In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

I waited twenty years for this!

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by Rumpy, Sep 17, 2017.

Page 3 of 3
  1. Rumpy

    Rumpy

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    1,290
    Location:
    Pioneer Valley, MA
    As far as I know, they are just tunneling through the wood to get at the fungus. I found that sewing needle hovering over wood I had just moved, which was split in the spring. So I bet the pigeon tremex larvae don't mind dead wood.
    The crazy lifestyles of insects has inspired many sci fi movies, especially Alien. I couldn't make this stuff up.
     
    Rumpy, Sep 20, 2017
    #41 Top
    HDRock, blacksmith, Boomstick and 1 other person like this.
  2. billb3

    billb3

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Messages:
    10,179
    Likes Received:
    52,406
    Location:
    SE Mass
    It's not like they can just pack up their bags and move to new digs ...
     
    billb3, Sep 20, 2017
    #42 Top
    blacksmith likes this.
  3. Rumpy

    Rumpy

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    1,290
    Location:
    Pioneer Valley, MA
    IMG_7205.JPG
    Here's a hornworm loaded with Braconid wasp cocoons.
     
    Rumpy, Sep 21, 2017
    #43 Top
    Woodwidow, blacksmith, HDRock and 1 other person like this.
  4. RCBS

    RCBS

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2016
    Messages:
    4,806
    Likes Received:
    22,779
    Location:
    Over here
    So how's that work? They eat the worm before it Pupates? During?
     
    RCBS, Sep 21, 2017
    #44 Top
    blacksmith likes this.
  5. Rumpy

    Rumpy

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    1,290
    Location:
    Pioneer Valley, MA
    Oh RCBS, you knew I was itching to give a lesson, didn't you?

    The female Braconid wasp lays her eggs under the skin of the hornworm. The Braconid larvae then eat all the non-vital tissues first (like fat). Then the larvae chew out of the hornworm's skin and pupate (make cocoons). The adults emerge and find new hornworm hosts. I'm not sure the host always dies in this case.

    Anyway, the Braconids obviously have to go from egg to adult before the hornworm pupates.
     
    Rumpy, Sep 21, 2017
    #45 Top
    RCBS, blacksmith, brenndatomu and 1 other person like this.
  6. Boomstick

    Boomstick Banned

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2016
    Messages:
    1,379
    Likes Received:
    4,616
    Location:
    Saratoga county ny
    Are these wasp larva? They are all over the place. IMG_20170921_173632954_BURST000_COVER.jpg
     
    Boomstick, Sep 21, 2017
    #46 Top
    RCBS and blacksmith like this.
  7. Rumpy

    Rumpy

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    1,290
    Location:
    Pioneer Valley, MA
    Not sure. The one thing that is certain though, is that they go squish when you split the wood with a maul.
    They are clearly a destructive species.
     
    Rumpy, Sep 21, 2017
    #47 Top
    RCBS, blacksmith and brenndatomu like this.
  8. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Messages:
    17,632
    Likes Received:
    114,811
    Location:
    Vermont
    my driveway is 1/4 mile 150 feet through swamp the monarch butterfly were literally thousands at swamp.. of course no :ithappened:it was foggy but my little girl was like :jaw: will bring phone tomorrow and try for a pic
     
    Canadian border VT, Sep 21, 2017
    #48 Top
    RCBS, yooperdave, blacksmith and 2 others like this.
  9. yooperdave

    yooperdave

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Messages:
    33,507
    Likes Received:
    205,902
    Location:
    Michigan's U.P.

    That will be interesting to see.
     
    yooperdave, Sep 22, 2017
    #49 Top
    Canadian border VT, blacksmith and RCBS like this.
  10. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Messages:
    17,632
    Likes Received:
    114,811
    Location:
    Vermont
    I was not as good today left at sun up ... neighbor said we are getting such heavy dews 40s at nite 80 daythey are drying wings in sunlight did not want to come on my land to take pics I was like really Tracy you've had permission for a decade
     
    Canadian border VT, Sep 22, 2017
    #50 Top
    yooperdave and RCBS like this.
  11. RCBS

    RCBS

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2016
    Messages:
    4,806
    Likes Received:
    22,779
    Location:
    Over here
    IMAG1131.jpg Some sort of neat moth I saw today.
     
    RCBS, Sep 22, 2017
    #51 Top
  12. billb3

    billb3

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Messages:
    10,179
    Likes Received:
    52,406
    Location:
    SE Mass
    billb3, Sep 22, 2017
    #52 Top
    RCBS likes this.
  13. Rumpy

    Rumpy

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    1,290
    Location:
    Pioneer Valley, MA
    Now, there are rules on the internets. Pics or it never happened. You said thousands of butterflies, and now none. You can't just go online and say whatever you want. :wacky::loco: :crazy::p
     
    Rumpy, Sep 22, 2017
    #53 Top
    brenndatomu and Canadian border VT like this.
  14. bear 1998

    bear 1998

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2017
    Messages:
    2,016
    Likes Received:
    16,253
    Location:
    S.C.Pa
    We have laege amount them here...especially around august into september.
     
    bear 1998, Nov 19, 2017
    #54 Top
    blacksmith and Chvymn99 like this.
Page 3 of 3