Miggs and i woke up ay 6:15am as we do every day this time of year as I am the type of person who likes to greet the sun rise and the wake up of nature . I get my cuppa tea and camera and go sit on the back patio porch at the table and enjoy watching and listening to the birds and critters of course my Miggs is with me . This morning was no different well ok it was it was cool and dewy temps were a chilly 10C or 50F I like to call it fresh as in the cooler air in the summer you can smell all the sweet blooms and the smell of the dewy water on everything , any who I am sitting there in awe and then I spotted something hanging off of our birch tree , so knowing me I go to investigate .. well what do we have here !
Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillars hundreds of them as they were making their way down to the ground in the warmth of the sun rise .
What happens after you touch a Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar?
The caterpillar can leave behind venom that can cause a rash similar to that caused by nettles or poison ivy. Symptoms can range from slight reddening of the skin to a burning sensation with swelling and pain. Some people may experience an allergic reaction which could include nausea.
This is what they turn into .
Hickory Tussock Moth or Hickory Tiger Moth
Lophocampa caryae
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Identification: Forewing yellow with brown shading and bands of translucent white spots representing usual lines. Hind wing very pale, translucent yellow, unmarked.
Wing Span: 3.7-5.5 cm.
Life History: Females lay batches of eggs. Early instars stay together in clusters; later instars are not found in groups.
Flight: May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Ashes, elms, hickories, maples, oaks, and other trees.
Range: Nova Scotia to North Carolina mountains, west to Ontario, Wisconsin, and Texas. Absent from much of midwestern part of range.
So I got a rake and relocated them to the far away hedge of the property.
Then The sun rise was shining so pretty on my butterfly, bee , hummer garden and I had to take a photo or two lol !
We are soo please at how well this garden has turned out and all of natures creatures are just loving it !
Well so far that is my morning this morning I wonder what the day will bring oh I cant wait .
Miggs and I are off for our walk .
Take time to look listen and enjoy nature it will amaze you ! It does me every second of every day !
Until next time .
Country Gal
11 comments:
Wow! What an amazing photo that first one is. Gorgeous. Your garden looks beautiful. Deb
Love that little garden shot. But it's a bit cool to sit out here in the morning - only about 10C most mornings.
What an amazing sight! I've never seen anything like it. Great captures!
Good morning, I hope you and Miggs are having a lovely walk. The moth is neat and I have never seen caterpillars like that, wow! Great images, enjoy your day!
What a great photo you captured!
That was an amazing site to capture.
Do they damage the trees badly?
In which case, best to leave those caterpillars alone!
What a moment to capture...I had no idea that any caterpillar was poisonous...good to know. And scary too.
Hopefully we don't have them here..ugh...
Jen
Ewww. I'd have put a bucket under them and moved them miles away (or drowned them). The sight was amazing to see but they are really dangerous as kids love to pick up caterpillars and don't realize they will give a rash. I see warnings every summer about them. Plus they are destructive to hardwood trees. They are on the increase here in NB.
Fascinating! Love your new header too! xx
That's sounds like a caterpillar that you don't want to mess with. I say that having experienced the joys of stinging nettle.
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