I found something interesting! See if you can guess what it is!
I was cleaning up the pots out in the garden, doing a little weeding, trimming of dead leaves, that sort of thing, and I noticed that my Warm Wishes rose was as dead as a doornail, poor thing. One does have to look after roses kept in containers and I’m not really that good at it. I feed them and prune them and all, but I think the truth is that this one was just in too shady a spot. Roses like light, don’t they? Anyway. I dug out the dead roots and found this little fellow in the compost.
Isn’t he the cutest thing? I love his big black eyes and his transparent legs – and can you see that little round mouth – he looks kinda surprised to be unearthed, doesn’t he?
So, what is he? Look carefully – the clues are there! He’s about a centimetre long right now, though he’ll be a bit bigger when he’s had his final moult. Those legs will be longer, too, and he won’t be pale and see-through.
And no, he’s not a maggot! Stop going ‘Ewwww!’ and look closer! Maggots do not have wings! He’s a sweet little baby … something. But what?
He was difficult to photograph, because he was making continual and rather strenuous efforts to bury himself again. I took a little bit of movie of that, but I thought it might be too much for most of you and I don’t want to lose my readers!
Anyway. When I had finished taking his picture, I carefully buried him again. I hope he’s okay. I do love these cheerful little guys!
Given up yet? The curious may click here.
I always think it rather flattering that they call them ‘nymphs’. It’s bush tucker that’s what it is! Cheerful little chompers they are!
you had me fooled for a little there. My cats brought in 2 little dead snakes so far- oh yes it’s spring
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Ooooh Jay, you are so clever! I must admit that I didn’t know the answer and had to look it up. He/she is gorgeous. I have a question to ask, but can’t because it will give it away. Never mind, I’ll have to ask you later.
Until I clicked on your link, I just thought it was some of Andy’s ear wax that had dropped out.
Without giving the game away, I think you need to warn readers of a nervous disposition that your link will take them straight to a site about…..well about naughty goings on. I was shocked, I say I was shocked.
Going back for a 3rd read now……
Silverbacks last blog post..UWOTD
I am amazed that my guess was correct :O) I would have liked to see the video too.
well, well, I thought it wsa a woodlouse. But with wings …
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Hmmmmmm… think maybe I’ll get it? Good pix, BTW!
I LOVE Silverback’s guess!! HEEHEEHEE!!
It’s actually quite cute – in a creepy crawly kind of way! I was also digging and came across all manner of wiggly things – that’s until I’d had enough of bored greyhound eyes boring into the back of my skull and had to take him back inside to his comfy bed!!
Not entirely sure – but I actually think that it might be a beetle pupa – more specifically some kind of weevil pupa. Have a look at this photo – http://mint.ippc.orst.edu/images/strawweevpu.JPG
The larva may well have contributed to the demise of your rose by eating its roots. And if you think that he is cute now, wait until he becomes an adult. The cutest bug you ever did see.
Don’t Bug Me!s last blog post.."There is a grandeur in this view of life."
I really liked the site you linked to Jay. Bookmarked it. No critters coming out here like that yet, though our temps have been unseasonally warm, the ground is still frozen, so nothing much popping out here yet. Great photo of the little guy!
Sistertexs last blog post..It’s The Little Things.
Baino – Bush tucker! LOL! Trust you!
Sandy – Yikes .. I hope they weren’t venomous snakes!
Granny – Ask away! I want to know what your question is!
Silverback – You crack me up. ROFL! So you think there are people who don’t mind wiggly creepy-crawlies but would object to a little hanky-panky? Hahaha!
Babs – Well, maybe I’ll think about adding the vid as a clickable link.
Liz – I can guarantee you it isn’t a woodlouse!
OzGirl – Being an entomologist, you shouldn’t really be allowed in this guessing game. LOL!
However, now DBM has raised doubts in my mind as to the authenticity of my own guess, feel free to come back and add your tuppence-worth!
EM – I thought he was very cute! But I do like creepy crawlies.
DBM – Aha! That does look rather like him, but it would have to be a bloody big weevil! This little guy was about a centimetre long!! Hm. Maybe I should get him back out again and pop him in a jar to hatch. Serve the little beggar right if he’s been eating my roses!
Sistertex – It’s good, isn’t it? Ground still frozen .. wow. I thought it had gone cold again here, but frozen! Yikes!
I DID think it was a beetle pupa, actually… It looks like it has little clubbed antennae…
Here is my best bet – a vine or root weevil (Otiorhynchus spp.)
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/weevil.htm
Weevels can get fairly large and many are quite fat and heavy – so they no longer fly and they have to walk from plant to plant.
Don’t Bug Me!s last blog post.."There is a grandeur in this view of life."
You (meaning ‘me’) learn something new everyday! I didn’t know what it was, but it’s a real cutie
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OzGirl – Just shows what an amateur I am – I didn’t even look at his antennae! LOL!
DBM – Aha! (Again) When we bought the house, there was a large grape vine near that pot, and I have seen insects looking like that wandering around from time to time. I bet you’re right, the little bastard ate my rose roots! He’s still cute, though, and I still can’t kill him.
Carolina – Looks like we’re both learning today!
I had a hard time thinking of the letter i. And, yours made me laugh because how could have I missed iron?
Barbs last blog post..ABC Wed. – "I" = I Got My "i" (Eye) On You!
You can see his antennae really well in the 1st pic, but not in the other two. And don’t ask me WHAT beetle it is! There are MILLIONS!!!
Please Jay, can you tell what. if anything, is the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper? I don’t know how I managed to live a hundred years and not find out. Perhaps I did, and have forgotten.
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Oh, I was right! You did give some helpful clues, though
I think he’s pretty cute, too.
pictureeachdays last blog post..ABC Wednesday: I is for..
Wow…that’s amazing, I didn’t guess what it was…I suppose as a lover of natural history I should have but instead I feel educated. Fab photos
)
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And there I was planning to aatack the garden at the weekend – you have just reminded me to get some thick gloves! Creepy crawlies and me don’t mix too well!!!
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Barb – The iron was just right there in front of me when I was starting to think about ‘i’!
OzGirl – I shall remember to look for the clubbed antennae next time! But, come now, I need to know exactly what beetle he is!! Especially now DBM has suggested that he’s a Vine Weevil!
Granny – No, I’m afraid I can’t! Crickets tend to be shorter and heavier, that’s all I know! Oh, and I think you see grasshoppers in the daytime, but crickets not so much, and I don’t think crickets fly. But they surely must be in the same class (order?) – which I think is Orthoptera.
Picture Each Day – Well, if you’re going by my information, it seems we were both wrong! I’m a complete amateur, but my two entomologist friends are saying he’s a beetle, possibly a Vine Weevil! And he may have eaten my roses!
I still think he’s cute, though! LOL!
GemmaK – Well, I hope you read through the comments too – then you’ll be even MORE educated!
Kate – But … they’re so interesting! And some of them are so sweet!
It’s the reason my pond is a mess, you know. It’s so full of snails and freshwater shrimp and beetles and larvae, I can’t bear to drag the leaves out in case some of them get dragged out as well and they die!