"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Friday, September 30, 2016

Little Caterpillar


Little caterpillar, da da dee da da....  Can't get that song out of my head.  This little orange caterpillar is finally on his way.  It sure better hurry since fall is here to stay.


Going to decorate for Halloween today.  Found this little ginger guy in my indian corn.



He is pretty furry.  Asps are furry and have a powerful sting so I'm not touching it just in case.


Aren't you glad you stopped by today?



And for a real scare, here is a cowkiller.  A little over an inch long, this furry bug has armor.  The reason I know this is that when the kids were in school, they had to turn in a bug collection for a school project.  As we tried to push a pin through one, it wouldn't hardly pierce the shell and it let out a banshee scream - (buzz?).  We let it go after that.

Anyway, in spring, they are tiny ant-like things and by the end of summer they are this big.  And fast.  This is the best shot I could get after chasing it around.  One of my kids was stung by a tiny one and it was painful, so I'd imagine the big ones HURT.  Any volunteers? I don't know if they could really kill a cow, but wouldn't want to get stung by one.  They are quite common at the farm, hurriedly going on their way.

30 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

Search though I might Donna, I just cannot see that little chap in your photograph.

La Table De Nana said...

Your first shot is stellar:)

Listen..yellow jackets hurt like heck so I can only guess that feller must too!

La Table De Nana said...

Could it be a velvet ant?
I Google red and black bug that stings in Oklahoma:)
https://www.google.ca/search?q=red+and+black+bug+that+stings+oklahoma&espv=2&biw=1242&bih=580&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMoryh1LfPAhVJzz4KHaWhDwMQsAQIIg#imgrc=hdAGKOL2X28_YM%3A

donna baker said...

The cowkiller is bright orange with black Pat. He is in the bottom third of the picture. He just wouldn't stop to pose for me and I sure wasn't going to stick my foot in front of him.

donna baker said...

Yes, I've been stung by about every flying insect.

donna baker said...

I'll go look Monique. It sure could be, but I've always heard it called a cowkiller.

donna baker said...

I looked and you are right Monique. It is called both and it is fuzzy. I looked at a youtube video and it showed it's long stinger and made the creepy sounds. Just imagine those sounds while it is under duress.

RachelD said...

Wow! Quite the menagerie you've acquired! I miss those big-acre country days a lot.

I first thought the last one was one of those huge beautiful red-velvet ants about that size. They are scarce and a lovely quirk of nature.

Hope you're enjoying the COOOOL of this wonderful so-far FALL.

r

ps didn't read other comments til now---I don't remember any black on the ants in Mississippi at all.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

That cowkiller is a new one for me. I've seen some fuzzy caterpillars. We call them wooly bears. They usually have a stripe across the middle. There is some sort of "old wives' tale" about the width of the stripe and how long the coming winter will be. About as accurate as groundhog day predictions I suppose. -Jenn

Elephant's Child said...

Critters we don't see here, though we have variants of our own. Thank you.

Frances said...

You've got quite a collection of creeeepy crawlers there, Donna. Isn't there some sort of connection between the quantity of furry caterpillars the strength of the next winter season?

I do like your photographs so much...great close ups. Were they done with your phone, or a camera? I am getting closer to making a purchase. xo

donna baker said...

They have an eastern one and I guess some other kinds as I don't remember them having that long of legs as the ones on google. Very common at the farm.

donna baker said...

I don't know what kind this one is, but I have heard of the ones with a heavier coat that predict winter conditions. I just know that the white furry ones called asps down in Houston hurt horribly and cause scarring.

donna baker said...

Oh I've heard of some of the critters down in OZ. Big and poisonous.

donna baker said...

Yes, but I don't think the orange one is that kind. I use my iPhone 6s most of the time because I usually have it around. I've heard the new iPhone 7 has a much better camera, so I'd go for that. I know others like their different phones, but I've always had an iPhone. Do you have a Mac or use Windows?

Michelle said...

We have cow killers around here too. They are creepy!

ellen abbott said...

the orange caterpillar is not an asp, at least not the ones we get which are whitish or brownish gray and the fur lays down instead of sticking up.

donna baker said...

The youtube video of it showed it's stinger was about 1/2" long.

donna baker said...

A white furry asp dropped out of a tree when I was bike riding my infant daughter around Houston and landed on her face. It left red foot tracks on the side of her face and she screamed for thirty minutes. I had never even heard of them. I'll never touch another fuzzy caterpillar.

Sandra Cox said...

What a cute little caterpillar:)
Enjoy your weekend.

donna baker said...

You too Sandra. I'd never seen an orange one.

angryparsnip said...

Your first photo is so adorable ! So clear and just so cute.

I have heard cow killers really are painful and the area where you are stung swells up.
Like me with bees and wasps !
I hope you do not have many of them around. I wonder what eats them ?

cheers, parsnip

Frances said...

Thank you so much, Donna. for the winter prediction updates and photo info, too. It's damp and chilly here this Saturday...temp in the 50s, and wise to keep an umbrella nearby.

I'm leaning towards a 6S to still have the sound connection. If I completely enjoy this tip toe into smart phone land, then I might wish to try upgrading to the next iPhone upgrade celebrating the 10th anniversary.

My laptop is a Mac and was my first foray into the Apple orchard, after only having PC computers at work and at home.

I think your photographs are excellent. xo

donna baker said...

I bet nothing Parsnip. I can't imagine any animal or fowl around the farm that would eat one. There are many and it seems everything steers clear.

elaine said...

Some interesting insect life you have over there!

Bea said...

Love the fuzzy caterpillar & seeing the Indian corn. Fall is here!

donna baker said...

Yes, all except the flies and ticks. I could do without those.

donna baker said...

It is Bea. The geese flew in the lake just now from wherever they go overnight and leaves are sailing across the pond. Very pretty. Can hear the birds and bugs trilling but it is going to get very warm today.

donna baker said...

You have done your research well Frances, if you know that the 7 doesn't have the plug outlet for earphones. They do make lots of inexpensive blue tooth speakers but you must want to listen as you go about the city. You'll be happy with the 6S.

jerilanders said...

DONNA! I did not know those fuzzy's had a sting... I often pick them up guess I'd best be more careful in future. I tried to interest my boys in collecting bugs, but they never cared about it. I had a better collection by far!