Woods Country Cove

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Nature Never Ceases To Amaze Me

 

 

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  .

JULY 2015 (31 of 37)

JULY 2015 (29 of 37)                                                    It was awesome to see this  let alone capture it in a photo ! .

JULY 2015 (28 of 37)                                                But never touch these guys they are poisonous .

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.

                JULY 2015 (35 of 37)

                                                                       This is what they turn into .

moth_hickory_tussock_3516_raw_big

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 !

JULY 2015 (34 of 37)

              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:

Deb said...

Wow! What an amazing photo that first one is. Gorgeous. Your garden looks beautiful. Deb

The Furry Gnome said...

Love that little garden shot. But it's a bit cool to sit out here in the morning - only about 10C most mornings.

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

What an amazing sight! I've never seen anything like it. Great captures!

eileeninmd said...

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!

Michelle said...

What a great photo you captured!

Gail said...

That was an amazing site to capture.

Do they damage the trees badly?

William Kendall said...

In which case, best to leave those caterpillars alone!

RURAL said...

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

Pamela Gordon said...

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.

Amy at love made my home said...

Fascinating! Love your new header too! xx

Anvilcloud said...

That's sounds like a caterpillar that you don't want to mess with. I say that having experienced the joys of stinging nettle.