort. It’s a fun thing to do, and free. And Disney really does it up right!

 


Credit Google Search – Grand Floridian Resort

Here’s a picture of her in front of the Gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian Resort.

 

 

While at the Contemporary Resort, we came upon a “Gingerbread” stand – there was a small gingerbread house, with a booth where one could purchase a cookie and cider.

 

Credit Google Search – Contemporary Resort

As we were ogling the display, we noticed a remote-controlled BB-8 rolling around. It rolled toward Katie, and stopped and “looked up” at her. Katie was enthralled!! It is a memory to keep, for sure! (P.S. – in case you don’t know who BB-8 is – it is a robot from the Star Wars series)

 

 

Karen told me once that Katie had asked her why Grandpa (Fred) called everyone “Jack?” Well, you see, when Fred gets upset with other drivers, he says things like, “where did YOU learn to drive, Jack??” And other goodies. Just a name he pulled out of the hat to call other drivers.

I know there are other funny and adorable things about Katie that I will remember in future times, but at the moment, these are for my readers to enjoy. I have most certainly enjoyed remembering them and putting them to paper.

Katie – I love you! Granny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →