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#1
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is
catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? Thanks, Bill |
#2
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
Bill McKee wrote:
I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? Maybe they're climbing down looking for new digs? -- Victor Martinez Send your spam he Email me he |
#3
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
Bill McKee wrote:
I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? Maybe they're climbing down looking for new digs? -- Victor Martinez Send your spam he Email me he |
#4
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee
wrote: I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? It's a survival strategy. Whenever there is some sort of disturbance, they immediately drop on those long threads. I think the silk is recycled as they climb up, but there is bound to be some energy loss. Also, it would seem to make them more vulnerable to predators, but I have never seen a bird take a caterpillar that way. Perhaps the birds that eat caterpillars can't get around the idea of catching them out of the air and the birds that eat flying insects don't recognize them as food. Grackles are smart enough to figure out that dog food softens in water, maybe some genius grackle will discover caterpillars on a string. Anyway, give an oak tree limb a good shake this time of year and you will dozens of the critters come cascading down. I went for my usual walk in Dick Nichols park yesterday, not thinking, and must have picked up 20 or 30 of the things in my hair and down my back. I had to wave my cane in front of me as I walked. All evening long I was picking caterpillars. Elliot Richmond Freelance Science Writer and Editor |
#5
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee
wrote: I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? It's a survival strategy. Whenever there is some sort of disturbance, they immediately drop on those long threads. I think the silk is recycled as they climb up, but there is bound to be some energy loss. Also, it would seem to make them more vulnerable to predators, but I have never seen a bird take a caterpillar that way. Perhaps the birds that eat caterpillars can't get around the idea of catching them out of the air and the birds that eat flying insects don't recognize them as food. Grackles are smart enough to figure out that dog food softens in water, maybe some genius grackle will discover caterpillars on a string. Anyway, give an oak tree limb a good shake this time of year and you will dozens of the critters come cascading down. I went for my usual walk in Dick Nichols park yesterday, not thinking, and must have picked up 20 or 30 of the things in my hair and down my back. I had to wave my cane in front of me as I walked. All evening long I was picking caterpillars. Elliot Richmond Freelance Science Writer and Editor |
#6
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
In article ,
Elliot Richmond wrote: On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee wrote: I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? It's a survival strategy. Whenever there is some sort of disturbance, they immediately drop on those long threads. I think the silk is recycled as they climb up, but there is bound to be some energy loss. Also, it would seem to make them more vulnerable to predators, but I have never seen a bird take a caterpillar that way. I have. It was quite a surprise and very cool. I was watching one of the little things just hanging there outside by back door (window) when, suddenly, a bird shoots by and grabs it. Now whenever I'm watching one (or more) hang from my oak tree, I'm hoping for a bird to swoop down and get it! Perhaps the birds that eat caterpillars can't get around the idea of catching them out of the air and the birds that eat flying insects don't recognize them as food. Grackles are smart enough to figure out that dog food softens in water, maybe some genius grackle will discover caterpillars on a string. Anyway, give an oak tree limb a good shake this time of year and you will [see] dozens of the critters come cascading down. I went for my usual walk in Dick Nichols park yesterday, not thinking, and must have picked up 20 or 30 of the things in my hair and down my back. I had to wave my cane in front of me as I walked. All evening long I was picking caterpillars. Elliot Richmond Freelance Science Writer and Editor -- 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail) ~~~~~~ "I reserve the absolute right to be smarter today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson http://home.earthlink.net/~sme617 |
#7
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
In article ,
Elliot Richmond wrote: On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee wrote: I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? It's a survival strategy. Whenever there is some sort of disturbance, they immediately drop on those long threads. I think the silk is recycled as they climb up, but there is bound to be some energy loss. Also, it would seem to make them more vulnerable to predators, but I have never seen a bird take a caterpillar that way. I have. It was quite a surprise and very cool. I was watching one of the little things just hanging there outside by back door (window) when, suddenly, a bird shoots by and grabs it. Now whenever I'm watching one (or more) hang from my oak tree, I'm hoping for a bird to swoop down and get it! Perhaps the birds that eat caterpillars can't get around the idea of catching them out of the air and the birds that eat flying insects don't recognize them as food. Grackles are smart enough to figure out that dog food softens in water, maybe some genius grackle will discover caterpillars on a string. Anyway, give an oak tree limb a good shake this time of year and you will [see] dozens of the critters come cascading down. I went for my usual walk in Dick Nichols park yesterday, not thinking, and must have picked up 20 or 30 of the things in my hair and down my back. I had to wave my cane in front of me as I walked. All evening long I was picking caterpillars. Elliot Richmond Freelance Science Writer and Editor -- 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail) ~~~~~~ "I reserve the absolute right to be smarter today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson http://home.earthlink.net/~sme617 |
#8
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
For me it means they're trying to tell me it's time to break out the sevin
dust. "Bill McKee" wrote in message ... I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? Thanks, Bill |
#9
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
For me it means they're trying to tell me it's time to break out the sevin
dust. "Bill McKee" wrote in message ... I know that the gentle rain falling from my oak trees lately is catepillar castings. But why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, snagging the oak tassles? Thanks, Bill |
#10
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee
wrote: (snipped) why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, With the little catepillars attached to the ends? Maybe the oaks have decided to Go Fishing! I have never seen the density we have of these inch worms this year and it must be good for the insect eating birds. Rusty Mase |
#11
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee
wrote: (snipped) why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, With the little catepillars attached to the ends? Maybe the oaks have decided to Go Fishing! I have never seen the density we have of these inch worms this year and it must be good for the insect eating birds. Rusty Mase |
#12
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 18:48:18 -0600, Rusty Mase
wrote: On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee wrote: (snipped) why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, With the little catepillars attached to the ends? Maybe the oaks have decided to Go Fishing! I have never seen the density we have of these inch worms this year and it must be good for the insect eating birds. I've been watching these the last 2 mornings and they seem to drop down just before daybreak, and haul themselves back up mid-morning. They do about 2.5"/minute upwards. As been noted, this year is really bad for some reason. Maybe they're on the same kind of cycle as the 17-year Cicada-X, set to break out [checking watch] right about now: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...adas.html#main It seems to be a year for bugs. -sw (just picked up my Epipens) |
#13
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silk threads hanging from oak trees
In article ,
Steve Wertz wrote: On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 18:48:18 -0600, Rusty Mase wrote: On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 12:24:43 GMT, Bill McKee wrote: (snipped) why are they "wasting" all of that good silk in those long threads hanging down, With the little catepillars attached to the ends? Maybe the oaks have decided to Go Fishing! I have never seen the density we have of these inch worms this year and it must be good for the insect eating birds. I've been watching these the last 2 mornings and they seem to drop down just before daybreak, and haul themselves back up mid-morning. They do about 2.5"/minute upwards. As been noted, this year is really bad for some reason. Maybe they're on the same kind of cycle as the 17-year Cicada-X, set to break out [checking watch] right about now: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...adas.html#main It seems to be a year for bugs. -sw (just picked up my Epipens) We had a very warm winter. I did not even lose my geraniums, and the cannas never totally froze back either. K. -- Sprout the Mung Bean to reply... ,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katraatcenturyteldotnet,, http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...user id=katra |
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