Show your Bugs and Critters

[Manixguy@1994]

Seek says American Bullfrog.

Thanks Mac ! I thought so . Dan

[troutinCO]

A plateau striped whiptail seen while hiking in Arches:

[Mad Mac]

We had lizards like that and horn toads here.
Fire ants did a number on them as well as quail and even armadillos.
Armadillos are making a bit of comeback but not the lizards, horn toad or quail.

[troutinCO]

We had lizards like that and horn toads here.
Fire ants did a number on them as well as quail and even armadillos.
Armadillos are making a bit of comeback but not the lizards, horn toad or quail.

I'm a desert rat, I grew up in Midland, Tx.... We had horny toads(as I called them) and these lizards too all over back then in town.

[Manixguy@1994]

We had lizards like that and horn toads here.
Fire ants did a number on them as well as quail and even armadillos.
Armadillos are making a bit of comeback but not the lizards, horn toad or quail.

Hi Mac , so want happens the Fire Ants invade the nests , attack the adults or both ? I am clueless about them but they sound devastating to the ecology of your area . Any way to wipe out the Fire Ants or are they too well established ? Dan

[Woodpuppy]

Anything that could wipe out fire ants would be even worse for the native environment. That doesn’t mean some fool won’t try something… we’ve all seen that sci-fi movie.

[Manixguy@1994]

Anything that could wipe out fire ants would be even worse for the native environment. That doesn’t mean some fool won’t try something… we’ve all seen that sci-fi movie.

Gotcha ! So any insecticide used would have a negative impact on the environment. I once read after WW2 when they tested nuclear bobbed at Bikini Atoll after all the blasts the only thing living there were Rats and Cockroaches. Thanks Woodpuppy! Dan

[Woodpuppy]

Anything that could wipe out fire ants would be even worse for the native environment. That doesn’t mean some fool won’t try something… we’ve all seen that sci-fi movie.

Gotcha ! So any insecticide used would have a negative impact on the environment. I once read after WW2 when they tested nuclear bobbed at Bikini Atoll after all the blasts the only thing living there were Rats and Cockroaches. Thanks Woodpuppy! Dan

Oh, I was referring to when people release exotic predators into an area to eat undesirable thing 1, but they end up eating all the native stuff instead. One of the things that works on ants is “diatomaceous earth” which consists of itty bitty silica spines that work their way into the joints of the ants and kill them. Treat individual hills by sprinkling near and around the hill.

[Manixguy@1994]

Thanks for clarifying for me . Sounds like some good stuff . Dan

[Mad Mac]

This 1988 article in Texas Monthly reports what we were up against.
The situation is better now because of products like Amdro,
a bait that can be sprinkled on the mounds.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/fir ... from-****/

But it was too late to save some native species that were wiped out,
like the horn toad and quail.

[Woodpuppy]

Wow thanks for sharing that. It was a great read. Apparently we’ve had no further success!

[Makunochimaster]

Araneus diadematus vs Ambitious colorados

[RustyIron]

From today's ride in the hills.




Bee n' Gumhead

Tarantula

Fiery Skipper

Video of my little friend
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gv8bxfgb602ge ... a.MOV?dl=0

[JSumm]

I thought the dwindling of their numbers last year meant they were gone, but nooooo. The Joro spiders are back and all over the frickin place. You can't look at a shrub or tree and not find 10 or 50 of these guys. They are huge there webs are even huger. God forbid you do the unthinkable and walk through one of their webs. They are very strong. Feels like fishing line just much thinner.

[troutinCO]

We ran into some wet cows on the road up on La Sal today.

Lucky #13

[Mad Mac]

We have some open range in Texas
but it is separated with a fence and cattle guard
and a sign that says Watch for Livestock.
The responsibility lies with the driver.

If a driver sees loose cattle on the road anywhere else,
they are supposed to call the county sheriff.
The responsibility lies with the owner of the livestock
to remove the livestock from the road.

[Manixguy@1994]

Compliments to everyone these recent pictures have been outstanding ! I should taken some Hummingbird shots last night with my wife but got so engrossed watching the little characters I neglected taking pictures. They are juicing up big time for the migration South they won’t be here much longer .

[Woodpuppy]

I thought the dwindling of their numbers last year meant they were gone, but nooooo. The Joro spiders are back and all over the frickin place. You can't look at a shrub or tree and not find 10 or 50 of these guys. They are huge there webs are even huger. God forbid you do the unthinkable and walk through one of their webs. They are very strong. Feels like fishing line just much thinner.

Looks like a target practice opportunity with .22lr rat shot.

[JSumm]

Looks like a target practice opportunity with .22lr rat shot.

That would be fun. I typically leave spiders alone due their service to society in eliminating some annoying insects, but these things are out of control.

[troutinCO]

From today's ride in the hills.




Bee n' Gumhead

IMG_7951.jpeg


Tarantula

IMG_7981.jpeg


Fiery Skipper

IMG_7998.jpeg


Video of my little friend
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gv8bxfgb602ge ... a.MOV?dl=0

Terry is neat!