Update: Today Just Wasn't My Day

Today didn't go well. A lot of drama distracted me from writing today and soon my brother and grand mother will be visiting. so i will be very busy. my idea about writing about food, obesity and school will have to wait until after i get my newer computer in a couple days. thanks everyone for reading. pleas have a nice day.

Minor Anouncement

I'm okay.. well for the most part. I was planning on writing about a few things today; but i woke up with an untimely visitor. my back hurts, my stomach hurts, i'm groggy, food makes me nauseous. give me four or five more days and i'll be able to concentrate on  writing a bit more. I just don't feel well enough to concentrate at the moment. thank you for your time and patience; pleas have a nice day.

Enter Freeto

With every life lost; there is a new beginning.

I'm glad I stayed up until four in the morning to watch

freeto shed his pupae skin.

it has given me the absolute pleasure of watching this

insect from larvae to adult.

 still a bit upset about my cat dieing.

it will take a couple more days for me to be able to 

think about how to phrase "for the love of larder beetles"

pleas forgive me for being late.

but enjoy the video above in the meantime.

Rest In Peace Kinsley

1997-2014
Rest in peace my beautiful handsome brave protector; Kingsley.

You were the best cat I have ever had.

It was a pleasure to be your owner.

You were the best photo model.

You made the best memories.

...Most of all... 

You saved my life.

I am both honored and saddened

that you choose to die in my arms

in my bedroom.

Kingsley, you will always be my baby boy;

but I hope where ever God puts you

in heaven- I hope you get to be a kitten again

in the arms of God.

(forgive me if I don't write for a little while)

Meet Freeto and Brutice

My boyfriend named this one Freeto.

He burrowed in one of them plastic CD spacers

i put in the tank as an experiment. 

and i named this one Brutice because he seemed big.

Larder Beetle Update: Life Cycle Complete

Pleas join me now in welcoming my newly formed adult Larder Beetles

in their new home.

It started off with Herman meeting Roman and Ambrose (Rollins is still pupating).

but after that I noted more and more babies

in the other items they burrowed into. soon i will tape how i cleverly 

get them out of their holes.

But for now enjoy this clip of my setting some newbies in the freshly washed tank.

also I've noted two babies have came out reddish.

i wonder what make this pigment and if it's normal.

I will most likely ask Eric when he comes back possibly.

but here are some more photos.

(Note that these photos where only cropped in photoshop; not colored in any way)

My Small Insect Collection

This is my small collection of insects- with the exception of two insects I found today.

I though i would share with you my ever growing insect collection.

most are insects found in my house that could not survive the night in the container.

Let me explain each insect here and new additions.

This is a Magicicada Septendecim Exoskeleton.

Also known as Periodical Cicadas; these specimens often look like giant locusts.

Although they are said not to bite or cause harm to plants; they only eat sap from deciduous trees.

These insects often lay their eggs deep in tree stems and it is advised not to destroy these insect eggs

because the larvae only eat sap and sense these insects burrow into the ground and sleep for seventeen years; they are not as abundant. Their absence in nature almost seems as if they went instinct.

 This is a Amphipyra pyramidoides Carcass i admittedly and sadly destroyed it's luster.

Luckily i took some decent photos before hand because this used to be my favorite peace.

( Lesson Learned: Don't glue moths to preserve them)

The Amphipyra pyramidoides is also known as the Copper under-wing.

these Pyramid Headed larvae are a result of a once a year brood.

They eat shrubbery such as including apple, basswood, hawthorn, maple,

oak, walnut, raspberry, and greenbrier.

This is a sugar ant that happened to be searching my monitor for sugar.

I was going to return it to the ant colony outside our house the fallowing day.

but the the poor bloke didn't survive sadly; so i preserved it.

This is a Toe-Winged Beetle.

these beetles live in rotten vegetation and rotten wood.

They do not bite and are quite harmless.

 These are the tiny unidentified insects that are just too tiny to decipher.

along with these  beetles below that may or may not be death watch beetles.

The next is the complete evolution of the Larder Beetle.

Note that i accidentally killed a pupae cause i thought an adult was in it.

a Larvae died most naturally as well as the adult Larder beetles i have.

it's starts with two adult Larder Beetles.

( I know; I have to figure our a better way to preserve them other then glue)

from the bottom left; that's a larvae in which produce a tune of molts which is on the bottom right.

when larvae is ready to pupate; it burrows into almost anything and becomes a pupae on the top left.

after a week or so they molt their larvae skin found on the middle left side.

a month later; they molt out of their pupae skin found on the middle right and become adults again.

This Folks is a Black Larder Beetle; a different species then the ones i have bread in the tank.

you can't see it by camera; but you can see a faint barely visible band over it's back

just like it's lighter cousin.

too bad this poor little one was found dead because i would have put it in the tank with the others.

founded today while hanging out clothes.

 Lastly; I believe this is a Phyllophaga Crinita.

Also known as a May or June Scarab Beetle.

Not much is known about these little critters.

But i'm so happy to own a Scarab Beetle.

Sadly i found him dead in a pale outside.

enjoy the rest of the photos.

This marks the end of my small bug collection.

I've Got Ants!!

But they're not in my pants. lol

I sent in a photo to fellow expert entomologist Walter Hintz

asking if these ants were carpenter ants.

 silly me forgot to add the photo as i generally do when i'm highly busy.

But when Walter received  this photo;  he had informed me that he could not

identify the suspects by photo. which was fine. So i asked curious questions

as i always do. 

this is my conclusion for ants that I've learned.

"keying ants down to species from a photo is difficult since fine details have to be observed and requires an expert in the Formicidae. You can also tell by their behavior and where they are found. Ants have varied appetites. Most are scavengers feeding on dead bugs. Leaf Cutters use three leaves to grow fungus that they eat. Army Ants are among the most dangerous animals in the jungle. If you were to fall incapacitated in front of them; they would eat you. There are also warning tribes that attack other colonies and take slaves and kill and eat others. Black ants in houses are sugar eaters and smaller red ones are grease eaters."
(Click To Read Actual Conversation Here)

So all and all; ants are rather difficult to decipher- but fun to watch.
so kick back, take a look and have fun watching
one of the scavengers in the insect world.

PSA- Your actions DO affect children.

I'd like to share a video with you first in which i happened upon.

Post by Funny Videos.

So many people forget that their actions DO affect the ulterior of a child. Children only learn by our example and the examples around us. I never said i was perfect; but if you can take the time to watch this- you can change your self or at least buffer your behavior in front of your child.

i can speak from experience when i used to watch my father and mother fighting over bills and such.

so pleas; just think.

Happy Independence Day!

So, I was about to go out and enjoy some fire works tonight. but i guess nature wanted to give us a very different set of fire works. i have no idea if fire works have been delayed or canceled. but we had a wonderful slightly tornadic thunder storm suddenly appear from across the US. 

here's a lovely short video and a bunch of pictures.

and if that's not enough to suffice you until i get to the ants, an update on the larder beetles and the next chapter on "For The Love Of Larder Beetles;" enjoy this twenty minute video of random clips I've collected.

Black-shouldered Spiny leg Dragonfly

(picture courtesy of  bugguide.net @ Hitching a ride)

Okay, my mother and I were going to the store and we stopped to rest like we normally do.

all of a sudden this insect randomly landed on my mother's arm.

Her first reaction was to panic and tell me to get it off and ask me it it bites. ( like i'm some entomologist; right?)  Non the less; instead of shooing the insect off her arm; I reached for her wrist and held it up to look at it closer until it flew away. I told her it was a baby dragon fly (even though i didn't know what it was). She thought it was a wasp and the day went until i was able to my computer.

I could have kicked my self though; because i had a feeling i should take my camera with me this morning. but as luck would have it; unfortunately i didn't take it with me.

But anyways; as i got to my computer i was going over the looks and size of this insect. I had never seen a dragon fly or damsel fly to be THAT short. usually they are about four to six inches long, right?

but this one was a tiny version. what on earth could it be? was it really a fly or some sort of  mockery?

I looked through the dragon fly pictures  and came to the one above. thank heavens it was marked and so i was able to learn the name of the species of dragon fly called  Black-Shouldered Spiny Leg Dragonfly. (Dromogomphus spinosus )

This species have long spines on their legs that help in the capture of prey. True to their name their shoulders are black. The dorsal thorax has a light green I-shaped mark with pale ovals on either side. Their flight time is between late May and early September from southern Manitoba to the east coast of the US as far as Florida. Terminal segments form a club with yellow lateral markings. Adults average 2.5 inches (64 mm)

so; why did it land on my mother? who knows? perhaps it needed a rest or  it was attracted to the array of blue and fleshy pink presented.

Lesson Learned today: bring my camera with me always. x3

For The Love Of Larder Beetles- Chapter One

Romance

It was the beginning of April when we decided to find each other… inside a house. My parents always spoke of this house as if it were the equivalent of heaven; food, Water and plenty of wood. Faintly I smelt the decaying odors of insects and squirrels. Even some dropped morsels. I couldn't take it; I had to investigate. So I helplessly blundered into this unknown house; I was small enough to fit through the siding and cracks. Dad was right; I found a glorious amount of food in the wall of the house. As well as an array of other insects who where all talking about these mammoth things they called “humans”. These humans all had a single goal: to squash us; thus ending our lives.

I would have been horrified; but there were always the spiders that ate guys like us. Then I saw her and it made all life matter disappear. All sense of brains left my head as I found my self-signing up for a competition against the humans and the object was not to get squashed. You know how the saying goes “love can make you do crazy things.” Well this was the coup de grace of stupidity I've ever seen my self sink low enough to do. I didn't even know her name…

But pretty soon I was filed out their on the bedroom floor right after the centipede. The human didn't even notice the centipede; she was watching this really noisy screeching light box. I ran across the floor with my heart in my throat and lucked out. At the other side of the room; I could hear cheers where I ran. They were happy I made it across the floor. As a victory they all feast; I looked back to where I ran from and hoped that she would be there. I was going to run back to the other side to say hello to the young maiden. But I was whisked away to something the humans called a “trash bin.” Before I knew it; I found my self being carried up the wall where the DROPPED me into this big black hole. I tried to dispatch my wings and flutter them as my body hurled towards this unknown universe. But all it did was soften the blow as I landed on a pile of zesty decaying matter. Is this what they meant by “feast?”

My mind was taken away as I swam through the rotten stinking matter collected in this wondrous hole humans called a trash bin. I don’t even remember hearing the others shouting not to go too far because this was the night this hole was transported to another world. I smelt really eroding rotten matter the deeper I went. I hit the bottom of the hole and started munching on a rotting fish tail. Suddenly I felt a shake just like an earthquake and my eyes widened. I panicked and chewed a hole through the bag as I fell onto the ground I ran around desperately trying to find the exit; but I couldn't climb walls and I sure as shooting couldn't fly that high. I was trapped helplessly and everything went silent. I could see my life flash before my very eyes. This was the end of my little life; the human had spotted me and was going to squash me.

In the process of five minutes I was scooped up in a small tunnel and was trapped. I panicked more trying to find a way out. But there was even a wall on the top of this container. That was it; the human was going to pin me like my father had told me about before. I kept running around the small compartment for hours until I just gave up in escaping and waited for death.

It was a day later my compartment had been picked up. Now three humans were staring at me and I gulped. What where they going to do with me? I couldn't quite understand what they were saying and I think if they could understand me; I’d be outside by now. But again I was set down for another grueling four hours as one of the humans just sat there staring at a light box and me. I finally decided to take a nap for the day.

All of a sudden I felt my self tumbling down the container into a different larger terrain. It was mostly smooth; but as I explored it. There was a small dome, a damp patch and… FOOD! I ran as fast across this new heavenly spot and began to chow on this delicious salty delicacy that had been left here all for me. This was every insects dreams; a huge home with delicacies outside. This was what I was afraid of?

It must have been a week I was truly living the life. This was my bachelor’s pad. My fitting home for a possible suitor and my future kids. Boy, was I ever in for a surprise.

It was the next week and I was all settled in; strutting around this mansion given to me when all of a sudden something was dumped in my area. At first I was afraid it was a predator; so I approached cautiously. But as I came closer I saw something that completely pissed me off. It was she, the one I thought was so beautiful and he on top of her.

I ran over there so fast and knocked him off of her.

“ Let me show you how it’s really done!” I had screamed out in anger.

“I’m sorry, Bernadette. He’s too big for me to knock off.” The other much smaller male said comfortingly in a sad and small voice.

Written 6/28/2014 @ 10:30pm by Feenie Thompson

( stay tuned for chapter two of this epic idea and pleas be patient )

Larder Beetle Cycle Complete

Now I know that if my Larder Beetles Larvae get antsy like this:

It means they need a block of wood to barrow into.

 and after a month of waiting; you get to see a little shiny

shell in the hole.

and when  it feels safe enough to come out of the hole and join the world.

and you're excited to have ventured through and witnessed a whole life cycle.

you are freaking surprised it's so HUGE. Then you get over it

and let it have brunch with it's father.

and enjoy watching their first meeting.

(note there will not be names for these three until Monday)

How To Decipher a Bunny Rabbit?

As in my previous post; their are only a few ways to decipher  a hare.

First; you're going to want to determine climate, size and shape.

you can take a picture if you are quiet and don't run after the poor thing.

For me this picture is suitable for scrutiny. 

Hare

From: North Eastern America

Size: Tiny; Possible Baby, Gamecube sized

Habitat:  Large Leafy Shrubbery.

Eating Habits: Clovers and Insects

Color: Grayish-Brown

Okay; this is a good observation and picture.

but it's always good to take more then one photo.

 You never know what details you could missing.

For this hair; the possibilities have dwindles down to

two possible answers.

The New England Cottontail Rabbit

or

The Easter Cottontail Rabbit.

So how do I tell which one is which?

Easy.

Research states that:

"New England cottontails are virtually identical to eastern cottontails. The only way to tell them apart unequivocally is to view skull characteristics or by DNA analysis."

I do not kill animals to decipher them so i'll go withe cranium.

 "Generally, New England cottontails have slightly shorter ears and smaller bodies."

well I did say it was gamecube sized; but it might be a baby.... no good.

 "New England cottontails have a black spot between their ears 90% of the time (compared to 40% in eastern)."

Hmmm... it doesn't look like it has a black spot anywhere...

 "They always lack a white spot on the forehead (eastern has the white spot 43% of the time), and they have a black line on the front edge of the ear 95% of the time (easterns 40%)"

AHA! I've figured it out!

 it's an Eastern Cottontail Rabbit.

Look at that nice white dot.

Wish you well on figuring out your bunny rabbit.

Easter Cottontail or New England Cottontail Rabbit

Remember this adorable gamecube sized hare.

It turns out their are two species that are common in Connecticut.

The New England Cottontail Rabbit- which is on the endangered species list

and The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit- which is common and not threatened.

These two species closely resemble each other so much that it is next to

impossible to tell the difference. Unless you have a close view of the head.

  Or DNA work; but why capture a tiny little bunny rabbit just to collect a

blood sample? seriously? just let it live outside.

enjoy these magnificent works of art chow down in your front yard as you take 

pictures if you are quiet and don't advance towards it.

you could feed it vegetables; but chances are that it already has a plethora

of food sources outside.