Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Very Destructive Force

Last year when we moved to our new home I noticed many of the trees had been damaged by pests. This year I got to watch the devastation first hand. These new leaves are not more than a few weeks old and here is how they look.What's really weird is that about a week ago I noticed that when I walked down the driveway through the woods, it sounded like it was raining, even though it wasn't.At that time the forces of evil were almost too small to see.But in no time they grew to a visible size.This one is not as common as the rest so I'm not sure if he is on my enemy list.But this little one is in grave danger if he is in my reach. Sadly they are all the way up to the very tops of the trees.The rotten so and so's.What was that sound of rain in the woods?...this...If anyone reading this blog has ever raised a Monarch butterfly from a caterpillar you know that the more they eat, the more they poop and the bigger they get the bigger the poop. That "rain" I hear is caterpillar poop falling from the trees!! I'd bet you anything!! It's still raining even though it's sunny each day.
(the black dots, on the trash can lids...Poop!)And all I can do is hope and pray for more birds!!Calling all Tanagers, Warblers, Cuckoos and Woodpeckers!!
HELP ME!!!!

15 comments:

Dog Trot Farm said...

Is the Subbie undercover? the Harley? Oh my word what are you going to do, dare I say SEVIN. Maybe you'll have a "big" wind and they'll all blow away!

Mike Simmons said...

I hope you get some help soon Eve! We lived in Connecticut the early 80's. Gypsy moths were the enemy. It's hard to watch that destruction.

Bluekat said...

Dang! That's quite a crop of crawlies and inchies you got going there!

Sending all birds your way, that feast on these guys! They sure do a lot of damage.

Anonymous said...

Hey Evie, we have a Government thats doing that to us.{:) I digress, anyway I hope you get some nice butterfly shots out of all this if nothing else.

The word verification was (Mianslit) MI-AN-SLIT which is almost appropriate.{:)

A New England Life said...

Like Mike, we too have Gypsy Moth caterpillers which are just as destructive. Supposedly they come and go in cycles, and the birds won't touch them so we just have to wait for them to turn into moths.

I feel for you Eve. It's pretty gross!

Wendy said...

Unreal! There seems to be ALOT of them, your poor trees :( (I think those little inch worms are so cute... but only if there are about 1 or 2, lol) I had never heard of the whole poop thing, that's so interesting, in a funny/creepy/weird kinda way, haha.

PS. Love the tanager!

kerry hawkins art and photo said...

I remember many years ago New England had a GYpsy moth outbreak. It was so gross. You could hear them chewing at night! Yucky

irondad said...

So that would explain the folks walking under the trees with umbrellas on a sunny day?

Your post really gave me an appreciation for the damage. Interesting.

Unknown said...

Great and entertaining post, Eve. I'll have to start listening for the sound of caterpillar poop raining down. :) I'm glad that you were able to get a photo of a Scarlet Tanager. They are one of my favorite birds. I've never been able to get a good photo of one.

farmlady said...

Here in California, it's the Oak Leaf caterpillar. Very destructive, very invasive. We have lots of birds which helps but nature is out of balance and the insects will survive the imbalance longer than the trees will. Sad, but true.

Unknown said...

Eve:

can you get some sort of spray to get rid of them ? I don't like the idea of walking under dropping poop

bob
Wet Coast Scootin

Peggy said...

Holy destruction! I never knew...Calling all wormeaters!

Anonymous said...

Don't look up! You need some verios, orioles and perhaps some tits too!

Mary said...

Wow..that is a lot of leaf destruction! Hope it attracts lots of birds for you.

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Only you, Eve. Only you would have caterpillar poop raining down. ...more wine? Wine always helps, I've found. Especially when shared with a friend...