tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post7318327477528204980..comments2024-03-24T03:19:46.974-04:00Comments on Scratch and Peck: Dubious TreatAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-2173816819485113012012-09-29T20:29:14.486-04:002012-09-29T20:29:14.486-04:00and PS my girls wont touch Tomato Horn Worms eithe...and PS my girls wont touch Tomato Horn Worms either, but give them a grub the same size and even higher on "ick" scale, and there's a feeding FRENZY!Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01498795574868622989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-36396410038252469492012-09-29T20:26:36.429-04:002012-09-29T20:26:36.429-04:00Oh the illustrations on this post are just freakin...Oh the illustrations on this post are just freakin' ADORABLE! I agree with someone above who said the one with the hearts would make a GREAT T-Shirt! I would buy one!<br /><br />I second Betsy F's praise for David Wagner's book. I use it all the time to ID caterpillars and the various winged things they turn into. I have Snowberry Clearwings in my yard and they are the big thrill of the summer, well, they AND the actual hummingbirds that visit my feeders.Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01498795574868622989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-9910788548750337922012-02-20T20:56:38.129-05:002012-02-20T20:56:38.129-05:00I live in a cement jungle in China - and one of my...I live in a cement jungle in China - and one of my ways out is gardening blogs and chickens (I used to have a flock...) and bugs online. This is such a lift. Thanks for your wonderful blog! I love it.Elynmachttp://www.characterreflections.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-69394681327329081202011-09-28T15:15:39.646-04:002011-09-28T15:15:39.646-04:00I am completely amused! Who knew this website exis...I am completely amused! Who knew this website existed. I have a chicken pact going with a novelist friend, and chickens loom large in our firmament. Shall have to share...Marly Youmanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02377938366750387442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-37733581239642482572011-09-20T13:39:47.783-04:002011-09-20T13:39:47.783-04:00Very amusing.Very amusing.Connecticut Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04645853009504991168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-32418091791238498082011-08-08T08:17:54.940-04:002011-08-08T08:17:54.940-04:00Such an interesting looking Caterpillar! I wouldn&...Such an interesting looking Caterpillar! I wouldn't eat it either. My old flock wouldn't touch snails but loved a wriggly green caterpillar...those eyes are freaky though!littlekarstarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177535712034761585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-3041395854829515532011-08-06T13:43:00.907-04:002011-08-06T13:43:00.907-04:00Thanks for stopping by my blog! Great story and a ...Thanks for stopping by my blog! Great story and a cool picture.<br /><br />Your moth adult looks like Hemaris thisbe, the hummingbird clearwing moth. The hornworm is in the same family (Sphinx moths, Sphingidae) but - I guess they all fly similarly. By far the two I see at garden flowers the most are Hemaris thisbe (hummingbird clearwing) and Hemaris diffis (Snowberry clearwing)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-84134439461740021552011-08-05T21:56:14.115-04:002011-08-05T21:56:14.115-04:00I've never seen a hummingbird moth or at least...I've never seen a hummingbird moth or at least I don't think I have. Maybe all of those eyes protect the caterpillars. If you see it tomorrow put it on the honeysuckle instead of the tomatoes. Tomatoes are one of the best things about summer. <br />xo, RosemaryContent in a Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075511188721176895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-73181711799644003772011-08-05T10:27:18.309-04:002011-08-05T10:27:18.309-04:00Lauren, you've doomed your tomato plants for t...Lauren, you've doomed your tomato plants for the sake of the Carolina Sphinx moth or one of it's relatives (Manduca rustica or M. sexta, probably) also known as Hawk Moths. These feed almost exclusively on nightshades (Solanaceae). The hornworms are pretty big (up to 9 cm).<br /> <br /> The caterpillar of the Hummingbird Clearwing is smaller (to 5 cm) and also has "eyes" (as do lots of other caterpillars). According to my caterpillar book ("Caterpillars of Eastern North America" by David Wagner), it feeds almost exclusively on Viburnams + honeysuckle and snowberry, all Caprifoliaceae and, perhaps on a few Rosaceae. <br /> <br /> I think the rule is "By their foodplants ye shall know them". Wagner indexes under foodplants so you can scan likely suspects if you find strange caterpillars on your oak (turned out to be Orange-striped Oakworm). It is a very handy book.<br /> <br /> Hummingbird Moths are really cool. I've seen at least a couple on the somewhat sparse Buddlia. And I saw one at a "feral" phlox--next to the Buddlia. My rule about Hornworms is squash UNLESS the critter has wasp eggs, then leave him to die and propagate the wasps.Betsey Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-54757466716418998392011-08-03T18:35:27.176-04:002011-08-03T18:35:27.176-04:00Tee-shirts?!?! Where?? How can I get one?
I would...Tee-shirts?!?! Where?? How can I get one?<br />I would have to vote for tomatoes over hornworms. Every one of my tomatoes will have a bite or 100 taken out of it if I do not hand pick or soap spray the worms off.Kay S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-27990231582191404702011-08-03T13:24:47.706-04:002011-08-03T13:24:47.706-04:00My friend, Jen, had one of those horny worms on he...My friend, Jen, had one of those horny worms on her sweatshirt, forgot about it, and ended up giving it to me when she drove me to my car last night. I drove home with that worm in my hand, knowing that I would have a whole bunch of little girls waiting to check it out.<br /><br />I have 7 meat birds growing and running around the yard. They hate to go in at night so, at 9:00 last night, they were all out and about. I brought the little worm over to them and put him down. Of course, my girls did the same as your girls, stared and stared. Finally, a brave one picked it up and started running around with it. Sheh played with it for a while and then finally put it out of its misery.<br /><br />Oh, and my sister has those hummingbird moths at HER house.<br /><br />Have a great day! Love love love this blog!Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008450250516520529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-76097016830635730302011-08-03T06:47:42.002-04:002011-08-03T06:47:42.002-04:00I am waiting excitedly for my Pigeon T shirt to ar...I am waiting excitedly for my Pigeon T shirt to arrive, I would love a 'Lucy' T shirt, do you have any plans for one? I will definitely be building a 'Scratch and Peck' Wardrobe. :)Intheskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15872933009509406305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-21441798020667187152011-08-02T11:15:17.105-04:002011-08-02T11:15:17.105-04:00Goodness. This turns the world upside down. I have...Goodness. This turns the world upside down. I have done in a lot of pretty moths, apparently. Now I am compelled to make a new plan.Natalie, the Chickenbloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07424213130274740719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-85345618240039973342011-08-02T11:10:36.423-04:002011-08-02T11:10:36.423-04:00*Squeeal* Such a cute story! My girls are usually ...*Squeeal* Such a cute story! My girls are usually excited to see me too, except for the time I brought them leftover blueberry muffins... apparently the blueberry after-taste was not very palatable because the next day the muffins were still there. <br />(Covered in ants. NIIICE.)Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693565002250035794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-65986372484441876522011-08-02T10:52:37.655-04:002011-08-02T10:52:37.655-04:00I love that your girls wouldn't eat it! I hop...I love that your girls wouldn't eat it! I hope you get to see the butterfly moth because you probably won't be seeing any more tomatoes. I think I would choose the tomatoes.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07992045408735413650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-52571832754617234492011-08-02T02:04:29.604-04:002011-08-02T02:04:29.604-04:00i adore you and your girls ! xxxxxi adore you and your girls ! xxxxxRaggy Rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03203799785418697082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-26859069986000011782011-08-02T01:36:58.746-04:002011-08-02T01:36:58.746-04:00I thought you Photoshopped those eyes on that cate...I thought you Photoshopped those eyes on that caterpillar so I went to Google to see if they really, really looked like that.....and they DO. How freaky!!!! It looks like someone handpainted those eyes on them. Those chickens are smart girls. You are what you eat and I think we all agree that two eyes are better than a hundred.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769488099776508540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-21891454439939775422011-08-01T23:10:31.974-04:002011-08-01T23:10:31.974-04:00I love these guys. Creep factor is a 10, but I st...I love these guys. Creep factor is a 10, but I still find them fascinating! The "eyes" are called spiracles and they use them to breathe. There are two per segment, one each side. Want to know more about this lovely moth family? Look here: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05517.html<br /><br />Hope you don't mind me sharing, <br />LyndaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-47187013640655211892011-08-01T22:18:59.332-04:002011-08-01T22:18:59.332-04:00I like Lil'White's lil' heart.❤
I al...I like Lil'White's lil' heart.❤ <br /><br />I also still think you're funny sacrificing your yummy tomato plants. ✿◠‿◠Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12127161706338879963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-27811404159854976882011-08-01T22:03:30.593-04:002011-08-01T22:03:30.593-04:00LOL! Funny girls! Something new is always scary ...LOL! Funny girls! Something new is always scary until someone gets brave and tries it then watch out - the fight is on! My son had collected a bunch of hornworms and put them on a plate for the girls last summer. The worms would move and the chickens would jump. No one actually got brave eonough to try one. LOL!Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874041763887442603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-6229525592587511462011-08-01T21:25:04.087-04:002011-08-01T21:25:04.087-04:00Absolutely loved your story! And though he wouldn&...Absolutely loved your story! And though he wouldn't admit it, the hubby was reading over my shoulder the whole time!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-60823963293641598892011-08-01T21:03:54.380-04:002011-08-01T21:03:54.380-04:00I LOVE your blog.I LOVE your blog.A Daughter of the Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17311710191707158497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-73225046960514096362011-08-01T20:53:34.974-04:002011-08-01T20:53:34.974-04:00OMG, this is just too funny! So glad I found your...OMG, this is just too funny! So glad I found your blog. It just makes my day. What a freaky little caterpillar! I recently picked one off one of my tomato plants and showed it to my kids. I just put it back into the grass not knowing it would eat up my tomato plants. Good thing we have plenty! Thanks for the laughs!! LOLSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15493671444071400051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-86940983184437095882011-08-01T20:46:06.527-04:002011-08-01T20:46:06.527-04:00This was great! I really like your style!This was great! I really like your style!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199777195853274898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-1328320881756661482011-08-01T20:04:10.543-04:002011-08-01T20:04:10.543-04:00My girls eat them right up and turn them into eggs...My girls eat them right up and turn them into eggs. They are hard on my tomatoes and peppers so I am not sad to see them go.barefeetbillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14636968309406613980noreply@blogger.com