Show your Bugs and Critters

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Nap time ! Dan

That would not happen in my neck of the woods, he’d be taking a nap alright-a permanent one!!! Ever had squirrel and dumplings or squirrel stew?

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

these guys keep hanging out with me the garden.

Mini acrobatic helicopters

[Manixguy@1994]

Nap time ! Dan

That would not happen in my neck of the woods, he’d be taking a nap alright-a permanent one!!! Ever had squirrel and dumplings or squirrel stew?

I went through back pages of thread and this is second time I have taken a picture of him in this position. My Grandmothers and Mom were excellent cooks preparing Squirrels. They would fry and then steam in a big kettle . I was normally in charge of harvesting , usually 10 to 12 were plenty . I would have passed on this one , he would be a next year shot . Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

Carolina Wren or a migrating Chipping Sparrow ? Flew through open garage door hitting back window full tilt . He was stunned and took him outside and after a couple minutes flew away . Dan

[Mrj]

[Manixguy@1994]

One of my favorites! Dan

[cabfrank]

Carolina Wren and Diapheromera.

[cabfrank]

Couldn't get this little dude off the hood of my car. He was hanging on for dear life, blowing in the wind.

[Mad Mac]

Northern Walkingstick, the common name for Diapheromera
Asian Jumping Mantis

[Manixguy@1994]

Carolina Wren and Diapheromera.

Thank you , I was leaning towards it was a Carolina Wren but wanted to be sure . All the House Wrens have been gone for quite sometime but I knew I had a Carolina Wren visiting our landscaping because they sound very much like the House Wren when agitated. Dan

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

So cool looking but man that dude needs to eat something

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Screenshot_20240818_160448_Messages.jpg
Couldn't get this little dude off the hood of my car. He was hanging on for dear life, blowing in the wind.

Love a mantis, organic pest control

[Mrj]

[Mad Mac]

Genus Tenodera, Chinese Mantis. Could not determine species.

[Manixguy@1994]

He was visiting my wife this afternoon in a chair beside her , one of those Kodak moments ! Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

Hitchhiker on my Polaris after taking load of limbs to burn pit in back . Dan

[Mad Mac]

Carolina Mantis
Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar

[Mad Mac]

Last night, Ginger alerted me with her snake bark.
Grabbed my flashlight and heavy walking stick
and met her in the backyard.

The flashlight showed a viper type head
wider than the neck.
It looked like a water moccasin.
I've never seen one close to the house before
and the only other one was in the lake
180 yards away more than 20 years ago.

Trying to pound its head in with my stick
I missed but Ginger did not.
Shaking the snake like a terrier,
the snake did not miss Ginger.
Only then did she let me finish it off.

The badly damaged head
on the 31-inch specimen
confused the iNauralist app
but upon closer examination
the next morning
the ocular stripe
marking it as a water moccasin
could be observed.

If it was just me
I could let it go
but with three dogs
and occasional grandchildren
I put down the venomous snakes.

Anyway, Ginger would never forgive me.

[Mrj]

Ginger is a hero!!

[Manixguy@1994]

Ginger is a very special dog ! Dan