I swear to Zog I am going to perform a violence on these damnable pickleworms. Two more wee zucchinis bit the dust thanks to these little bastards, so Operation Pickleworm Death is moving into high gear. What do you think…flamethrower? Pony nuke?
Above is what the damaged fruit will look like, just a tiny perfectly round hole. And here’s what you’ll find when you cut it open (not my pic):
Here’s what the eggs look like (the orange-y beeswax looking stuff there)…albeit when it is too late.
These were spectacularly weird cucumbers, too, siamese twins.
Oh well, now they’re compost.
The melons are at risk too, curse it, just when they’re getting so melon-y.
That’s the pineapple (ananas) melon. It MUST be saved!!!212drama!111
Inside the house, someone (Nana, I think) gifted the children with a butterfly raising net-thinger last christmas, and we finally got around to purchasing caterpillars (or calerpittars, as the Girlchild still sometimes “accidentally” says) last week. They’ve nommed up all their pre-packaged food and have gone all chrysalis-y on us. It is tres creepy, let me tell you, when you’re transferring chrysalids to the net-thinger and one starts freaking out, wobbling the un-solid part of its abdomen like mad. Apparently some flutterby chrysalids have this capability, it’s a predator scaring-off mechanism. Works, too…scared the crap out of me.
These are painted lady butterflies, and after they emerge we’ll be releasing them outside to fly, be free! Where they will live, predators willing, for approximately 2 to 4 weeks.
$30 bucks for 4-week butterflies. Ah well, the kids are enjoying the process.
The milkweed out back is about to flower, so Monarchs shall soon be ours as well.
The lizards are enjoying the bean trellis.
The parisian pickling cucumber is losing track of its support cage.
NO! The marigold seedlings are not yours, bad, BAD!
Probably no further updates until Tuesday, as this weekend holds the Boychild’s 11th birthday party, at least one viewing of Indy, backyard weeding and mulching, and holiday butt-smoking and Geocaching. I hope you all have a very fine Memorial Day weekend.
on 
on May 23rd, 2008 at 11:25 am
11th birthday? Wow.
Another friends’ kids had those butterflies. I want some next year. And ladybugs. And praying manitisesiesies. Yeah. What’s the plural of “mantis” anyway?
on May 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 am
Mantiserellisimos, I believe.
Flutterbys came from Educational Science Co. Not too late to get them this year…I think.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
These bug shots are disgusting and compelling at the same time. Much like Jack Black.
on May 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I think that’s General Mantiserellisimos to you and me. At least, it is if you’ve seen the pics of one of them killing and eating a hummingbird. Gah.
on May 24th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I do love the wing shot, lovely detail! One of my favorite plants has been plagued with a nasty bug….must squash them out!
Glad you stopped by Clay and limestone…
Gail
on May 25th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I like your macro photo of the wing. With the intricate detail it looks like a stained glass picture.
on May 25th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Awesome photography! Thank you for joining Blotanical and showing us the way to your lovely place. And I think a flamethrower would be a wise choice
My dad uses a sort of a mini-torch in the veg garden when going into Slug-busting missions. I’m only a trainee though and prefer beer traps for my sluggish garden friends.
on May 25th, 2008 at 10:14 am
@Caitlin: Ok, I did NOT need to know they could do that.
on May 25th, 2008 at 10:14 am
@Northern Shade: Isn’t it amazing? Even nicer when they’ll hold still for you to get the shot.
on May 25th, 2008 at 10:16 am
@Viooltje: Thanks! Since we’re in Florida, plant roots go allll the way down, so unfortunately we have to crawl around and pull them out by hand. Ah well, all part of the “joy of gardening.”
on May 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am
@Gail: Thanks!
on May 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am
@Jim/ArtofGardening: Oh you leave him alone, he would not be quite so entertaining were he less…interesting to look at.
on May 25th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I refuse to believe that he’s 11 already.
on May 25th, 2008 at 11:37 am
@michele: And as tall as I am.