Cool looking bugs have always fascinated me. What interests me most is how well they blend in. I can spot a Ladybug just about anywhere. Grasshoppers stick out also. But the praying mantis is just too cool!
I was doing some spot watering in the greenhouse today. We have plants in there that are now as tall or taller than me (I am 5’5” in case you are wondering). Well just cruising along the plots minding my own business then I happened to glance over my left shoulder. There he was. Hanging out – upside down – on the tarragon bush (Which, by the way, also gets HUGE! Cut it back three times so far this year, and it’s getting close to another butchering!).
I know the females (green ones) are in the greenhouse as we put most of them in there. But this was a he-male. First male I have seen in the greenhouse and that is this big…
I placed my hand behind him just to show how huge he is. My guess is about 3-1/2 to 4 inches long. I couldn’t help just staring at him. The details, the grace among the plant, the fact that they wipe out bad bugs – awesome!
We are getting into my favorite time of year – fall! This is when I really start looking at things in great detail. I was pulling weeds in the front patio and finally saw a velvet ant – not bad. They are the size of the red ants here, but shiny/fuzzy bodies. This one was bright red. However, I was asked once if the “cow killer” I found was actually a velvet ant. I can now firmly say – NO WAY, NOT ON YOUR LIFE! This velvet ant was really “ant” size – small, about ¼ inch long. The Cow Killer was the size of a large black beetle or a full-size bumble bee. It also moved really, really fast! Pretty sure I do not EVER want one of these to bite me – ouch! I would also prefer to not EVER see one again thank you – – – way too scary!
(Cow Killer)
I am thinking that climate change has all the bugs off-whack too. Insects that we used to see in the heat of the summer, have just appeared in the last 3 weeks…yellow jackets, for example. There have been a couple here and there, but not like right now. Masses have accumulated at the south side of our home and in the greenhouse. We have to go in the greenhouse early or late in the day. We have set up some traps, but their numbers are greater than our little traps can handle. This is very odd indeed. Over the last several years we have gotten the occasional honeybee that was lost, confused and ended up inside. A wasp or two was no big deal. But this year is biblical plague size.
HELBERG FARM STORIES 
I didn’t know mantis had wings… At least they look like wings. Are they wings?
Also I miss a *lot* of insects in my garden. I really do have to stop and look properly to see anything. I can’t just do a quick wander around and expect to see anything of any worth
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Almost stepped on a baby Bull Snake in the greenhouse Sunday – now that was a major EEEKK – was not expecting that to be in there at all??? Stupid Snake-grrrrr lol!
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I’m actually surprised you don’t have more shakes in there. Warm, plenty of insects, lack of predators. B-)
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Yep, they have wings AND if they are in a flat open area (not climbing a plant) they can move REALLY REALLY FAST!! (freaked me out first time I saw that – lol) Oh, and make sure you check my post next tues (9/13) in regard to how to wander in your garden and not get “caught” hee hee or just keep your head up!
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The swamp cooler keeps it cold during the day and they like it warm outside. This one was only about 6 to 8 inches long – really tiny so he may have slipped in somewhere and fell the 3 feet we are below ground. then cant get out…only thing I can figure? I have see larger garden snakes in there (nice snake) but they can get in and out through the vent area – tall enough to reach it. This baby was not – so we helped it out – ASAP! eeek lol
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