It's been raining steadily for a week now. We've received several inches, as evidenced by the small lake in our backyard. However, while the dark, nasty weather has succeeded in depressing me, the slugs have been enjoying it. The juvenile three-bands (Lehmannia valentiana) like to climb on the lattice below the porch and on the side of the shed, and last night there were quite a few on the porch itself, munching on soggy sunflower shells. They're coming long in terms of growth. I even saw a full-sized one. Where the marsh slugs (Deroceras laeve) have gone, I'm not sure, but this is their kind of weather, so it's puzzling.
As for the spiders, the cribellate orb weavers (Uloborus glomosus) have been feasting on kudzu bugs and anything else that gets trapped in their incredibly sticky webs. One cribellate in particular has grown quite fat.
In other news, my mom cut each wisteria vine at its base and the leaves have wilted accordingly. The kudzu bugs are hanging on for dear life, clustering in the rain. Fortunately the colder temperatures have made them lethargic, so you can actually go outside without attracting a horde of the "devil bugs."
No comments:
Post a Comment