These fellows are enjoying our wild goldenrod. I have seen black wasp looking things before, but what is that pretty insect on the left!
Ailanthus Webworm Moth (Atteva punctella)I identified it by going to this great web site: Bug Guide. If you click on that link, you will see their two photos.
We do not have any Ailanthus trees (Tree of Heaven) here, thank goodness, but they are in other areas of town and may be taking over the world. You might remember that one from the book and play, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.
Then there is this surprising fellow. I first thought tomato worm or tobacco worm (after all this is Kentucky!), but there are no diagonal stripes and the horizontal stripes had me stumped. Notice how it has eaten the petals of those two New England Aster blooms, and the one in the upper left hand corner.
Goldenrod Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar(Cucullia asteroides)
So away I went to another great web site about bugs and things: What's That Bug. I could not find it among their green larvae, so I sent in the photo and a message asking for help. Here is the reply: "Your caterpillar resembled that of the Brown Hooded Owlet Moth. Sure enough, there is a photo of a Goldenrod Hooded Owlet Moth Caterpillar, Cucullia asteroides, posted to BugGuide that is a dead ringer for yours."
Here is their even better photo of the larva. And here is their photo of the moth.
That is all for now in the Creepy Crawlies Category. You might find those two web sites helpful someday.
24 comments:
Thanks for the links. I'm no bug expert.
There is so much color in your garden now, and those crawlies sure love it!
Creepy indeed... especially to edible gardeners like us. A worm is a worm is a worm when it's eating your greens! LOL
Ooh, I'm in need of one of those websites right now! Thanks Barbee!!
Thanks for the links, Barbee'! And boy, is that ailanthus webworm moth caterpillar beautiful! Reminds me of some of the intricately marked cone shells in my collection.
Perennial Garden Lover (Virginia, U.S.A.): Hi, I'm not either, but they surely are interesting.
dp nguyen (Tennessee, U.S.A.): Yes, there is so much of the autumn asters and goldenrod blooming right now, that they can munch away and we'd never miss it. Plenty for all.
Shibaguyz (Washington, U.S.A.): Ha, if they were on my future dinner, I wouldn't like them either!
Kathleen (Colorado, U.S.A.): Oooo, what have you found?! Show us, show us!
ourfriendben (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.): You are welcome for the links. I thought there might be other former biology students out there gardening who might enjoy them.
I love learning about bugs on the blogs. It is such a big help to me in my own garden. Your opening picture is also great. I like the pine tree with the shrubs below it. It all looks so healthy and lush. Thanks for all of your help with the picks and for sending the link to my mother. It is much appreciated and you are most kind. Great posts too! My asters are not even close to blooming.
Cool, I love bug posts!
You always have such good information! Thanks so much for the links. I's still waiting for monarch caterpillars...maybe no takers for the butterfly weed this year.
The bug site is great, and thanks for the other one too. I've seen some weird bugs this summer also. We've been having a hummingbird moth visiting the butterfly bush. I've seen it at least 4 times now!
tina (Tennessee, U.S.A.): Wow! Thank you for all those nice things you wrote. How nice of you!
I likE plants! (Florida, U.S.A.): Glad you liked my buggy post.
Meadowview Thymes (Texas, U.S.A.): Thank you, glad to share the links. Don't give up on the Monarchs yet, they could show up in September or early October. Maybe later for you there in Texas, don't you think?
Brenda Jean (Michigan, U.S.A.): Oh, good, I'm glad you enjoyed those sites, nature is sooo interesting!
Thanks for the great bug pictures, I particularly liked the goldenrod one. Also thanks for the links, which I'm sure will be reliable coming from you!
Pomona Belvedere (California, U.S.A.): Glad you enjoyed the bugs. I had never seen those before. Regarding the links to bug sites, I thought other people might have a few they wondered about, and might be able to identify from those two places. When I visited those sites, I was surprised to discover that so many people are interested in bugs and such things!
Creepy, but cute.. if that is possible. :-)
Charlotte (Norway): I think so, too. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I enjoyed seeing your world through the photographs on your lovely blog.
Bugs!
Now I wish we had some interesting bugs so I can use that site! Actually, we will be going to the desert this winter so these sites will be very helpful when we get back. Huge moths, crazy beetles!
Thanks, barbee,
Regards,
Philip
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Looks like you did your research to identify your bugs. That so awesome. I love researching stuff like that. When you discover what you are looking for it leaves you with a great sense of accomplishment!
I also see you are a trug lover. Way to go.
Have a great day.
philip bewley (California, U.S.A.): Glad to be of some help. And, may you always have only helpful bugs!
Thank you for commenting on my blog earlier today. I can see that for a non-Swedish-speaker it doesn't make much sense. But the world of gardening is still a little bit latinized and thus multicultural! And pictures help a little too.
Looking at bugs, flies and worms with interest is problably something which comes with age. A few years ago I felt insects were frightening and disgusting, now, at the age of 35, I like them. I know they do a lot of good in my compost, and I am grateful for them pollinating my fruit-trees and tomatoes. And they are often very fascinating to look at. Unexpected colour-combinations and inventive shapes!
I really enjoyed your beatiful photography in this post!
This blog was a wonderful experience, I will be back soon.
best regards
Monica (from Gothenburg, Sweden)
These are great pictures. I am always so busy hating my bugs and peeling them off and squashing them that i never both with the identification. Perhaps I should take a minute to find out what I am sending to perdition!
jordochdjur/Monica (Sweden): I certainly found plenty on your blog to entertain me. And, thank you for popping over here to visit. I am glad you enjoyed your visit. Our local son took those two photos. He is very helpful that way. Regarding bugs, flies and worms: I guess some people are just born with a natural fascination and curiosity about them. The rest of us gradually learn more about them and how they function in our world. That broadened knowledge makes us more understanding and tolerant with them. Would that we could be that way with other groups of people.
elizabethm (Wales): Hope it isn't a baby pretty butterfly or one of the good guys. Learning bugs just sorta goes along with gardening. We have to in self defense, don't we.
The Hunky Gardener (Canada): Hi there. Didn't see you at first, you must have slipped in there while I was working on another reply. I appreciate your coming by and leaving a comment. Trugs? Yes! The deep bucket form is so handy for so many uses. They are tough but flexible. I don't know how long they will hold up and last, but I have four and they are great so far.
Thanks for the links to the bugs sites. I am always greatful for another resource I can pass on to my readers. It is amazing that a bug as destructive as these can have their own beauty.
You are welcome for the links. I have enjoyed those sites. Well, I am all for encouraging the population of the Ailanthus moth. Those weed trees are impossible to stop. Not fond of the other guy eating my aster blooms, though.
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