A new flower bloom, perhaps.
Or a strange bug.
Maybe a giant fire ant mound.
Could be a water leak, a broken fence panel, or some other problem he'll have to deal with.
But, this time, what I wanted to show him was this:
Isn't that interesting?
Can you imagine the hours it took to weave all those little pieces together in a beautiful cone shape, hanging delicately from a stem?
We looked it up. It's the cocoon of a bagworm.
A bagworm.
I don't need any bagworms in my garden.
So, I ripped it down and smashed it. I felt guilty. As if I were destroying the Mona Lisa, or the Eiffel Tower, or some other masterpiece.
 |
| bagworm cocoon |
Sorry, worm. Unfortunately, your amazing architecture is not wanted here.
Caterpillars of a sphinx moth or some other big thug are eating two of my white Pentas. I am torn between picking off and destroying and letting them become moths. I let them stay until they are so big there's not much left to eat.
ReplyDeleteThat cocon is of a wonderful structure but........bagworms, I don't know them and I also don't know if they do any harm to our plants, I suppose yes, so we have to get rid of them, so sorry for the beautiful cocon.
ReplyDeleteI just had to go look this one up. The ultimate moth is very pretty: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Iphierga.jpg
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing cocoon; and the moth is a beauty too. Shame about the damage it causes. One of those horrible wildlife/plant decisions we have to make occasionally. Obviously, I have no compunction about dispatching slugs.
ReplyDeleteWe have to be cruel to be kind! My chard, turnip, lettuces and kale have all been attached this year by caterpillars. In fact I've never seen so many caterpillars! Suppose next year I'll have to cover veg plants.
ReplyDeleteAwe - what a pity! It is so amazing. Pity is hold a nasty!
ReplyDeleteI've ever seen one of those cocoons before and I would not have known who constructed it, so thank you, Holley! You managed some great photos before doing what you had to do. I don't think we have to worry about the bagworm population. There are other things for caterpillars to devour besides our gardens!
ReplyDeleteA gardener has to protect her plants. Some things I can squish with pleasure. The bag worm house is interesting, but not pretty enough to copy for earrings or anything. With that great picture you made that bag worm sot of famous. No artist would ask for more!
ReplyDeleteOh your a corker Holly. Had a good laugh at this one.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing architects these little critters are! I know how diificult it can be to destroy their work, but I suppose we have to take some control of our gardens or Nature will have its way! And unfortuneatly what we want isn't always what Mother Nature wants. I even struggle with that thought as I step onn squash the snails, but I do apolgize to them silently in my heart!
ReplyDeleteThe variety of shelters created in nature, from shallow indents in the ground to complex structures, is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe variety of shelters created in nature, from shallow indents in the ground to complex structures, is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen one of those before!! So stunning in its structure for sure!!! I get your reasoning!........have a wonderful Wednesday lady!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty amazing. I'm still trying to figure out how they do that. But I agree - it has to go.
ReplyDeletehi Holley, I looked this up too. We have them here too, we call them case moths. In Wikipedia it was suggested that the best to prevent an infestation was to pick them off at their pupae stage. So you did well ... I have seen a few in my garden, but left them because I didn't know they were pests. But the cases were not as attractive as your case (or bag).
ReplyDeletehi Holley, I looked this up too. We have them here too, we call them case moths. In Wikipedia it was suggested that the best to prevent an infestation was to pick them off at their pupae stage. So you did well ... I have seen a few in my garden, but left them because I didn't know they were pests. But the cases were not as attractive as your case (or bag).
ReplyDeletehi Holley, I looked this up too. We have them here too, we call them case moths. In Wikipedia it was suggested that the best to prevent an infestation was to pick them off at their pupae stage. So you did well ... I have seen a few in my garden, but left them because I didn't know they were pests. But the cases were not as attractive as your case (or bag).
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting architecture! You were smart to look up what it was though. Who needs a new problem no matter how cool the packaging?
ReplyDeleteCool structure...I have never seen this before.
ReplyDelete