The Return of the Moth

A glance around my yard shows many signs of spring, from the leafy artichoke bushes (only two lost to the Fantastic Mr. Gopher) to the new growth on the native plants and weeds. The overwhelming color is green with spots of purple sage and yellow sunflower just starting to blossom. I watched bees preening the tiny pale blue ceanothus blossoms, their back legs laden with pollen glowing bright yellow.

A more subtle spring return has been the return of moths. As I stepped up the front porch steps in the afternoon a fluttering movement caught my eye. I spied a cloudy apparition in an open lantern globe. I peeked through the top and spied a pale hairy headed moth. Although the globe had about a three inch opening, the moth was trapped, unable to could gain enough altitude to exit.

I took the time to observe and snap these shots. My son peeked too, then lifted the globe to release the moth.

Another Battle in the Aphid War

Ramshackle reader morgaineotm had some great aphid abatement advice:

Basil. Mrs.Meyers Basil Soap specifically. VERY diluted. Has helped just about all my plants that have been inundated with insects.

My youngest son and I rolled out a diluted Basil Soap attack. Next step in the ongoing war, I will follow EarthShaper's great advice:

I had the exact same problem two years ago with my artichoke plant. They all left. What I did last year was to actualize a pre-emptive plan. First I planted flowers the lady bugs would like. Look up insectiary plants. Then I went to my nearest nursery and bought me some ladies...Flashing forward a while later, I started becoming alarmed at the amount of lady bugs (and their larva) in the garden. This year I have the same plan, except I will try to keep flowers around longer and see what else I can attract.

Thanks for the tips.

Ladybug Assault

The aphid invasion was met with a water spray blitzkrieg followed by a swift ladybug assault, Phase I and Phase II.

Phase I used multiple landings on each artichoke plant with negligible impact. Although I hope aphid morale was hit hard, damage to enemy camp was minimal.

Phase II rolled out two nights later and focused on one location...the artichoke masthead with the greatest aphid occupation. I gracelessly dumped the entire container of ladybug troops late night on one plant in hopes of retiring early, but the lack of over planning worked. The next morning the artichoke was blanketed with ladybirds sucking down aphids. What an awesome site...Aphid Guernica.

But the troops proved unreliable and fled later in the day. Despite their capriciousness, I may launch another late night lady bug drop to follow up to Phase I and II.

Gorgeous and Dangerous

I found this black widow behind our love seat in the living room early morning. I had cleaned around the area the afternoon previous to the discovery.

In the few hours between cleaning and discovery, this dangerous beauty had spun a sticky thick strong web covering half the back of the couch and the wall behind it. The spider was nestled under the lip of the window...beautiful but unsuited to live inside our house. I felt a deep respect for her as Eric and I removed her from our home.

Aphids Abound

Our star crossed artichokes are growing. The aphids have taken note & set up residence under the leaves of one plant in particular. Our soil is thick with ants. When we first moved into our house, ants launched a monumental assault on the house. Outside, if you'd stick a shovel into the ground, the soil was boiling with ants. We heavily mulched the soils around the house for years, which seemed to dissipate the ant population. But it's still an issue as you can see by the thick covering of underside of the leaves on the artichoke plant pictured above.

I picked up some lady bugs to introduce in the garden tonight. I've tried using lady bugs in the past without much success. The ladybirds seemed overwhelmed in the past & frankly not very interested in eating. Perhaps they were on a diet.

I'm hoping these fine red shelled friends are voraciously hungry and will enjoy the feast.

Small Delights in Yard Exploration

The Timid Brown Widow

While planting some nasturtium seeds in recycled six-pack vegetable containers, I ran across many brown widows. According to the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America, the brown widow rarely bites. We practice a policy of relocation. Their black widow cousins, however, are not so fortunate at Camp Ramshackle.

Butterflies at the NHM

Swallowtail on Lantana.

As seen through the eyes of my almost three year old.

Mourning cloak on fellow Pavilion of Wings attendee.

Black Widow and Egg Sack

It seems we go through seasons when black widows are more prolific. I found this one well established under a bucket. I removed the spider (although gorgeous) and her egg sack.

Native Bee on a Dandelion

I saw this little green bee feasting on a dandelion as I walked past a patch of weeds on my way to lunch.


If you click on the picture you can see a bigger version.

Diabolical Ironclad Beetle

I found this amazing creature outside our kitchen. When threatened, the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle (Phloeodes diabolicum) pulls in it's appendages and sets down like an armored tank.


A much better photo can be found at Stephen Cresswell Photography.

Unknown Beetle or Maybe It's Just a Bug

Found cavorting through the pumpkin patch at Underwood Family Farms. Looking a my NWF Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America, it looks most like a Spotted Cucumber Beetle. But I don't know.

I'm going to ask the Bug Guy and hope for an answer.


If the bug remains unidentified, the fascination was enough.

Black Widow in the Mop Bucket

This one was in the bucket...


...this one on the mantle.
I like bugs but these make me nervous.

Grass Spider

Outside our kitchen door, I stumbled upon this web. Usually I find grass spiders (Agelenopsis) in our Canyon Prince grass with tunnel webs looking like a thick gossamer funneling into a black hole.


I was surprised to find this enterprising grass spider using a vacant bolt hole as it's tunnel. The web is not particularly sticky.


When prey stumbles into the web, the grass spider darts out quickly to grab it and bring it back to it's hole. We searched all day for earwigs to feed to the spider. With our hot dry weather, our typically abundant earwig population was no where to be found.

Agelenopsis identified using the Audubon Society Pocket Guide: Insects and Spiders.

Bedtime Interrupted

Our normal bedtime ritual was interrupted by this house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata).  It scurried across the bathroom floor as we were getting ready to brush teeth.  We stopped, caught the critter and pulled out our National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America.

The house centipede is found throughout North America and is a friend that feeds on household pests.  We released the centipede outside in hopes it might get to work feasting on ants.

Green Dumpster Diving

The boys and I were out walking the neighborhood. We picked up some broccoli from Figueroa Produce and turned ourselves homeward. It was trash day. Green, blue and black bins shared the sidewalk with us. As I passed one full green bin, a bright red bug caught my eye. My oldest son and I recognized the bug as ladybug larva. Our identification skills were honed in March when we raised and watched some ladybugs grow.


Excited about our discovery, I noticed the entire green bin was crawling with ladybug larvae. We harvested seven and brought them back to Camp Ramshackle. My oldest son bore the task of keeping the lively critters on the stroller tray with gentle pokes and sweet words of direction.


As we worked our way home, we periodically took roll on the bug count. "Only three left, Mom," by the time we pulled up to the Ramshackle gate. But I spotted one on my son's back and another on his knee. Five larvae were transported to barrel of carrots in dire need of some aphid eating ladybugs.


We returned to the stroller, happy to find a rouge to add to the posse.

Baby Praying Mantis in the Kitchen Sink

This critter was so small, I didn't notice it until after I finished doing dishes. Luckily, it survived.


The praying mantis is an awesome creature. Eric has an amazing story where he witnessed a praying mantis capture a hovering bee. Locked in the mantis' green forearms, the bee struggled and strained to free itself. The mantis held fast until the bee finally succumbed to exhaustion. I see why it inspired a whole style of kung fu. Elegant, graceful and stoically fierce.

Garden in Bloom

Our native plants garden is nearly in full bloom. I was sitting in front of this Catalina Monkey Flower hoping to catch a shot of another native bee when a grasshopper came clattering in for a landing about 18 inches from my face.

Here it is closer to where it landed. There were about 3 or 4 grasshoppers buzzing around at the same time as 2 or 3 humming birds. I think the hummingbirds are slightly the smaller of the two but it's easy to confuse them when they are zipping from here to there.

Baby Praying Mantis

This baby mantis stirred from it's hiding spot when the kids set up their chalk easel. It's about a half an inch long. We hope it makes it to maturity, we could use some help with the pests.

Ladybug Land

Our son received Insect Lore Ladybug Land from grandparents as a holiday gift in December.


In the past, we watched caterpillars grow. Our first run with the ladybugs was disastrous like an ill-fated Mount Everest summit. Not one larvae survived. Insect Lore replaced the batch.


Second round, we welcome three ladybugs to Camp Ramshackle. The life cycle of the ladybugs in Ladybug land is much more subtle than the caterpillars. The caterpillars grow visibly and are always moving. Our sons had a hard time sustaining interest in the small changes of the ladybug larvae. Now, however, with the ladybugs hatched and presented with a kale leaf drenched with aphids, our sons can't get enough of it.

The ladybugs race around the dome feasting on aphids. And the aphids and assorted small bugs from our infested kale, minuscule inch worms, tiny slugs, put on a great show as well. Soon we will release the ladybugs to roam in the yard and beyond.

Previously:
Butterfly Experiment Begins
Butterfly Experiment Update 1
Butterfly Experiment Update 2
Butterfly Experiment: The Release