SDPB-TV and SDSU during the summer have their weekly GARDEN LINE show. Tonight the discussion bounced around all kinds of fungi, molds, weeds, not weeds, and then came the photo of some variety of caterpillar stage of a moth. If they were crawling in their normal surroundings..whatever that was, no problem. But if they seemed headed in strange directions, the larva of some wasp or other pest may have gotten into the caterpillar and taken control of its mind and directed it into someplace better for the larva than for the caterpillar. That was creepy enough for the evening. You might be able to get the replay online or see it again this week sometime on Friday and/or Saturday.
More GardenLine info. I think we have watched some version of this program through several moderators and a rotation of panelists for too many years...considering we never seem to get a garden of any consequence planted.
But, if you want just a wee bit more creepy imagery (depending on your attraction to spiders who aren't men in comic books...I don't like them after being bitten a couple times. They can leave a nasty mess behind. Anyway take a look at the image below.
Click on image for a larger version
Note of September 1, 2016: Sandy Pyper asked what kind of spider the above is in her comment yesterday. Today I received the information below from Amanda Bachman, Phd. who is an " urban entomology field specialist at Pierre, SD.
"If the spider in question is from this post: http://dakotatoday.typepad.com/dakotatoday/2011/08/-big-spider-and-sd-garden-line-on-insect-mind-control.html then it is a black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia - http://igrow.org/gardens/home-and-garden-pests/black-and-yellow-garden-spiders/). They are beneficial and harmless to humans."
The white pipe in above image is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Photo isn't very sharp. My too friendly dog wanted attention and made taking any kind of photo difficult.
That's enough of the creepy crawly things for the evening...unless you want more news about Michelle Bachmann or Texas Governor Rick Perry asking God for campaign instructions.
** Stay tuned for more of the near terminally mundane --- Doug Wiken
what is the name of this spider? We found it by our back door.
((((( Sandra, I don't have any idea. But, think I will make a print of it and take it into area extension office and see if they know.-- Doug W.))))
Posted by: sandra pyper | Aug 31, 2016 at 11:45 AM